Daycare License Requirements for Maine
Worker requirement
Head –13 – 24 children: Must be at least 21 with a high school diploma or equivalent and have 12 mos. employment in licensed child day care facility for 13 or more children; or 12 mos. experience as an operator of a program for 3 – 12 children (including as a family day care provider) and have 6 hours training in child care or early childhood education topics; or have 1 year (30 credit hours) college courses including 6 hours in field closely related to caring for children and 6 mos. experience or CDA.
Group Leader: Must be at least 18 and have a CDA; or 6 mos. working experience with a group of 13 or more children; or have 1 year (30 credits) college work in a child related field
Provider / Child Ratio
| Age Range | Ratio For Center-based Care |
| Infants | (1:4) |
| Toddlers | (1:5) |
| 2 ½ – 3 years | (1:8) |
| 3 – 6 years | (1:10) |
| School age | (1:10) |
| Mixed age group | ratio for youngest child in group |
| Age Range | Ratio For Family Child Care |
| A licensed provider may care for: a) 4 children under 2, ORb) 8 children over 2, plus 2 school age children, ORc) 12 all school age children, OR
d) mixed ages – no more than 3 under age 2 with maximum of 6 plus 2 school age children [all ratios must include those children related to the caregiver] |
|
Child Care Licensing
Community Services Center
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
11 State House Station, 221 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0011
Phone: 207-287-5060
Fax: 207-287-5031
Web Site: http://www.state.me.us/dhs/
Rules for child care facilities
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/148/148c32.doc
Rules for family child care providers
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/148/148c033.doc
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