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How we source and date every rule

Getting your home daycare licensed is a high-stakes, one-time process, and the internet is full of generic, undated checklists that don't match your state. We built DaycareLicensePrep the opposite way — around one promise: every requirement you see is pulled from your state's own rules, dated to when we last checked it, and honest about what the official text doesn't pin down.

Our method, in plain terms

• Straight from the source. Each state's capacity limits, ratios, training hours, background checks, application steps, required postings and forms come from that state's own licensing statute or agency — not a national average and not a blog's paraphrase.
• Dated, so you can judge freshness. Every state entry carries the date we last verified it. Licensing rules change; a dated rule tells you exactly how current the information is.
• Flagged when unsure — never invented. When the official text isn't specific about a figure (an exact fee, a processing time), we mark it “to confirm” and point you to the agency, instead of guessing a number that could send you down the wrong path.
• Sourced, so you can verify. Each state links back to the official regulation or agency page it came from. You never have to take our word for it.

What we are — and what we are not

DaycareLicensePrep is an organizational and preparation tool. It turns your state's scattered licensing rules into one clear, checkable packet so nothing catches you by surprise on inspection day.

It is not legal advice, and it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by any state agency or government office. Rules can vary by county and by situation. Always confirm current requirements directly with your state's official child care licensing agency before you file or make decisions — and because every rule here is dated and sourced, you can do exactly that in a couple of clicks.

Why the state-by-state detail matters

The single most common licensing mistake is assuming the rules are national. They aren't. Your capacity limit, whether your own children count toward it, how many training hours you need and which forms you file all change at the state line — and sometimes at the county line. A generic template can't warn you about the pitfalls that actually trip people up in your state. That state-specific accuracy is the whole point of what we do.

See it for your state — free

Pick your state and get one clear prep packet: your exact capacity and ratios, the training and background checks, plus the application steps, postings and enrollment forms as interactive checklists that save your progress. Free watermarked preview; clean printable PDF for $29.

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