Becoming a Child Care Provider
If you are interested in becoming a child care provider but don't know what type of provider you are, please read the Indiana Child Care Definitions and refer to the information below about the process for becoming a licensed child care home, licensed child care center or unlicensed registered child care ministry.
To become a licensed child care center provider:
- Complete Orientation 1: Training for child care providers (start-up process and information). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
- Complete Orientation 2: Training for child care centers (preparation for licensure). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
- Submit your application online at I-LEAD via "Open a New Program" on the Dashboard.
- Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.
To become a licensed child care home provider:
- Complete Orientation 1: Training for child care providers (start-up process and information). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
- Complete Orientation 2: Training for child care home providers (preparation for licensure). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
- Submit your application online at I-LEAD via "Open a New Program" on the Dashboard.
- Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.
To become an unlicensed registered child care ministry provider:
- Complete Orientation 1: Training for child care providers (start-up process and information). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
- Complete Orientation 2: Training for unlicensed registered child care ministries (preparation for registration). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
- Submit your application online at I-LEAD via "Open a New Program" on the Dashboard.
- Submit completed application packet to the Department of Homeland Security, Fire and Building Safety Division.
- Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.
To become a CCDF certified unlicensed provider:
- Child care providers serving children who receive funding from the Child Care and Development Fund are required to meet certain standards of health and safety.
- Child care providers must be able to demonstrate that they meet these requirements prior to the receipt of any CCDF funds. To verify compliance, providers wishing to serve CCDF children, must submit all the required documentation and pass a CCDF provider eligibility inspection.
- Child care providers must meet the CCDF provider eligibility standards.
- Submit your application online at I-LEAD via "Open a New Program" on the Dashboard.
- Pass onsite inspection from the Legally licensed exempt provider consultant
- Who is my LLEP consultant?
If you believe you might be exempt from licensure, please read the Indiana Code regarding child care licensure exemptions.
The above information pulled from the following in.gov link: https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/become-a-child-care-provider/
