What is Child Care Licensing?
Child Care Licensing (CCL) serves Nevada’s communities by ensuring programs meet health and safety standards to protect your child. Licensed providers are regularly inspected and must follow specific rules to maintain a safe environment.
Who licenses child care programs?
Choosing the right child care is crucial for your child's safety and development. In Nevada, child care licensing is managed by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services to ensure program's meet the state's safety standards (Nevada Administrative Code 432A).
What types of child care programs are licensed?
Most formal child care centers and some family-based providers are licensed. Licensed care means the provider meets basic health, safety, and training standards. Learn more about child care facility types and what they offer.
Why Licensing Matters for Your Family
Licensed child care programs are required to meet minimum health and safety standards, including background checks for staff, regular inspections, and adherence to safety protocols (see Services and Facilities for Care of Children Laws and Regulations). Choosing a licensed child care provider means:
- Your child is in a safe and healthy environment.
- Providers have undergone background checks and training.
- Facilities are regularly inspected for compliance.
Nevada's child care licensing laws and regulations prioritize children's health, safety, and development, ensuring access to quality learning environments. By regulating a variety of care options, these laws support families and cater to diverse needs. These goals involve mentoring and guiding child care providers to become advocates for children and family issues, as well as foster the growth and development of the provider community. In support of this vision, Child Care Licensing staff educate state legislators, local regulatory agencies and consumers so as to encourage support for improving the quality of child care environments for Nevada's children and families.
Learn More About Child Care Licensing
Visit ChildCare.gov Licensing Overview to learn how licensing works to protect children and support families.
How to Find Licensed Child Care in Nevada
Use the Licensee Search tool to locate licensed child care providers near you. You can view inspection reports and learn more about each facility.
How to use the Licensee Search tool
- At the home page, select Child Care Program from the Business Unit drop-down menu at the top left.
- Select Agency from the Entity Type drop-down menu at the top right.
- If you click Search, the results will include all licensed facilities in Nevada.
- To search by city, ZIP code or county, click Address Information and enter the geographic region, and then click Search.
- File a complaint
- As of July 1, 2024, all child care facilities in Washoe County are now licensed by the State of Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services Child Care Licensing Program.
Child Care Licensing Data
Child Care Licensing publishes monthly reports detailing child care capacity statewide, broken down by county and city. The Statewide Annual Licensing Report below provides a glimpse of child care numbers crossing jurisdictional lines by giving total number of licensed facilities, number of each type of facility licensed, number of substantiated and unsubstantiated complaints and more throughout Nevada.
Open a Licensed Child Care Facility
Opening a child care facility in Nevada can be a rewarding and impactful endeavor. With the growing need for quality child care, there’s an opportunity to provide a vital service to your community while building a meaningful career. Starting a child care facility involves careful planning, dedication, and a commitment to meeting state licensing requirements.
Whether you’re exploring this path as a new venture or looking to expand your experience in child care, Nevada offers resources and guidance to help you succeed.
Get started on learning how to open a facility using the links below.
Board of Health (BOH)
Providers seeking variances to their child care licenses can access the necessary information and applications through the Board of Health (BOH). The BOH website linked below provides access to necessary resources related to child care license variances.