Licensing help for child care providers

Licensing requirements for child care centers help protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and a safe environment. The requirements are in law and published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

• Licensed Child Care Centers: Minnesota Rules, chapter 9503
• Children, Youth, and Families Licensing: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 142B
• Human Services Background Studies Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C
• Maltreatment of Minors Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E

Licensing requirements for family child care providers help protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and physical environment. The requirements are in law and published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

• Licensed Family Child Care: Minnesota Rules, chapter 9502
• Children, Youth, and Families Licensing: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 142B
• Human Services Background Studies Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C
• Maltreatment of Minors Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E

Legislative requirements for certified license-exempt child care centers help protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and physical environment. The requirements are in law and published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

• Certified License-Exempt Child Care Centers: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 142C
• Human Services Background Studies Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C
• Maltreatment of Minors Act: Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E

Sign up to receive communications from the Early Childhood Connector, a cross-agency effort to provide updates to child care providers and early educators in Minnesota. By signing up, you can expect to receive a quarterly newsletter highlighting resources, supports and updates on child care and early education from the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Children, Youth, and Families. Content will be tailored to licensed and nonlicensed child care, Head Start, and prekindergarten programs. In addition to the Early Childhood Connector newsletter, occasional updates will be sent.

The Minnesota Children’s Cabinet and the Departments of Education, Health, Human Services, and Children, Youth, and Families offer quarterly Early Childhood Connector provider calls to child care providers and early educators in Minnesota.

The purpose of Connector Calls is to answer clarifying questions related to legislation, licensing, programs, grants and more from providers and improve state communications. Calls are recorded and available on the Early Childhood Connector webpage.

Educators of all types are invited to these calls. We welcome questions from licensed programs, certified centers, exempt programs, legally nonlicensed providers, Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers, and individuals interested in starting a child care business.

Learn more about Connector Calls and submit your questions here. Questions must be submitted two weeks before the provider call. State staff will try to answer all questions but may not have time to get to all of them.

Upcoming Connector Call information 

• Next call date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 7 p.m. Central Time
• Meeting link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=m9adb9c9c50a0c520e7210418a83a7aac

Please save the date and meeting link on your own calendar; the state will not send a meeting invite. The call will be recorded and temporarily available to those who weren't able to attend.

Connector Call survey - share your feedback! Whether you've attended every call or none, we want to know your feedback on Connector Calls! Please fill out this short survey to help the state improve Early Childhood Connector communications.

On a quarterly basis, the state is hosting Connector Calls with child care providers and early educators to answer questions related to legislation, licensing, programs, grants and more. The purpose of the calls is to answer clarifying questions that providers may have. Whether you've attended every call or none, we want to know your feedback on Connector Calls! Please fill out the short Early Childhood Connector Call survey. Your answers are anonymous and will help the state improve Early Childhood Connector communications. Your feedback is appreciated!

Licensed and certified child care programs are responsible for meeting all training requirements for reporting as outlined in Statute: 

• Licensed child care centers: Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.65, subd. 1.
• Licensed family child care providers: Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.65, subd. 1.
• Certified license-exempt child care centers: Minnesota Statutes, section 142C.12.

Below is a link to a Mandated Reporter Training that was created by the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy. Use of these training videos is optional and can be used by child care providers as part of meeting the requirements for training.

The training is a self-paced learning module designed for various professionals who must make a report if suspected or known child maltreatment has occurred. This training features videos, quizzes, and activities that can be completed through self-study.

• Mandated Reporter Training - Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. If the child is not in immediate danger, use the contact information below to report suspected maltreatment, abuse, or neglect. 

• Child care centers (licensed or certified): Call the DCYF Intake Unit at 651-539-8222. 
• Family child care: Call the child protection unit at your local county social services agency.
• Child foster care: Call the child protection unit at your local county social services agency. 
• DHS-licensed facilities: Call the DHS Intake Unit at 651-431-6600.