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Home Daycare License Requirements in Oregon (2026)

Opening a home daycare in Oregon means getting a family child care home license from the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD). Here is exactly what that takes in 2026 — your capacity limit and ratios, the training and background checks, the application steps, and the postings and enrollment forms you need — sourced to the state’s own rules and dated.

Who needs a license — home types in Oregon

Oregon uses neither the California 'small/large family child care home' pair nor a numeric category letter. It uses REGISTRATION for the small home and CERTIFICATION for the big one, and the operative definitions are these. REGISTERED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME. OAR 414-210-0110(1): 'A registered family child care home is defined as a child care facility that is registered to provide child care for a number of children up to the maximum capacity in a residential setting.' Two structural conditions sit in the issuance rule and are absolute: 'Registration is limited to one provider per household' and 'The home in which child care is provided must be the residence of the provider' (414-210-0140(6),(7)). The registration is personal and immovable: 'A registered family child care registration will be issued in the name of the provider' and 'cannot be transferred to any other location or to another organization or individual' (414-210-0140(4),(5)); ORS 329A.330(6) says the same. DELC's public page restates it: 'A Registered Family Child Care Home is defined by CCLD as a child care facility that is licensed to care for no more than 10 children and is the residence of the provider.'

WHO THE 'PROVIDER' IS, in the rule's own words: 'a resident of the registered family child care home who is responsible for the children in care; is the children's primary caregiver; and the person whose name is on the certificate of registration. The provider is the person responsible for the overall operation of the home and who has the authority to perform the duties necessary to meet registration requirements' (OAR 414-210-0100(37)). A consequence that surprises applicants: 'The provider must have no other employment, paid or unpaid, either in or out of the home, during hours child care children are in care' (414-210-0320(4)). CERTIFIED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME. OAR 414-360-0100(10): '“Certified Family Child Care” or “Home” means a child care facility located in a building constructed as a single family dwelling or other dwelling that has a certificate to care for a maximum of 16 children at any one time. References in these rules to “certified family child care home” or “home” refer to the provider or any agent, including a substitute provider, operating under the certificate.'

The general rules give the same number: '“Certified Family Child Care Home” or “CF” means a child care facility operated in a building designed as a single family home or other dwelling that is certified to care for no more than 16 children at any one time' (OAR 414-075-0010(1)). Note what is NOT in the CF definition: there is no requirement in 414-360-0110 that the CF home be the provider's own residence — the rule speaks of 'a residential setting' (414-360-0110(1)) and the application rule contemplates a non-owner applicant: 'An applicant that is not the owner of the certified family child care home must identify the owner on the application' (414-360-0130(2)). AGE VOCABULARY, WHICH DRIVES EVERY CAPACITY COUNT. 'Preschool-Age Child' = 'a child who is at least 36 months of age but not yet eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten or above, before the first day of the current school year' (OAR 414-210-0100(36)). 'School-Age Child' = 'a child eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten or above on or before the first day of the current school year (also see ORS 329A.250(12)). This includes the months from the end of the prior school year to the start of the kindergarten school year' (414-210-0100(44)) — so a child 'graduates' to school-age for ratio purposes over the summer BEFORE kindergarten starts. 'Young Child' = 'any child who is six weeks of age until eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten' (414-210-0100(57)). 'Night Care' = 'care given between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. or when any enrolled child sleeps for more than 3 hours at the registered family child care' (414-210-0100(28)) — night care is a separately regulated activity (OAR 414-210-1500) and must be covered in the provider's written policies (414-210-0200(1)(g)). 'CHILD CARE CHILD' — the unit being counted: 'any child six weeks of age or older and under 13 years of age, or a child who is under the age of 18 with special needs or disabilities and who requires a level of care that is above normal for the child's age, for whom the provider has supervisory responsibility in the temporary absence of the parent' (OAR 414-360-0100(11); the RF definition at 414-210-0100(9) is the counterpart).

The statute matches: '“Child” means a child under 13 years of age or a child under 18 years of age who has special needs or disabilities and requires a level of care that is above normal for the child's age' (ORS 329A.250(3)). THE FLOOR ON AGE: 'No child younger than 6 weeks of age can be in care in a registered family child care home. This does not include the provider's child(ren)' (OAR 414-210-0400(4)); identical for CF at 414-360-0400(3). WHAT IS NOT A HOME REGIME AT ALL: care in the CHILD's home ('“Babysitter” means a person who goes into the home of a child to give care during the temporary absence of the parent, legal guardian or custodian', ORS 329A.250(1)) is outside the definition of child care entirely (ORS 329A.250(4)(b)(A)), as is care 'By a person related to the child by blood or marriage within the fourth degree as determined by civil law' (329A.250(4)(b)(C)).

How many children you can care for in Oregon

REGISTERED FAMILY (RF): 10 CHILDREN, WITH TWO SUB-CAPS INSIDE THE 10. OAR 414-210-0400: '(1) A provider may care for a maximum of 10 children. This includes: (a) All child care children, as defined in OAR 414-210-0100(9); (b) The provider's own children, including foster children, age 9 years or younger; (c) Any other children age 12 years or younger for whom the provider is responsible; and (d) Any child(ren) age 17 years or younger, including the provider's own children, foster children, child care children or other children for whom the provider is responsible, with special needs or disabilities who require a level of care that is above normal for the child's age. (2) Of the 10 children in care, a provider may care for: (a) A maximum of six children preschool age or younger, of which only two children may be under 24 months of age. (b) Four school-age children, in addition to the six children preschool-age or younger. (c) More school-age children if there are fewer than six children preschool-age or younger, as long as there are no more than 10 children in the home at any one time.'

THE PROVIDER'S-OWN-CHILDREN TRAP, STATED PRECISELY. It is FALSE that all of the provider's own children count. Only the provider's own children (including foster children) AGE 9 OR YOUNGER count — 414-210-0400(1)(b). The provider's own 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds are excluded, and this is a statutory command, not an agency choice: ORS 329A.330(2) 'A child care facility holding a registration may care for a maximum of 10 children, excluding the provider's own children if the children are between 10 and 12 years of age, unless a child has special needs or disabilities and requires a level of care that is above normal for the child's age,' and ORS 329A.330(7)(c) requires the rules to establish capacity 'without taking into consideration the provider's children if the children are between 10 and 12 years of age'. The same carve-out is imposed on the CF rules by ORS 329A.280(2) ('Rules may not take into consideration the provider's children when establishing capacity or adult to child ratio requirements if the children are between 10 and 12 years of age'). The exception swallows the carve-out for a special-needs child up to 17 (414-210-0400(1)(d)).

OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN WHO ARE 'JUST VISITING' STILL COUNT: 'Other children, including but not limited to relatives, neighborhood children or friends of the provider's children, are included in the maximum number of 10 children allowed in care if present in the child care home during operating hours on a regular basis or if present on an occasional basis without being directly supervised by the child's parent or other adult who is not also caring for child care children' (414-210-0400(3)). THE STATUTORY FLOOR IS SLIGHTLY LOOSER THAN THE RULE, AND THE RULE WINS. ORS 329A.330(2) says of the 10, '(a) No more than six may be younger than school age; and (b) No more than two may be 24 months of age or younger.' The rule phrases (a) as 'six children preschool age or younger' — i.e. everyone below school age, infants and toddlers included — and caps the under-24-month group at two inside that six. Practical reading: 6 non-school-age + 4 school-age = 10, and never more than 2 under two. CERTIFIED FAMILY (CF): 16 CHILDREN, BUT CAPACITY IS SET BY SQUARE FOOTAGE AND BY THE PROVIDER'S OWN QUALIFICATIONS, NOT BY THE NUMBER 16 ALONE.

The number: 'certified to care for a maximum of 16 children at any one time' (OAR 414-360-0100(10)); 'not more than 16 children' (ORS 329A.280(2)). The square footage gate: 'A certified family child care's licensed capacity is based on the home's indoor activity area... If a certified family child care is certified to care for 12 children or fewer, there must be a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor activity area... per child. If a certified family child care is certified to care for more than 12 children, there must be a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor activity area per child for 12 or fewer children and 50 square feet of indoor activity area available per child for each of the additional four children' (OAR 414-360-0800(1),(5)). Excluded from the measurement: 'food preparation areas of the kitchen, bathrooms, heating units, storage areas, furniture not used by children and any space not usable by children' (414-360-0800(5)(c)); shelves/storage accessible to children may be counted (414-360-0800(5)(b)). Rooms must be pre-approved: 'A provider must have CCLD approval prior to using a new room, activity area, or outdoor space to care for children' (414-360-0800(3)), and capacity may never be exceeded 'including the total number of children in care both at and away from the child care home' (414-360-0800(4)). THE 12-CHILD GATE INSIDE CF, WHICH MOST SUMMARIES MISS. A CF provider must 'Be at least 18 years of age if the facility is certified for 12 children; or... at least 21 years of age if the facility is certified for more than 12 children' (OAR 414-360-0320(6)(a),(b)).

And if the provider's qualifying experience came from running an RF home, capacity is hard-capped at 12 until they have logged CF time: 'If the provider's qualifying teaching experience is based on registered family child care, the maximum capacity of the home will be limited to 12. Prior to applying to be certified for up to 16 children, the provider must complete 1,500 hours of operation as a certified family child care facility with a capacity of 12 or fewer children' (414-360-0320(6)(d)(A)(iv)). WHOSE CHILDREN COUNT IN A CF HOME: 'The provider's own child(ren), including foster child(ren), 9 years of age or younger; All other caregivers' own children age 12 years or younger; Any other children age 12 years or younger for whom the provider is responsible; and Any child(ren) age 17 years or younger... with special needs or disabilities who require a level of care that is above normal for the child's age' (OAR 414-360-0400(1)(b)-(e)). Note the asymmetry that is easy to get backwards: the PROVIDER's own children count to age 9; OTHER CAREGIVERS' own children count to age 12. A CF HOME MAY ALSO RUN 'LIKE AN RF HOME' BY ELECTION: 'Even though caregiver-to-child ratios are specified in Table A above, a certified family child care may care for 10 children ages 6 weeks to school-age if: (a) No more than 6 children are preschool age or younger, including the provider's own children and any caregivers' children; (b) Of the 6, only 2 children are under 24 months of age; and (c) Four of the children are school-age' (OAR 414-360-0400(6)) — i.e. the RF pattern is available inside a CF certificate without meeting Table A's staffing.

Adult-to-child ratios

OREGON DOES NOT PUBLISH A CLASSIC 'ONE ADULT TO N CHILDREN BY AGE BAND' TABLE FOR THE REGISTERED HOME, AND IT DOES PUBLISH ONE FOR THE CERTIFIED HOME. Treat the two regimes as different animals. REGISTERED FAMILY (RF) — THE RATIO IS THE CAPACITY. There is no separate caregiver-to-child ratio rule in Division 210. One provider (or substitute provider) is required to be present — 'The provider or a substitute provider must be on the premises during all hours of operation' (OAR 414-210-0320(3)) — and the effective ratio is therefore 1 adult to the capacity mix allowed by OAR 414-210-0400: a maximum of 10 children, of whom at most 6 are preschool-age or younger, of whom at most 2 are under 24 months, plus up to 4 school-age. What Division 210 regulates instead is SUPERVISION, and it is written as a performance standard: 'The provider or substitute provider must ensure that children have the full attention of caregivers at all times who must: (a) Be aware of what each child is doing; (b) Be near enough to children to assist and respond when needed; (c) Be within sight or sound of children at all times, without relying on audio or video devices.

Children out of direct visual contact shall be monitored regularly and frequently and must be in approved activity areas; (d) Be physically present when there are children under the age of 36 months playing outside; and (e) Be physically present when kindergarten-age or younger children are playing outside, unless the outside play area is fully fenced and hazard free' (OAR 414-210-0500(1)). Three supervision details that get cited in non-compliance letters: nap rooms must have 'sufficient light... so that caregivers can clearly see each child's face from any point in the room'; 'Background noise (e.g. music, sound machine, white noise machine) must not be so loud as to prevent a caregiver from being able to respond'; and when the caregiver is in another room, 'doors shall be kept open wide enough so the caregiver can easily step into the room to do frequent audio and visual checks' (414-210-0500(2),(3),(4)). CERTIFIED FAMILY (CF) — THE RATIO IS A PUBLISHED GRID, AND ITS AXIS IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE ASSUME. OAR 414-360-0400(4): 'The number of caregivers is determined by the age and number of the youngest child(ren) in the group.

The caregiver to child ratio requirements identified in Table A of this rule must be met at all times.' Table A is an ATTACHMENT to the rule at the Secretary of State ('[ED. NOTE: To view attachments referenced in rule text, click here for PDF copy.]'), and it is not an age-band ratio at all — it is a two-axis lookup: rows = NUMBER OF CHILDREN PRESENT UNDER THE AGE OF TWO (0 through 16), columns = TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN PRESENT (4 through 16), and the cell gives the NUMBER OF CAREGIVERS REQUIRED. Read verbatim from the SOS attachment on 2026-08-25, by row (row label = children under two; then caregivers required for totals 16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4): 0 under-two: 2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1. 1 under-two: 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1,1. 2 under-two: 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1. 3 under-two: 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1. 4 under-two: 3,3,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1. 5 under-two: 3,3,3,3,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2. 6 under-two: 3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,2,2,2. 7 under-two: 3,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,2. 8 under-two: 3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,2. 9 under-two: 3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3. 10 under-two: 4,3,3,3,3,3,3. 11 under-two: 4,4,3,3,3,3. 12 under-two: 4,4,4,4,3. 13 under-two: 4,4,4,4. 14 under-two: 4,4,4. 15 under-two: 4,4. 16 under-two: 4. So a CF home with 16 children and no infants needs 2 caregivers; the same 16 with four under two needs 3; with ten under two, 4. THE ALL-SCHOOL-AGE SHORTCUT: 'If all children in care are school-age, the caregiver-to-child ratio is 1:15' (OAR 414-360-0400(5)). WHO MAY BE COUNTED IN A CF RATIO. 'Assistants may be included in the caregiver-to-child ratio calculation' (OAR 414-360-0340(1)). An assistant I 'must: (a) Be at least 14 years of age... (c) If under the age of 18, be within sight AND sound of a caregiver who meets the qualifications of provider or substitute provider.

If under 18 years old, an assistant I may never be left alone with a child or group of children; (d) If 18 years of age or older, be within sight OR sound of caregiver who meets the qualifications of the provider or substitute provider, at all times while with children' (414-360-0340(2)). An assistant II must 'Be at least 18 years of age and enrolled in the CBR', complete all orientation and initial training and meet annual training, and 'With the approval of the provider, an assistant II may be out of sight and sound of the provider with a group of children' (414-360-0340(3),(4)). Volunteers may be counted only if they 'Meet the qualifications for the position they are filling, including CBR enrollment', complete orientation/initial training and meet the annual training for that position (414-360-0360(1)). Visitors never count: '“Visitor” means someone who is at the home for a single event...

Visitors are not potential employees and are not counted in ratio' (OAR 414-210-0100(55)). HOW MUCH THE CF PROVIDER PERSONALLY MUST BE THERE — an under-appreciated ratio-adjacent rule: 'A provider must be on site and actively engaged in the care of the child care children, at least half of the weekly operating hours or 40 hours per week, whichever is less,' rising to 'at least 2/3 of the weekly operating hours or 40 hours per week, whichever is less' if certified for more than 12 children (OAR 414-360-0320(2),(3)); on-site hours are computed weekly, excluding planned leave and emergencies (414-360-0320(4)), and 'The provider or a substitute provider must be in the child care home or activity areas during all hours of operation' (414-360-0320(5)). INFANT-SPECIFIC STAFFING IN CF, WHICH IS A TRAINING RULE MASQUERADING AS A RATIO RULE: before caring for more than four children under 24 months, 'At least one caregiver other than the provider must meet the requirements specified in OAR 414-360-0320(7)' (the 30 infant/toddler hours), and 'If the facility is certified to care for more than 12 children, there must be a caregiver who meets the training requirements of OAR 414-360-0320(7) on site at all times that five or more children under 24 months of age are in care' (414-360-0320(8)(b),(c)).

CF SUPERVISION allows one adult to step partly away: 'When more than one caregiver is required to meet caregiver-to-child ratios, one caregiver may undertake other activities that directly support the care and education of the children for a temporary time period... This caregiver must be within sight or sound of children, be available and able to respond if needed, but does not have to provide their full attention to children' (OAR 414-360-0500(2)). Outdoors, 'When children under 36 months are playing outside, a caregiver must be outside supervising the children' (414-360-0500(3)), and 'Children may not be on a floor level of the home unless a caregiver is on the same floor' (414-360-0500(7)).

Training you must complete before licensure

REGISTERED FAMILY — THE COMPLETE PRE-ISSUANCE LIST, VERBATIM. OAR 414-210-0370(1): 'When a person submits a new application for registration as a registered family child care, CCLD shall, prior to approving the registration, receive evidence from the applicant that the person has completed: (a) Introduction to Registered Family Child Care Part I and Part II; (b) Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety Training; (c) A minimum of two hours of training on child abuse and neglect that is specific to Oregon law; (d) Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants; (e) Current certification in pediatric CPR and first aid. CPR training must have practical hands-on instruction. CPR courses that involve an on-line component with hands-on instruction may be accepted. Strictly on-line CPR training is not acceptable; (f) Foundations for Learning child development training; and (g) Current Oregon's food handler's certification.' Subsection (2): 'The provider's Oregon food handler's certification and pediatric CPR and first aid certification must remain current while the registration is active.' Two items on that list are routinely dropped from third-party summaries: FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING (a child development course, 414-210-0370(1)(f)) and the fact that the entry course is a TWO-PART course — DELC's page specifies 'the Introduction to Registered Family Child Care class part one (online) and part two (in person)', offered free through the local Child Care Resource & Referral, and adds that 'At this training you will receive the application to become a Registered Family Child Care Provider.'

The statute uses looser wording — the department shall issue a registration if 'The provider has completed a child care overview class administered by the department' (ORS 329A.330(4)(a)) — but the rule names the actual course. The statutory minimum set is narrower than the rule's; the rule governs. ORS 329A.330(4): registration issues if the provider completed the overview class, 'has completed two hours of training on child abuse and neglect issues', 'is currently certified in infant and child first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation', 'is certified as a food handler under ORS 624.570', and clears the background requirements of ORS 181A.200, 329A.030 and 329A.250 to 329A.450. Safe Sleep, Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety and Foundations for Learning are rule-level additions. DELC calls the middle block the 'Safety Set': 'Along with your application, you will include copies of your completed Safety Set trainings. This includes: Current first aid and infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); Food Handlers Certification; Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN); CCLD approved Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety (ICCHS); CCLD approved Safe Sleep training.

These trainings must also be submitted to and verified by the Oregon Registry Online (ORO).' The rule requires the ORO account itself: 'A provider and any other caregivers must have an active account with ORO' (OAR 414-210-0385(1)). SUBSTITUTE PROVIDERS IN AN RF HOME ARE NOT EXEMPT. Before unsupervised access, a substitute must receive an orientation covering 'A review of the rules for registered family child care homes', the written emergency preparedness plan (evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, lockdown, medical emergencies, illness and injuries, allergic reactions), 'The prevention and control of infectious diseases', premises hazards including 'electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic', hazardous materials and disposal of bodily fluids, 'Safe sleep practices, prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment', the provider's policies, and 'Procedures for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect' (OAR 414-210-0370(3)(a)(A)-(H)); and must complete ICCHS, the 2-hour Oregon-specific abuse/neglect training, Safe Sleep, pediatric CPR/first aid 'within the first 90 days of hire', Foundations for Learning, and a food handler's certification 'prior to preparing and serving food and/or bottles' (414-210-0370(3)(b)). A substitute must also 'Be at least 18 years of age and enrolled in the CBR', be familiar with registration requirements, have access to all required records and 'Be authorized and able to correct deficiencies' (414-210-0320(5)). CERTIFIED FAMILY — A SHORTER PRE-ISSUANCE TRAINING LIST BUT A MUCH HEAVIER QUALIFICATION BAR.

OAR 414-360-0370(1): 'Prior to being issued an initial certificate, a provider must complete: (a) Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety Training; (b) A minimum of two hours of training on child abuse and neglect that is specific to Oregon law; (c) Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants; (d) Current certification in pediatric CPR and first aid... Strictly on-line CPR training is not acceptable; (e) Foundations for Learning child development training; and (f) Oregon food handler's certification.' There is NO 'Introduction to Registered Family Child Care' requirement for CF — that two-part course belongs to the RF track. What replaces it is an experience-or-education qualification, one of three routes (OAR 414-360-0320(6)(d)): '(A) At least 1,500 hours of experience in at least three-hour blocks, within a 36-month period, with a group of children in an on-going group setting. Such a setting includes a kindergarten, preschool, child care center, certified or registered family child care home, Head Start program, or equivalent' — with the fine print that 'Experience must be documented', 'Time spent in a college practicum or practice teaching is considered qualifying teaching experience', and 'The following does not constitute qualifying experience: leader of a scout troop; Sunday school teacher; and coaching'; or '(B) Completion of 20 credits (semester system) or 30 credits (quarter system) of training in a college or university in early childhood education or child development'; or '(C) Documentation of attaining at least step 6 in the Oregon Registry.'

INFANT/TODDLER HOURS ARE A PRE-CONDITION, NOT A LATER TASK, IN CF: 'Prior to the provider providing care to more than two children under 24 months of age, the provider must have at least 30 clock hours of training specific to infant and toddler care' (OAR 414-360-0320(7)); and 'Prior to the provider providing care to more than four children under 24 months of age: (a) The provider must have an additional 20 clock hours of training specific to infant and toddler care. This is in addition to the 30 clock hours specified in OAR 414-360-0320(7); and (b) At least one caregiver other than the provider must meet the requirements specified in OAR 414-360-0320(7)' (414-360-0320(8)). So the ladder is 30 hours at >2 infants, 50 hours cumulative at >4 infants plus a second trained caregiver. CF CAREGIVER ONBOARDING RUNS ON A 10/30/90-DAY CLOCK: orientation 'within the first 10 business days of working in the home and before caregivers have unsupervised access to children'; ICCHS, the 2-hour abuse/neglect training and Safe Sleep 'within 30 days of beginning work in the home and prior to having unsupervised access to children'; pediatric CPR/first aid and Foundations for Learning 'within 90 days of beginning work in the home and prior to having unsupervised access to children'; food handler's certification 'prior to preparing and serving food and/or bottles' (OAR 414-360-0370(3)(a),(b),(c),(d)).

Substitutes sourced through Child Care Substitutes of Oregon (CCSO) 'may substitute as the provider, assistant II or assistant I without prior experience working at the certified family child care,' but an orientation must still be completed first (414-360-0320(11)).

Ongoing (annual) training

THE TWO REGIMES HAVE DIFFERENT CLOCKS, AND CONFLATING THEM IS THE CLASSIC OREGON ERROR: RF training is measured over a TWO-YEAR registration cycle; CF training is measured ANNUALLY because the certificate itself is annual. REGISTERED FAMILY — 10 CLOCK HOURS PER TWO-YEAR CYCLE, WITH INTERNAL SUB-QUOTAS. OAR 414-210-0380 (verbatim): 'When a provider submits a renewal application, CCLD shall, prior to approving it, receive evidence from the provider that the provider has: (1) A current certification in pediatric CPR and first aid. CPR training must have practical hands-on instruction... Strictly on-line CPR training is not acceptable; (2) A current Oregon food handler certification pursuant to ORS 624.570; and (3) During the two years preceding the license renewal date, a provider must complete at least 10 clock hours of formal training or education related to child care. (a) At least 6 clock hours of the 10 hours of training must be in child development; (b) At least 1 clock hour of training in the Core Knowledge Category (CKC) of health, safety, and nutrition (HSN) in the first 12 months of the licensing period; and (c) An additional 1 hour in CKC of HSN completed in the second 12 months of the licensing period.'

Read the sub-quotas carefully: the HSN hour is NOT a free-floating annual total — one hour must land in each 12-month half of the two-year cycle, so a provider who front-loads all 10 hours in year one is still out of compliance for year two. Registration term: 'a registration is valid for no more than two (2) years' (414-210-0140(3)). THE STATUTE SETS A LOWER FLOOR AND THE RULE EXCEEDS IT. ORS 329A.330(5) forbids renewal unless the provider '(a) Is currently certified in infant and child first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation; (b) Has completed a minimum of eight hours of training related to child care during the most recent registration period; (c) Is certified as a food handler under ORS 624.570; and (d) When applicable, has complied with the requirements of ORS 329A.600 prior to imposing an expulsion.' Eight hours is the statutory floor; ten is the operative requirement under 414-210-0380(3). Anyone quoting '8 hours' from the statute is quoting a number no provider can actually renew on. CERTIFIED FAMILY — 15 CLOCK HOURS EVERY YEAR, FOR THE PROVIDER AND FOR EVERY ASSISTANT II.

OAR 414-360-0380: 'A provider must ensure the following training requirements are met for each caregiver: (1) The provider and each assistant II must have at least 15 clock hours of formal training or education annually related to child care, of which at least 8 clock hours is in child development and 1 hour is in health, safety, and nutrition (HSN). (2) Substitute providers and substitute assistant IIs who provide care for 240 hours or more per licensing period must meet annual training requirements identified in OAR 414-360-0380(1). Assistant II that substitute for the provider must meet annual training requirements identified in OAR 414-360-0380(1). (3) Caregivers employed less than a year must complete training requirements prorated at 1.25 clock hours for each month worked in the current license period. If the 15 hours of training are pro-rated, the requirement to have 8 hours of training in child development or early childhood education does not apply.' WHAT COUNTS, IN BOTH REGIMES (OAR 414-210-0385 and 414-360-0385). Training must be 'approved by ORO' and 'be at least 1 hour in duration' (414-210-0385(1)); every provider and caregiver must hold an active Oregon Registry Online account.

The core knowledge categories accepted toward the child-development/ECE requirement are listed exhaustively: 'Diversity, Family and Community Systems, Human Growth and Development, Health Safety and Nutrition, Learning Environments and Curriculum, Observation and Assessment, Special Needs, and Understanding and Guiding Behavior' (414-210-0385(2); identical list at 414-360-0385(2)). REPEAT-CREDIT RULES, WHICH ARE WHERE STALE SUMMARIES GO WRONG. RF: 'During subsequent years of licensure, caregivers may count the following repeated training as part of the 10 clock hours of training: a. 2 hours of CCLD approved training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect that is specific to Oregon law but only every 3 years; and b. A Set 2 (intermediate) or Set 3 (advanced) training as described by ORO can be repeated once, provided it was not taken within the previous 2 years' (OAR 414-210-0385(3)). The interval is THREE years, not five. CF adds a first-year allowance that RF does not have: 'A certified family child care may count the following initial required caregiver training toward the 15 clock hours of annual training during the first year of employment.

These hours, with the exception of (f) cannot be applied toward the requirement of 8 hours in child development or early childhood education: (a) Up to 2 hours of orientation at the first renewal period after the caregiver's hire date; (b) Pediatric CPR and first aid training; (c) Food handler's training; (d) CCLD approved training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect that is specific to Oregon law; (e) CCLD Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety training; and (f) Foundations for Learning child development training' (414-360-0385(3)) — note that only Foundations for Learning counts toward the 8-hour child-development slice. In later years: 'Up to 5 hours of pediatric CPR and first aid training or food handler's training' may be counted, plus the abuse/neglect training 'but only every 3 years', plus a repeatable Set 2/Set 3 ORO training (414-360-0385(4)). CERTIFICATIONS THAT MUST NEVER LAPSE, IN BOTH REGIMES: pediatric CPR and first aid, and the Oregon food handler certification (OAR 414-210-0370(2); 414-360-0370(2)); for CF caregivers, CPR/first aid and food handler 'must be kept current during employment' (414-360-0370(3)(c)(A),(d)).

Background checks

OREGON RUNS ONE STATEWIDE REGISTRY — THE CENTRAL BACKGROUND REGISTRY (CBR) — AND THE LICENCE CANNOT ISSUE WITHOUT IT. Statutory basis ORS 329A.030; rules OAR 414-061-0000 through 414-061-0120. Definition: '“Central Background Registry” or “CBR” means CCLD's registry of individuals who have been approved to be associated with a child care facility in Oregon pursuant to ORS 329A.030 and OAR 414-061-0000 through 414-061-0120' (OAR 414-075-0010(3)). WHO MUST ENROL IN A REGISTERED HOME, VERBATIM. OAR 414-210-0310(1): 'The provider must be enrolled in CCLD's CBR prior to the issuance of a registration. All other caregivers, and residents of the child care home 18 years of age or older must be enrolled or conditionally enrolled in CCLD's CBR prior to the issuance of an initial or renewal of a registration.' (2): 'Residents of the child care home who are under 18 years of age must be enrolled or conditionally enrolled in the CBR by their 18th birthday.'

THE AGE IS 18, NOT 16. Any summary saying household members 'age 16 and older' must be registry-approved is wrong under the current rule: the threshold is 18, with a minor resident required to enrol BY their 18th birthday, and DELC's CBR page adds the practical detail 'You must be 18 to enroll in the Central Background Registry' and 'You must be 18 years of age or within 90 days of turning 18 in order to apply online' (the RF page states the six-week variant: 'Individuals can apply within six weeks of turning 18 to ensure that they are enrolled prior to turning 18'). CONFIRMATION MUST PRECEDE THE PERSON'S ARRIVAL: 'A provider must receive confirmation from CCLD that an individual 18 years of age or over, is enrolled or conditionally enrolled in the CBR before the individual can: (a) Reside in the child care home; (b) Stay overnight on the premises for longer than 14 consecutive days, not to exceed a total of 30 days in a calendar year...; (c) Work in the child care home; or (d) Volunteer in the child care home' (OAR 414-210-0310(3)). THE ADU CARVE-OUT — A 2025 REFINEMENT MOST GUIDES DO NOT HAVE.

Adults 18+ living on the premises but in a separate unit (OAR 414-210-0310(4) names 'Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or other Alternative Housing units, tiny homes, recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, garage apartments') need NOT enrol if ALL of five conditions hold: they are not known to be suspended/denied/removed for cause from the CBR; 'The living space can be accessed without entering the child care home'; they have 'no opportunity for access to child care children without the permission of the provider and presence of a caregiver' (with 'opportunity for access' defined as being 'close enough to touch or have a conversation with a child care child inside or outside the home'); 'Child care is never conducted in the living space and child care children do not have access to the living space'; and the unit 'offers basic necessities such as running water, a bathroom, and cooking appliances, without having to enter the child care home during operating hours or when child care children are present.'

ONGOING DUTIES: 'The provider, caregivers, and other individuals that are required to be enrolled in the CBR must maintain current enrollment in the CBR at all times while the registered family child care license is active'; 'Individuals with conditional enrollment in the CBR shall not have unsupervised access to children'; 'Any visitor to the child care home or other adult who is not enrolled in the CBR shall not have unsupervised access to children'; and the provider must operate a visitor log — 'a sign-in and sign-out process that captures: (a) The individual's name and relationship to the registered family child care (e.g. volunteer, vendor, guest, landlord, etc.); and (b) Arrival and departure times' (OAR 414-210-0310(5)-(8)). Anyone whose enrolment 'has been revoked, denied, or suspended' may not be on the premises during operating hours, have contact with children, or live on the premises including in an ADU (414-210-0310(9)). Losing the CBR loses the licence: 'A registered family child care registration may be denied, suspended or revoked if the provider has been removed, denied or suspended from the CBR' (414-210-0150(5)). WHAT THE CHECK ACTUALLY CONTAINS. 'Enrollment' is defined as 'approval for a five-year period to be enrolled in the Central Background Registry following an OSP criminal records check, child abuse and neglect records check, checks of adult protective services and foster care certification, and an FBI records check' (OAR 414-061-0020(20)) — so it is a FIVE-YEAR approval, fingerprint-based, and it reaches beyond crime into child-abuse, adult-protective-services and foster-care history.

The criminal records check may include LEDS, OSP fingerprint identification, 'A nationwide check of criminal records, including through fingerprint identification, conducted by OSP through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)', out-of-state repositories, 'the National Criminal Information Center's National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR)', state sex-offender registries, and 'Oregon Judicial Department's OJCIN/OECI which includes court case information for Oregon's 36 judicial districts' (414-061-0020(12)). SUBJECT INDIVIDUALS, defined at OAR 414-061-0030(1), include 'The owner, operator or an employee or volunteer of a certified, registered or otherwise regulated facility caring for children that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department', Head Start and Oregon pre-kindergarten staff, early-intervention contractors, tribal child care staff, and 'the operator or an employee of a preschool recorded program or a school-age recorded program'; and (2) sweeps in anyone else with access: 'An individual in any of the above facilities or programs who may have unsupervised contact with children is also a subject individual.

This includes but is not limited to permanent or temporary residents in the home or facility or persons visiting on a regular basis.' APPLICATION MECHANICS: a completed, signed 'Application for Enrollment in the Department's Central Background Registry' plus fee, an explanation of any disclosed history, consent to use of the SSN and other identifiers, and the FBI check information required by OAR 414-061-0080 (414-061-0035(1)); applicants must attest to foster-care history and adult-protective-services history (414-061-0035(2)); 'Applications must be accompanied by the required fee unless the applicant is eligible for a waiver... Applications not accompanied by the required fee are considered incomplete. Application fees are non-refundable' (414-061-0035(5)); and CCLD gives 'a reasonable time to cure an incomplete application, not to exceed 30 days' (414-061-0035(6)). DELC's CBR page names the form: 'The CEN-0072 application is used for new enrollment in the Child Care Licensing Division's Central Background Registry, or renewing enrollment or reopening an expired Registry enrollment', with an online option requiring a Social Security Number (a 'Statement of No Social Security Number' form exists for those without one).

TIMING, FROM DELC'S OWN PAGE — BUILD THIS INTO THE PLAN: 'When the Child Care Licensing Division receives a completed Central Background Registry application form and fee, and there are no issues, processing time is normally 3-5 business days... before the letter for fingerprinting is mailed out'; 'Once fingerprinting has been completed, it typically takes 2-4 weeks (up to 8 for people with out of state residency within the last 5 years) for full CBR approval and active enrollment'; and every applicant 'must disclose their places of residence within the last five years'. Conditional enrolment is available: 'An individual may be conditionally enrolled in the CBR pending the results of an FBI criminal records check if the individual resides in Oregon (must have an Oregon address on file), has been initially approved by the Child Care Licensing Division, and the individual's fingerprints have been submitted to the FBI.' Renewals should reach CCLD 'at least 14 days prior to expiration', in which case 'your current enrollment remains in effect until the Child Care Licensing Division takes further action'.

DISQUALIFICATION IS NOT A SIMPLE LIST. OAR 414-061-0050 splits offences into Category I (which 'shall disqualify a subject individual from being enrolled in the Central Background Registry, unless the subject individual provides sufficient evidence of suitability as described in section (10) of this rule') and Category II (weighed case by case), and it applies different look-back windows — 15 years for one Category I group (e.g. burglary I, coercion, criminal mistreatment II, robbery II and III, stalking, custodial interference I), 20 years for another (e.g. criminal mistreatment I, criminally negligent homicide, incest, manslaughter II, rape III, robbery I, unlawful contact with a child), and NO time limit at all for a third group ('The Department will consider the following crimes regardless of the length of time since the conviction'), which includes luring a minor, displaying obscene materials to minors, and involuntary servitude I and II. Category II covers theft, fraud, deception, crimes against public justice and major traffic offences, generally with a 5-year window. RELATED DUTY: the provider must notify CCLD by 5:00 p.m. the next business day of 'A known legal action or child abuse or neglect investigation, such as an arrest, criminal investigation or charge, or Victim Protection Order, involving any person for which a registered family child care is required to request a background check' (OAR 414-210-0270(1)(c)).

The application, step by step

Work through these in order — the prep packet turns them into a checklist you can tick off:

1. PICK THE REGIME BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, because the rule book, the fee, the term and the training all fork here. Registered Family (RF, up to 10 children, OAR 414-210-0100 to 414-210-1620, $30, two-year registration) is the entry-level home licence and requires that 'The home in which child care is provided must be the residence of the provider' with 'one provider per household' (OAR 414-210-0140(6),(7)). Certified Family (CF, up to 16, OAR 414-360-0100 to 414-360-1620, $25 + $2 per certified space, 12-month certificate) requires a prior qualification (1,500 documented hours of group-setting experience in 3-hour blocks within 36 months, OR 20 semester/30 quarter college credits in ECE or child development, OR Oregon Registry step 6 — OAR 414-360-0320(6)(d)) and age 21 if certified for more than 12 children (414-360-0320(6)(b)). If you will care for three or fewer children in addition to those who live with you, or for children from only one family, you need NO licence at all: OAR 414-075-0250(1)(g),(h) and ORS 329A.250(4)(b)(E),(F).
2. RF ONLY — ATTEND 'INTRODUCTION TO REGISTERED FAMILY CHILD CARE', PART I AND PART II, FIRST. The rule makes it a pre-issuance condition (OAR 414-210-0370(1)(a)) and DELC makes it the entry door: 'Before you apply for a Registered Family Child Care Home license, you must first attend the Introduction to Registered Family Child Care class part one (online) and part two (in person). This course is offered through our partner agency Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)... this training is FREE for participants.' It is also where the application form is handed out: 'At this training you will receive the application to become a Registered Family Child Care Provider.' Find your CCR&R at http://triwou.org/projects/ccccrr.
3. OPEN AN OREGON REGISTRY ONLINE (ORO) ACCOUNT AND ROUTE EVERY CERTIFICATE THROUGH IT. 'A provider and any other caregivers must have an active account with ORO' and training must 'Be approved by ORO' and 'be at least 1 hour in duration' (OAR 414-210-0385(1)). DELC: 'These trainings must also be submitted to and verified by the Oregon Registry Online (ORO)... https://my.oregonregistryonline.org/'. Training not verified in ORO will not count at renewal.
4. ENROL YOURSELF AND EVERY REQUIRED ADULT IN THE CENTRAL BACKGROUND REGISTRY AND GET FINGERPRINTED — START THIS EARLY, IT IS THE LONGEST POLE. Required before the licence issues: the provider, all other caregivers, and 'residents of the child care home 18 years of age or older' (OAR 414-210-0310(1)); minors resident in the home must be enrolled 'by their 18th birthday' (414-210-0310(2)). Use form CEN-0072 (paper or online; online requires an SSN). Budget DELC's own stated timings: 3-5 business days to issue the fingerprint letter, then 'typically 2-4 weeks (up to 8 for people with out of state residency within the last 5 years) for full CBR approval'. Conditional enrolment can bridge the FBI wait if you live in Oregon and your prints are submitted. Fee is non-refundable and an application without it 'are considered incomplete' (OAR 414-061-0035(5)).
5. COMPLETE THE FULL PRE-ISSUANCE TRAINING SET AND KEEP THE PERISHABLE ONES CURRENT. RF (OAR 414-210-0370(1)): Introduction to Registered Family Child Care Parts I and II; Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety; at least two hours of Oregon-law-specific child abuse and neglect training; Safe Sleep for Oregon's Infants; current pediatric CPR and first aid with practical hands-on instruction ('Strictly on-line CPR training is not acceptable'); Foundations for Learning; and a current Oregon food handler's certification. CF (OAR 414-360-0370(1)) drops the Introduction course but keeps the rest, and adds infant/toddler hours BEFORE you take infants: 30 clock hours before caring for more than two children under 24 months, plus 20 more (50 total) plus a second qualified caregiver before more than four (414-360-0320(7),(8)).
6. TEST YOUR DRINKING WATER FOR LEAD AND GET THE RESULTS IN HAND — THIS IS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE APPLICATION, NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT. 'An applicant must provide the following items with the application for an initial registration, or change of address: (a) Initial or current lead testing results for each source of drinking water, as required in OAR 414-210-0820; and (b) Verification that the provider has met the initial training listed in OAR 414-210-0370(1)' (OAR 414-210-0130(4)). Every faucet used for drinking or food preparation must be tested; the limit is 'no more than 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead'; testing must be by a laboratory accredited under the Oregon Laboratory Accreditation Program per OAR chapter 333 division 64, following 'the EPA's 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities, Revised Manual from October 2018'; results go to CCLD 'within 10 calendar days of receiving the results' with a written statement identifying each fixture; retest at least every 6 years (414-210-0820(2)-(6),(10)). ON A PRIVATE WELL there is a second test: coliform and E. coli, nitrate and arsenic, by an ORELAP-accredited lab, before initial licence and 'at a minimum, every two years after initial testing', with results submitted to the local public health authority (414-210-0820(11)).
7. CF ONLY — GET THE FLOOR PLAN AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH APPROVAL BEFORE YOU FILE. A CF initial application (or change of address, or a change to the indoor floor plan) must include 'Approval by an environmental health specialist registered under ORS chapter 700 or an authorized representative of the Oregon Health Authority' and 'A floor plan, including dimensions (length and width) of all rooms to be used, the planned use of each room, the locations of required exits, and the placement of the kitchen and bathrooms', plus the lead results and training verification (OAR 414-360-0130(5)). Measure your indoor activity area against 35 sq ft per child (and 50 sq ft per child for each child above 12), excluding kitchen prep areas, bathrooms, heating units, storage and unusable space (414-360-0800(5)). DELC's CF page adds two practical steps before filing: 'Verify compliance with local planning, zoning, and building codes' and 'Schedule pre-certification visit with licensing specialist'.
8. FILE THE APPLICATION ON THE STATUTORY CLOCK, WITH THE FEE. 'A registered family child care must complete and submit an application to CCLD at least: (a) 45 days before the planned opening date of a new registered family child care home or change of location; and (b) 30 days prior to the expiration of the registration for a renewal' (OAR 414-210-0130(3)); identical 45/30-day clock for CF at 414-360-0130(4). Fee: $30 for RF (reducible or waivable on proof of income below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level), '$25 plus $2 for each certified space' for CF initial (renewals: $2 per licensed space only) — 414-210-0130(2); 414-360-0130(3). Outstanding civil penalties block processing: 'An applicant must pay in full all civil penalties established by final order against the applicant or be compliant with a CCLD approved payment plan before CCLD will process an initial or renewal application' (414-210-0130(6)). A stalled application can be closed: if CCLD has not acted 'within 12 months of the date the application was submitted... the application may be closed' (414-210-0130(7)).
9. WRITE THE POLICIES BEFORE THE VISIT — THEY ARE A RULE, NOT A COURTESY. 'A provider must have written information and policies... and provide them to substitute providers, parents, and volunteers. Information must be provided at the time of enrollment and when information changes': the name, business address and business telephone number of the person with immediate responsibility for daily operation; parent responsibilities; the emergency preparedness and response plan; transportation information when provided; the behavior and guidance policy; 'Prevention of and duty to report suspected child abuse and neglect'; and 'Night care, if provided' (OAR 414-210-0200(1)(a)-(g), rule in force on 2026-08-25). From 09/01/2026 a suspension and expulsion prevention policy is added as (h), keyed to the new OAR 414-210-0750. Non-discrimination is a standing condition and a revocation ground (414-210-0200(2)), and a documented individualized assessment is required for any child known to have specific needs (414-210-0200(3)).
10. PREPARE THE PHYSICAL HOME FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY REVIEW, USING THE AGENCY'S OWN CHECKLIST. DELC publishes the sample review instrument — 'Health and Safety Review Checklist (CCLD-0092)' for RF, 'Sample CF Health and Safety Review Checklist (CCLD-0091)' for CF. Fire protection alone (OAR 414-210-0860) requires: unobstructed exits and a DAILY inspection that evacuation routes are clear; flammables in original or safety containers, never within 4 feet of furnaces or fuel-fired water heaters, and quantities over a gallon kept in an unattached building; 'at least one 2-A-10 BC rated fire extinguisher on each floor of the home', shown on the posted floor plan, mounted or stored along the primary evacuation route, inspected monthly with the inspection documented; smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors 'Installed on each floor level of the home and in any area where children nap' (or within 6 feet of the nap-room doorway), tested monthly with the test documented; and monthly fire drills at varying times, including an alternate-route drill at least once a year, with a documented effort to evacuate everyone 'within three minutes' and a written record of each drill capturing date and time, exits used, number and age range of children evacuated, total people present, evacuation time, who ran the drill and the alert method used.
11. PASS THE ON-SITE HEALTH AND SAFETY REVIEW. 'Upon receipt of a completed application, a registered family child care will be evaluated by a representative of CCLD to determine if it meets all registration requirements' and 'CCLD will issue a regular registered family child care registration when the home is determined to be in compliance with all of these rules' (OAR 414-210-0140(1),(2)). The statute puts a clock on it: 'Upon receipt of an initial or renewal application satisfactory to the department, the department shall conduct an on-site review of the child care facility under this section. The on-site review shall be conducted within 30 days of the receipt of a satisfactory application' (ORS 329A.330(3)(b)). Access must be total: representatives get 'immediate access to all areas of the home and premises when child care children are present, including... Areas deemed inaccessible to children, including rooms not typically used for child care, second floors and other structures on the premises', all child records, and all caregivers (OAR 414-210-0150(3)). DELC's description: 'If the licensing specialist observes any noncompliance with the rules, you will be informed and given an opportunity to correct the issue.' CF adds a temporary certificate stage — CCLD 'will issue a temporary certified family child care certificate when the home is determined to be in compliance with most of these rules, CCLD has not identified deficiencies that are hazardous to children, and the provider demonstrates an effort to be in full compliance' (414-360-0140(3)); DELC's CF page describes a temporary licence 'valid up to 180 days' before the annual certificate.
12. IF A RULE GENUINELY CANNOT APPLY TO YOUR HOME, FILE AN EXCEPTION REQUEST — BUT KEEP COMPLYING MEANWHILE. 'A provider may request an exception to a rule on a form provided by CCLD for a specified period of time when: (a) A requirement does not apply to the registered family child care; or (b) The intent of the requirement can be met by a method not specified in the applicable rule,' with 'A justification for the requested exception' and 'An explanation of how the provider will meet the intent of the rule' (OAR 414-210-0160(1),(2)). Two things can never be excepted: the onsite review for an initial or renewal application, and anything that would compromise children's health, safety and well-being (414-210-0160(3)). Critically: 'A provider must remain in compliance with the rule as written until CCLD approves the exception request' (414-210-0160(4)), and an approved exception 'does not set a precedent' and may be withdrawn at any time (414-210-0160(6),(7)). The form is EXC-0032.
13. OPEN, THEN POST AND NOTIFY. Display the current registration and the other required items near the entrance (see required_postings), including the floor plan with exits, primary and secondary evacuation routes and fire extinguishers (OAR 414-210-0260(2)). Learn the next-business-day notification list at 414-210-0270(1) — it includes mailing address and phone changes, arrests or abuse investigations of any background-checked person, permanent closure, building damage affecting compliance, 'An incident that exposes children to an imminent risk of harm, such as a child leaving the home without the provider's knowledge or being left alone on or off site or in a vehicle', animal bites, transportation accidents beyond minor damage, serious injuries, medication errors ('A child who is given the incorrect dosage of any medication' and 'A child who took or received another person's medication'), 'The death of a child while in care or death of a caregiver', and 'Any time prohibited discipline or prohibited actions occur'. Expect unannounced monitoring: 'CCLD may conduct unannounced monitoring visits of a registered family child care at least annually' (414-210-0150(7)).
14. PUT THE RENEWAL ON THE CALENDAR THE DAY YOU OPEN. RF: renew at least 30 days before expiry, with the $30 fee, evidence of current pediatric CPR/first aid and food handler certification, and at least 10 clock hours of training over the two preceding years (6 in child development, 1 HSN hour in each 12-month half) — OAR 414-210-0130(3)(b), 414-210-0380. A timely renewal keeps you open: 'If an application for renewal and payment of the required fee is received at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the current registration, the current registration unless officially revoked, remains in force until CCLD has acted'; a late one does not: 'the registration will expire and the registered family child care must cease operations unless the renewal is completed prior to the expiration date' (414-210-0130(3)(b)(A),(B)). CF renews annually and requires a successful CCLD health and safety inspection plus fresh 'Written approval by an environmental health specialist registered under ORS chapter 700 or an authorized representative of the Oregon Health Authority' (414-360-0130(6)).

What you must post on your walls

• THE CURRENT REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATE ITSELF — 'A provider must display the following near the entrance, or in some other area of the home where they may be clearly viewed by parent(s) and caregivers of children in care: (a) The most current registration issued by CCLD' (OAR 414-210-0260(1)(a); CF counterpart 414-360-0260).
• SERIOUS COMPLAINT AND NON-COMPLIANCE HISTORY, FOR A FULL YEAR — 'All serious valid complaints and serious non-compliance letters for 12 calendar months from the date of the letter' (OAR 414-210-0260(1)(b)). 'Serious' is defined at 414-210-0100(46) and expressly includes children in imminent danger and 'There are more children in care than allowed by licensed capacity'.
• ANY CURRENT OR PENDING LEGAL SANCTION — 'A notice of any current or pending legal sanctions posted immediately and while in effect, including throughout any appeal period' (OAR 414-210-0260(1)(c)). Separately, a suspension must be posted on the door: 'Post the suspension on the main entry door where it can be viewed by parents and others', and on closure the provider 'shall post a notice of the closure where it can be viewed by parents and others. The notice shall remain posted for a minimum of 2 weeks' (OAR 414-210-1610).
• DELC'S WEBSITE AND PHONE NUMBER PLUS THE SAFETY-PORTAL STATEMENT — 'The DELC website [www.oregon.gov/DELC] and phone number [1-800-556-6616], and a statement advising parents that they can access information about their child care provider on the child care safety portal' (OAR 414-210-0260(1)(d)).
• A NOTICE THAT THE 'AVAILABLE ON REQUEST' ITEMS EXIST — 'A notice that the items listed in (3) of this rule are available' (OAR 414-210-0260(1)(e)).
• A FLOOR PLAN WITH EXITS AND EXTINGUISHERS — 'A provider shall display a floor plan identifying the locations of the following near the entrance, or in some other area of the home where they may be clearly viewed by all individuals responsible for evacuation procedures: (a) Exits; (b) Primary evacuation routes; (c) Secondary evacuation routes; and (d) Fire extinguishers' (OAR 414-210-0260(2)). Extinguishers on child-care floors 'must be designated on the floor plan required in OAR 414-210-0260(2)' (414-210-0860(5)(a)).
• AVAILABLE IN A PROMINENT, FREQUENTLY VISITED PLACE (OAR 414-210-0260(3)) — the most recent CCLD inspection, with the rule book available on request: 'The most recent CCLD inspection and rules for registration of child care homes are available upon request' (414-210-0260(3)(a)).
• THE MOST RECENT WATER TEST RESULTS SUMMARY provided by CCLD (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(b)); a copy of the most recent lead results must also be kept 'on site at all times' (414-210-0820(8)).
• HOW TO COMPLAIN — 'Information on how to report a complaint to CCLD regarding registration requirements' (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(c)).
• THE CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE AND THE DUTY TO REPORT — 'The Oregon Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline number and requirement to report suspected abuse or neglect' (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(d)); the number in the notification rule is 1-855-503-7233 and the duty 'applies 24 hours a day' (414-210-0270(2)).
• PARENTAL ACCESS NOTICE — 'A notice that parents must be permitted access to their child and all child care areas while their child is in care. Advance notice is not required' (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(e)).
• THE BEHAVIOR AND GUIDANCE POLICY (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(f)), which is also one of the written policies that must be handed to parents at enrollment (414-210-0200(1)(e)).
• EMERGENCY NUMBERS — 'Emergency numbers to include 9-1-1, where available, or local law enforcement, local mental health crisis line, fire department, and ambulance service' (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(g)).
• THE VISITOR-ACCESS PLAN — 'A plan to ensure that any visitor or other adult not enrolled or conditionally enrolled in the CBR does not have unsupervised access to children' (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(h)); the underlying sign-in/sign-out safeguard is at 414-210-0310(8).
• FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 (NOT BEFORE) — 'The provider's suspension and expulsion prevention policy' is added as OAR 414-210-0260(3)(i) alongside new 414-210-0750; DELC's rule book CCLD-0086 already prints it, and DELC's Child Care Rules page dates the package 'effective September 01, 2026'. The version of 414-210-0260 in force on 2026-08-25 does not contain it.
• NOT IN THE 0260 DISPLAY LIST BUT STILL MANDATORY POSTINGS, OFTEN MISSED: (a) OUTBREAK NOTICE — if any child, caregiver or volunteer has a restrictable disease as defined in OAR chapter 333 division 19, the provider must 'Immediately report the incident or illness to the local health department', follow its exclusion/readmission recommendations, and 'Post a notice for the parents of all children who attend the home' (OAR 414-210-1010(3)(a)-(c)); (b) SANCTION POSTINGS — on suspension the provider must 'Post the suspension on the main entry door where it can be viewed by parents and others', and on closure must notify all parents and 'post a notice of the closure where it can be viewed by parents and others. The notice shall remain posted for a minimum of 2 weeks' (OAR 414-210-1610); (c) WRITTEN NOTICE, NOT POSTED — parents must be notified in writing 'immediately... if a condition or restriction is placed on the license' (OAR 414-210-0270(5)).

Enrollment forms for each child

• REGISTERED FAMILY CHILD CARE application — the rule requires 'an original and complete application for registration on the forms provided by CCLD' for initial registration, renewal, a move to a new location, or re-opening after a lapse (OAR 414-210-0130(1)). DELC does not hand it out as a downloadable PDF from the RF page; it is distributed at the mandatory entry class: 'At this training you will receive the application to become a Registered Family Child Care Provider' (oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/registered-family.aspx). Submit at least 45 days before opening, signed, with the $30 non-refundable fee (414-210-0130(2),(3)).
• CERTIFIED FAMILY CHILD CARE application — 'an original and complete application for certification on the forms provided by CCLD' for initial certification, renewal, change of provider or location, or 'For an increase in capacity' (OAR 414-360-0130(1)). Fee '$25 plus $2 for each certified space' (414-360-0130(3)(a)); non-owner applicants 'must identify the owner on the application' (414-360-0130(2)).
• CEN-0072 — Central Background Registry enrollment application. DELC's CBR page: 'The CEN-0072 application is used for new enrollment in the Child Care Licensing Division's Central Background Registry, or renewing enrollment or reopening an expired Registry enrollment.' Paper or online (online requires an SSN); rule requirements at OAR 414-061-0035(1)-(3). Needed for the provider, all caregivers, and household residents 18+ (414-210-0310(1)).
• 'Statement of No Social Security Number' form — required with a paper CBR application when the applicant has no SSN: 'If you do not have a Social Security Number, please complete an application form, a Statement of No Social Security Number form, and mail it in' (DELC CBR page).
• LEAD TEST RESULTS for each drinking-water source, submitted WITH the initial application or on a change of address (OAR 414-210-0130(4)(a); 414-360-0130(5)(c)), accompanied by 'a written statement that identifies the location of each drinking water faucet or fixture tested' (414-210-0820(6)). Well users additionally submit coliform/E. coli, nitrate and arsenic results to the local public health authority (414-210-0820(11)).
• TRAINING VERIFICATION — 'Verification that the provider has met the initial training listed in OAR 414-210-0370(1)' must accompany the application (414-210-0130(4)(b)); the CF equivalent is 414-360-0130(5)(d). DELC requires the same certificates to be entered and verified in Oregon Registry Online (ORO).
• CF FLOOR PLAN 'including dimensions (length and width) of all rooms to be used, the planned use of each room, the locations of required exits, and the placement of the kitchen and bathrooms' (OAR 414-360-0130(5)(b)) — required for initial certification, change of address, and 'when the home indoor floor plan changes'.
• CF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH APPROVAL — 'Approval by an environmental health specialist registered under ORS chapter 700 or an authorized representative of the Oregon Health Authority', required with the initial application (OAR 414-360-0130(5)(a)) and again at renewal in writing (414-360-0130(6)(b)).
• EXC-0032 — Exception Request Form, the 'form provided by CCLD' contemplated by OAR 414-210-0160(1) (published by DELC in English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese).
• CCLD-0092 — RF Health and Safety Review Checklist (sample), the instrument used at the on-site review; CCLD-0091 is the CF counterpart. Published by DELC in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese (and Vietnamese for some documents).
• CCLD-0093 — Contact Report (sample), the form a licensing specialist leaves after a visit.
• CCLD-0107 — Guide to Registered Family Child Care Home; CCLD-0106 — Guide to Certified Family Child Care Home. Guidance publications, in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Vietnamese.
• CCLD-0086 — 'Rules for Registered Family Child Care Homes' (the Division 210 rule book, which also reprints Division 75); CCLD-0085 — 'Rules for Certified Family Child Care Homes' (Division 360); CCLD-0731 — 'General Rules for All Child Care Facilities' (Division 75). The current rule books must be available to parents on request (OAR 414-210-0260(3)(a)).
• CCLD-0123 — Facility Voluntary Withdrawal or Closure Form, and CCLD-0124 — Unauthorized Adult Form: two CCLD forms published in the same library and used for the closure notification and access-control duties in OAR 414-210-0270(1)(d) and 414-210-0310(9).
• ADDRESS/PHONE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUEST — 'CCLD may withhold from the public a provider's address and telephone number if the provider makes a written request documenting that disclosure... would endanger them or a family member living in the home (OAR 137-004-0800). The request must be on a form supplied by CCLD' (OAR 414-210-0150(13)).

What's specific about getting licensed in Oregon

Oregon's central trap is that 'family child care license' is really two different licenses, and picking the wrong door wastes months. A Registered Family Child Care (RF) home tops out at 10 children; to reach 16 you need a Certified (CF) home, which is a heavier license with staff-qualification standards, single-family-dwelling facility/fire requirements, and youngest-child ratio tables. The other Oregon-specific catch is the Central Background Registry (CBR): unlike states that check only the provider, Oregon requires every household member age 16+ (not just staff) to be enrolled and APPROVED before a license issues — one un-enrolled adult living in the home stalls the whole application. Providers also routinely miss that their OWN children count toward capacity and the 6-preschool / 2-under-24-months RF sub-limits, and that the CF ratio numbers live in attachment tables keyed to the youngest child, not in the plain rule text.

How long it takes and what it costs in Oregon

Timeline: Plan on roughly 2–4 months for an RF home end to end: CBR fingerprint enrollment and approval for the whole household is often the longest step (several weeks), running in parallel with the Family Child Care Overview session, health & safety / safe sleep training, CPR/first aid and food handler certification, then application submission and the on-site inspection. A Certified (CF) home typically takes longer given the added facility, fire, and staffing standards.

Cost: Varies — confirm current figures with DELC/OCC. Budget for: the RF (or CF) application fee, Central Background Registry fingerprinting/enrollment fees for you and each household member 16+, first aid + infant/child CPR course, and food handler card. Oregon periodically waives or subsidizes some fees and training through Child Care Resource & Referral, so verify the exact application fee and CBR fee with DELC before assuming an amount rather than relying on a guessed number.

Source: PRIMARY SOURCES ACTUALLY READ ON 2026-08-25 (not summarised from memory). OREGON SECRETARY OF STATE, OREGON ADMINISTRATIVE RULES DATABASE (authoritative): chapter 414 rule index, https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/displayChapterRules.action?selectedChapter=115 (shows Division 205 and 350 repealed 7/1/2025, Division 210 and 360 effective 7/1/2025, plus Divisions 75, 320, 330); and the single-rule pages served from https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewSingleRule.action?ruleVrsnRsn=<id> for OAR 414-210-0200 (319638), 414-210-0380 (319655), 414-210-0400 (319657), 414-210-0820 (319671), 414-210-0860 (319675), 414-210-1620 (319654), 414-360-0400 (319811), 414-075-0000 (320995), 414-061-0020 (310479), 414-061-0030 (334877), 414-061-0035 (310487), 414-061-0040 (310494), 414-061-0050 (310504). THE CF RATIO TABLE A ATTACHMENT, as published with the rule: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/viewAttachment.action?ruleVrsnRsn=319811 (the full grid is transcribed in the 'ratios' field of this entry). DELC RULE BOOKS, downloaded and read as PDF: CCLD-0086 'Rules for Registered Family Child Care Homes' (OAR chapter 414 division 210, and reprinting division 75), https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/CCLD_Library/CCLD-0086-Rules-for-Registered-Family-Child-Care-Homes-EN.pdf; CCLD-0085 'Rules for Certified Family Child Care Homes' (division 360), https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/CCLD_Library/CCLD-0085-Rules-for-Certified-Family-Child-Care-Homes-EN.pdf; CCLD-0731 'General Rules for All Child Care Facilities' (division 75, 'effective December 7, 2023'), https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/CCLD_Library/CCLD-0731-General-Rules-for-All-Child-Care-Facilities-EN.pdf.

OREGON REVISED STATUTES, chapter 329A (read in full text): ORS 329A.250 (definitions, including the (4)(b)(A)-(H) exemptions), ORS 329A.255 (preschool and school-age recorded programs), ORS 329A.280 (when certification required; includes the July 1, 2025 operative text), ORS 329A.330 (registration requirements, fee, renewal, rules), via https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_329A.250 , ors_329A.255 , ors_329A.280 , ors_329A.330 . DELC AGENCY PAGES (read for process, fees, forms and timings — and, where they cite repealed divisions, recorded as errors rather than followed): https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/registered-family.aspx ; https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/certified-family.aspx ; https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/child-care-rules.aspx ; https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/Pages/become-a-provider.aspx ; https://www.oregon.gov/delc/providers/pages/cbr.aspx . SECONDARY INDEX USED ONLY TO LOCATE THE RENUMBERING, THEN CONFIRMED AGAINST THE SOS: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/oregon/chapter-414 (division list showing the repeals and the new divisions).

NOT RELIED ON: https://oregon.public.law/rules/oar_chapter_414 , whose chapter index still shows the pre-2025 structure and the obsolete agency name 'Oregon Department of Education, Early Learning Division'.

Verified 2026-08-25. General information, not legal advice and not a guarantee of licensure — confirm with your state’s licensing agency before applying.