Operating a daycare in Oregon can be an exciting opportunity. Not only does it allow you to pursue your passion for educating and nurturing children, but it can also be financially rewarding. However, before you start your daycare business, you must familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations required to obtain a license and open a facility.
Keep reading to learn how to start a daycare in Oregon, the types of licenses available, what requirements you must meet, what's involved in the application process, and how to comply with state regulations.
Opening a daycare center requires time and careful planning, including writing a business plan, developing marketing strategies, brainstorming daycare names, and scoping out potential locations. Whether starting a program in a commercial facility or in your home, it’s important to understand the full process beforehand. In most cases, a license is required to operate a daycare in Oregon. The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, Office of Child Care (OCC), offers licensing for three types of childcare programs: registered family child care homes, certified family child care homes, and certified childcare centers.
A registered family child care home is defined as a childcare program that is licensed to care for no more than 10 children at the provider's residence.
A certified family child care home is a childcare facility that is certified to care for no more than 16 children and is based out of a single-family home.
A certified childcare center is defined as a childcare facility that is certified to care for 13 or more children or a facility that is certified to care for 12 or fewer children and is located in a commercial building.
However, there are several exemptions. Depending on the type of child care provided, you may not need a license to operate; however, you may be required to record the program with the OCC.
According to the OCC, the following are exempt from licensing:
As you begin to start a daycare center, it’s important to understand that program requirements vary depending on the type of facility you're opening. All of these requirements should be considered before proceeding with the application process. Applicants and licensees for any childcare program are required to do the following:
If you are applying for a registered family child care home, your program will need to meet specific requirements.
There are specific requirements that registered family child care providers must adhere to, including:
There are also requirements for the home where the registered family child care business will operate. These requirements ensure that children will be in a safe environment:
The following staff-to-child ratio and capacity requirements apply to registered family child care programs.
A certified family child care home must also meet specific licensing requirements.
These are the requirements to become a certified family childcare provider:
Here are the requirements for the home where the certified family childcare business will be operating. These requirements ensure that children will be in a safe environment:
For certified family child care programs, the number of caregivers and group size depend on the number and ages of children in the provider’s care.
If all children are in the same age group, the staff-to-child ratio is as follows:
When all children in care are:
No group may exceed:
With a caregiver-to-child ratio of:
Notes
Six weeks to 24 months
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated, and if more than eight of the 13 children in care are infants or toddlers, the group size may not exceed eight.
24 months to eligible for first grade
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated.
Eligible for first grade to 13 years old
May be one group; must have a second provider if over 15 school-age children are in care.
If children in care include infants and/or toddlers, the staff-to-child ratio is as follows:
When children in care include:
No group may exceed:
With a caregiver-to-child ratio of:
Notes
One child under 24 months
If more than 12 children are in care and one is under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult-to-child ratio.
Two children under 24 months
If more than 12 children are in care and two are under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult-to-child ratio.
Three children under 24 months
If more than 12 children are in care and over three are under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult-to-child ratio.
Four or more children under 24 months
If more than 12 children are in care and four are under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult-to-child ratio, and if more than eight infants or toddlers are in care, group size may not exceed eight.
If the children in care is a mix of preschool and school-aged, the staff-to-child ratio is as follows:
When all children in care are:
No group may exceed:
With a caregiver-to-child ratio of:
Notes
One child in care age 24 months to eligible for first grade, and the rest of children in care are school-age
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated to create groups of 12 or fewer children.
Between two and 12 children are between 24 months and eligible for first grade, and the rest of the children in care are school-age
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated to create groups of 12 or fewer children.
There are separate rules and requirements that all certified childcare centers must follow in order to obtain a license.
Below are the requirements for a certified childcare center director:
Certified childcare centers must meet the following facility requirements to ensure they create a safe and hazard-free environment for children:
Certified childcare centers must follow the staff-to-child ratio requirements below:
Age of children
Minimum number of staff to children
Maximum group size
6 weeks to 23 months
24 months to 35 months of age
36 months to school-age
Age of children
Minimum number of staff to children
Maximum group size
6 weeks and under 30 months
30 months to school-age
A completed application is required when opening or reopening a childcare program, renewing the annual certificate or registration, and changing owners, operators, or locations. All applications must be submitted at least 45 days before opening the program, and the application process and fees vary depending on the program type.
Attend the Introduction to Registered Family Child Care training, where applications for licensing and submitting a background check will be provided.
Ensure that all additional training requirements have been met.
The provider and all individuals 18 years of age and older who reside in the home must enroll in the Oregon Central Background Registry (CBR). Once CBR applications are processed, applicants can then complete fingerprinting.
Complete and submit the license application, the required Safety Set Training verification, and the $30 application fee. Training verification includes:
Once the application has been completed, a licensing specialist will reach out to conduct a health and safety review. During this visit, they will inspect the home and check for compliance with requirements. If approved, you will receive an annual license that is valid for two years.
Certified family child care homes are required to meet local planning and zoning requirements, building codes, and environmental health requirements. This includes testing the water for lead and submitting a building floor plan or drawing of the facility to the OCC. You will need to provide documentation that your home is in compliance with local laws.
Oregon’s OCC requires certified family childcare home applicants to undergo a pre-certification visit to determine if they qualify as a childcare provider with a certified family childcare license and if the home is suitable.
After submitting the above documentation and meeting all requirements, a licensing specialist will visit the space and determine how many children it can accommodate, suggest changes, and inspect other areas of the home. They will also discuss program rules regarding staff and enrolling in the Central Background Registry (CBR). They will provide the application packet once they’ve determined that an application can be submitted.
The application packet will include information on scheduling the environmental health inspection. Corrections must be made before a license is issued if any issues are found.
The provider and all individuals 18 years of age and older who reside in the home must enroll in the Central Background Registry (CBR). Once CBR applications are processed, applicants can then complete fingerprinting.
Complete and submit the license application and the applicable application fee.
Once you have approval from your fire safety and environmental health inspection, a licensing specialist will conduct your initial inspection. During this visit, they will inspect the facility and check for compliance with all requirements. They will also check all staff qualifications. If there are any items that are not in compliance, you will be informed and given an opportunity to correct the issue.
A temporary license will be issued if the facility meets the majority of the OCC requirements. Once you receive a temporary license, you may begin to care for children. A temporary license can be issued for up to 180 days. Within 180 days, if your facility shows that it can meet all requirements on a continuing basis, you can qualify to move from a temporary license to an annual license. An annual license is valid for one year from the effective date of the temporary license.
Certified childcare centers must comply with all planning and zoning laws. Before you acquire a physical space for your childcare business, you must verify with the local municipality that the facility is zoned appropriately for child care. You will also need to ensure that the facility meets all building codes and environmental health requirements. This includes testing the water for lead and submitting a building floor plan or drawing of the facility to the OCC. You will also need to provide documentation that your center is in compliance with local laws.
Oregon’s OCC requires certified childcare center applicants to undergo a pre-certification visit to determine if they qualify as a childcare provider.
After submitting the above documentation and meeting all requirements, a licensing specialist will visit the space and determine how many children it can accommodate, suggest changes, take measurements of the indoor and outdoor areas, and inspect other areas of the facility. They’ll also discuss program rules regarding staff qualifications, staff-to-child ratios, and enrolling in the Central Background Registry (CBR). They’ll provide the application packet once they’ve determined that an application can be submitted.
The application packet will include information on scheduling the fire marshal and environmental health inspection. Corrections must be made before a license is issued if any issues are found.
The provider and all individuals including administrative and support staff in childcare centers must enroll in the Central Background Registry (CBR). Once CBR applications are processed, applicants can then complete fingerprinting.
Complete and submit the license application along with the application fee, which is $100 plus $2.00 multiplied by the maximum licensed capacity.
Once you have approval from your environmental health inspection, a licensing specialist will conduct your initial inspection. During this visit, they will inspect the facility and check for compliance with all requirements. They will also check all staff qualifications. If there are any items that are not in compliance, you will be informed and given an opportunity to correct the issue.
A temporary license will be issued if the facility meets the majority of the OCC requirements. Once you receive a temporary license, you may begin to care for children. A temporary license can be issued for up to 180 days. Within 180 days, if your facility shows that it can meet all requirements on a continuing basis, you can qualify to move from a temporary license to an annual license. An annual license is valid for one year from the effective date of the temporary license.
After receiving the proper license, all childcare programs must remain compliant with all regulations. A tool such as brightwheel’s center management feature provides a reliable way to manage your administrative tasks, record keeping, capacity tracking, staff-to-child ratios, and more. Center management software can save you time and help with maintaining compliance in the areas below.
Throughout the two-year licensing period, registered family child care providers will receive at least two unannounced visits from their licensing specialist. Below are a few areas that the specialist will be reviewing:
Certified family child care and certified childcare center programs are subject to at least one announced visit from their licensing specialist during the licensed year. During this visit, the specialist will, at minimum, review the following:
As you go through the licensing process, you may come across grants or other funding resources that can help fund your childcare business. A grant is an often overlooked financial resource given by a government agency or private foundation that does not need to be repaid. This makes them an attractive funding option if you are looking to expand or enhance the quality and accessibility of your program.
Grants provide funding that can be used towards a variety of purposes, such as improving facilities, purchasing new equipment or materials, or offering professional development opportunities for staff. The available resources vary by state so it is crucial to research and understand the grants for childcare providers in Oregon to make informed decisions about which ones to apply for.
The journey to opening a childcare business isn't easy, but with a clear understanding of the steps involved and proper planning, it can be a big success. As a first step, obtain the proper license for your program and then you can focus on creating a safe and secure environment where children can thrive.
