How to become a licensed daycare provider in Idaho
Requirements for Idaho Daycare License
What are the requirements to become a daycare provider in Idaho?
Daycare licensing is administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare working with local fire departments and health districts. Idaho city and county governments can establish and enforce their own daycare licensing regulations, as long as the licensing requirements are equal to or more stringent than state license provisions. Make sure you check your local regulations in case you need a local, rather than state, license.
Idaho requires a child care license for operation of a child care center of seven or more children in Idaho. A person is a child if they are under the age of thirteen.
Potential daycare providers must be at least eighteen years old and submit to fire and health/safety inspections as well as a criminal background check. The license will not be issued until all owners, operators, and staff have submitted to the criminal history check. Anyone over thirteen who has unsupervised contact as well as anyone is regularly on the premises must also submit to the criminal history check.
How do I get a license to provide daycare in Idaho?
You can download the Application for Child Care Licensing online or request to have one mailed to you from the Idaho Care Line by calling 211 or 1-800-926-2588. Fill out the application and submit it to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Include the licensing fee, inspection reports, proof of insurance, background clearances, and statement to comply.
Mail applications to:
IdahoSTARS
Daycare Licensing Program
1471 Shoreline Dr, Suite 202
Boise, ID 83702
Fax applications to: 208-345-6569
How much does the daycare license cost?
A group daycare provider with 7-12 children must pay a licensing fee of $100. An Idaho licensed daycare provider may have to pay for inspection fees up front, but the amount would be deducted from your licensing fee. Each person is responsible for payment of their own background check fees.
Are there any continuing education requirements for Idaho daycare providers?
The owner or operator of a day care center must ensure that each employee receives four hours of ongoing training per year.
Is there anything else I need to know about starting my Idaho daycare?
In addition to getting your daycare license, you may want to form a business entity with the Idaho Secretary of State. Idaho does not require child care providers to set up any one type of entity. Entities such as corporations and limited liability companies offer liability protection for daycare providers. Daycare providers are not allowed to form professional corporations or LLCs.
Idaho does not require businesses to indicate the type of service they perform in the business name.