Information for Prospective Child Care Providers

Thank you for considering a career in child care. Child care professionals are critical to Minnesota. Early interactions with loving, responsive caregivers shape the brain. Working parents depend on child care, and children who attend high-quality child care programs are more likely to do well and finish school.

Child Care Resource & Referral is here to help you get started and to support you throughout your career.

On this page:

Types of Child Care

There are several types of child care.

Licensed family child care homes
The local county licenses providers to care for children in a licensed family child care home. Training is required for licensed family child care providers.

Child Care Centers or Preschools
The state licenses child care centers and preschools to care for larger groups of children in a community center, place of worship or other facility. Centers may provide care for infants through school-age children.  Enrollment in preschools is usually limited to children 3 to 5 years old. Training for those who work at child care centers and preschools is required.

Getting Started as a Family Child Care Provider

Step 1: Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R).
These agencies can offer the latest statistics on child care demand in your area. They also offer quality support, business support, ongoing education, grants and scholarships to child care professionals. You can get contact information for your local CCR&R by searching here.
CCR&Rs help parents find local child care by keeping up-to-date information on providers.

 Step 2: Contact your county licensor.
Our list of county licensing staff includes phone numbers as well as links to more detailed information on county websites, where it is available.

Step 3: Create your business and financing plans.

Step 4: Join a professional association.

Step 5: Join the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

This federal program offers education on nutrition and pays providers monthly for some of the cost of the food they serve to children. All licensed family child care providers are eligible for this program.

Benefits of Becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider

The child care licensing process is designed to increase the quality of care children receive and to offer valuable information to caregivers. In addition, parents will be reassured to know that licensed care programs are periodically inspected.
Other benefits of licensure are:

Opening a Child Care Center or Preschool

Step 1: Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R).
These agencies can offer the latest statistics on child care demand in your area. They also offer quality support, business support, ongoing education, grants and scholarships to child care professionals. You can get contact information for your local CCR&R by searching here.
CCR&Rs help parents find local child care by keeping up-to-date information on providers.

Step 2: Contact your state licensor.
Contact the Minnesota Department of Human Services by calling 651-296-3971 or learn more by visiting their website.

Step 3: Create your business and financing plans.
 For templates and information on creating a business plan, marketing your child care program and understanding financial planning for your business, contact First Children’s Finance by calling 1-866-562-6801 or visiting their website.

Step 4: Join a professional association.

The Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC)’s mission is to serve and act on behalf of early childhood (birth to age 8) care and education professionals in Minnesota.