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Care business licensing, state by state

Try a license (“assisted living”), an agency (“AHCA”) or a topic (“background screening”).

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Care business licensing by state

Each state decides which care businesses need a license, which agency issues it and how many children or residents a home can serve before it becomes a facility. Choose a state to see its agencies, the license for each type of care business and its key rules.

Map

All 50 states and DC

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Every state and DC has a hub with its licensing agencies, the license each care business needs and step-by-step guides, checked against the state’s own rules. The license type pages compare all of them side by side.

All states, A–Z

US states with their main care licensing agency and our coverage
StateMain licensing agencyCoverage
ALAlabama Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services Division 4 agencies, 3 guides ·
AKAlaska Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance, Child Care Program Office 5 agencies, 4 guides ·
AZArizona Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing 4 agencies, 5 guides ·
ARArkansas Office of Early Childhood, Arkansas Department of Education (Child Care Licensing Unit) 4 agencies, 7 guides ·
CACalifornia California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Child Care Licensing Program 6 agencies, 7 guides ·
COColorado Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration 3 agencies, 5 guides ·
CTConnecticut Office of Early Childhood 4 agencies, 6 guides ·
DEDelaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing 2 agencies, 7 guides ·
DCDistrict of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Child Care Licensing 5 agencies, 6 guides ·
FLFlorida Agency for Health Care Administration, Assisted Living Unit 8 agencies, 7 guides ·
GAGeorgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division 4 agencies, 7 guides ·
HIHawaii Department of Human Services, Child Care Licensing 3 agencies, 7 guides ·
IDIdaho Idaho Department of Health and Welfare 6 agencies, 3 guides ·
ILIllinois Illinois Department of Early Childhood 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
INIndiana Indiana Department of Health 3 agencies, 5 guides ·
IAIowa Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Regulation 2 agencies, 5 guides ·
KSKansas Kansas Office of Early Childhood, Child Care Licensing 4 agencies, 7 guides ·
KYKentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Regulated Child Care 3 agencies, 7 guides ·
LALouisiana Louisiana Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood 2 agencies, 5 guides ·
MEMaine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services, Children's Licensing and Investigation Services 5 agencies, 7 guides ·
MDMaryland Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
MAMassachusetts Department of Early Education and Care 4 agencies, 4 guides ·
MIMichigan Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, Child Care Licensing Bureau 4 agencies, 4 guides ·
MNMinnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Licensing 3 agencies, 7 guides ·
MSMississippi Mississippi State Department of Health, Bureau of Child Care Facilities Licensure 3 agencies, 5 guides ·
MOMissouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood 4 agencies, 6 guides ·
MTMontana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Early Childhood and Family Support Division, Child Care Licensing 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
NENebraska Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure Unit, Child Care Licensing 5 agencies, 5 guides ·
NVNevada Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services (Child Care Licensing) 2 agencies, 7 guides ·
NHNew Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Health Facilities Administration 2 agencies, 6 guides ·
NJNew Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing 3 agencies, 7 guides ·
NMNew Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department 2 agencies, 5 guides ·
NYNew York Office of Children and Family Services 5 agencies, 6 guides ·
NCNorth Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education 5 agencies, 7 guides ·
NDNorth Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services 4 agencies, 5 guides ·
OHOhio Ohio Department of Children and Youth 4 agencies, 6 guides ·
OKOklahoma Oklahoma Human Services, Child Care Services Licensing 3 agencies, 7 guides ·
OROregon Department of Early Learning and Care, Child Care Licensing Division 5 agencies, 6 guides ·
PAPennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning 4 agencies, 7 guides ·
RIRhode Island Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care Licensing 3 agencies, 7 guides ·
SCSouth Carolina South Carolina Department of Social Services, Child Care Licensing 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
SDSouth Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing and Accreditation 3 agencies, 4 guides ·
TNTennessee Tennessee Department of Human Services 4 agencies, 7 guides ·
TXTexas Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
UTUtah Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Background Checks, Office of Licensing 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
VTVermont Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division 4 agencies, 5 guides ·
VAVirginia Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
WAWashington Department of Children, Youth, and Families 3 agencies, 6 guides ·
WVWest Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance, Division of Early Care and Education 5 agencies, 5 guides ·
WIWisconsin Department of Children and Families, Bureau of Early Care Regulation 2 agencies, 5 guides ·
WYWyoming Wyoming Department of Family Services, Child Care Licensing 3 agencies, 6 guides ·

Until a state is covered, its licensing agency is the authoritative source. The license type pages name the agency and license for every state.