Apply for a Child Care License
The Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) licenses family child care homes and non-home child care facilities. The Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) licenses over 5,000 child care facilities in Colorado that provide less than 24-hour care.
Each type of child care facility has its own licensing rules, procedures, and fee-structure for becoming licensed.
Apply for a Family Child Care Home License: To begin the application process, please create a username and password in the Provider Hub where you will be able to submit an online application and fee.
A mailed-in paper version of the application will still be accepted, however, providers are encouraged to use the Provider Hub for faster processing times.Only a check or money order will be accepted with the mailed-in form. All credit card and e-check payments must be submitted through the Provider Hub. Home providers will need to print and have everyone in the household 18 years of age or older complete and sign a Person In Home Authorization This form is not submitted to the Office of Early Childhood, it should be kept on file at the family childcare home and be available for the licensing specialist to review.
Family Child Care Home Application Submission Guide
For more information about licensing requirements and detailed instructions on how to submit an original family child care home application, register for a FREE 1-hour orientation hosted by the Office of Early Childhood.
Below are the upcoming orientation dates. Click on the date you would like to attend to register. If you have further questions please contact the Licensing Training email at cdhs_oec_licensingtraining@state.co.us.
Apply for a Non-Home Child Care License: Non-home child care facilities include child care centers, school-age child care centers, preschools, resident camps, and neighborhood youth organizations.
To begin the application process, please create a username and password in the Provider Hub where you will be able to submit an online application and fee.
A mailed-in paper version of the application will still be accepted, however, providers are encouraged to use the Provider Hub for faster processing times. Only a check or money order will be accepted with the mailed-in form. All credit card and e-check payments must be submitted through the Provider Hub.
NON-Home Child Care License Application Submission Guide
Apply for a Substitute Placement Agency License: Substitute placement agencies facilitate or arrange placement of emergency, short-term or long-term substitute child care providers in licensed child care facilities providing less than twenty-four-hour care.
Submit your original child care license application at least 60-90 calendar days prior to the date you plan to start providing care. Because a licensing inspection and background checks are required prior to opening for business, the entire licensing process can take up to 90 days, so please plan accordingly. Applications are processed in the order they are received.
Do NOT submit an original application if you want to make changes to your licensed space (add a basement/add or remove a room used for child care, etc.), change your name, or add/remove residents living in the family child care home. For those changes, please visit the Make Changes to a Child Care License section of the Office of Early Childhood website or call the Office of Early Childhood at 1.800.799.5876.
Application Fees
A NONREFUNDABLE application fee is required when you submit your application.
- Fees vary by facility/license type and capacity. Please review the Child Care Licensing Fees to determine the correct fee. Submitting the incorrect fee will delay the processing of your application. When submitting payments by paper check, please include the confirmation number/application number in the memo line on the check in order to avoid delays in processing.
- All credit card and e-check payments must be submitted through the Provider Hub. A mailed-in paper version of the application will still be accepted, however, providers are encouraged to use the Provider Hub for faster processing times. Only a check or money order will be accepted with the mailed-in form
Background Check Requirements
There are two separate background check processes that must be completed in order to become licensed to provide child care in Colorado OR to work as an employee or volunteer of a child care facility: criminal background check and child abuse and neglect background check. Please see the Background Check Submission Guide (coming soon!) for more information about the background check process.
Colorado Shines
Colorado Shines is the quality rating and improvement system for all of Colorado’s licensed early care and learning programs serving children ages 0-5. All licensed early care and learning programs serving children ages 0-5 in Colorado enter the Colorado Shines rating system as a Level 1 program. Explore the Program Resources and FAQ pages for more information about the rating process.
Choose Safe Places
Choose Safe Places is a voluntary program for early care and preschool education providers to identify and address potential environmental concerns at or around child care facilities to protect children and staff from harmful substances in their environment.
