Daycare License Requirements for South Dakota
Worker requirements
Must be at least 18 years old and have a bachelor’s in fields of education or human development and at least 2 years experience in child care; or a bachelor’s in elementary education and at least 2 years experience in child care; or a bachelor’s in elementary education if working only with school-age children; or a bachelor’s in early childhood education; or and associate’s in early childhood development; or certification as a Child Development Associate; or certification in Montessori teacher training program and at least 1 year experience in a Montessori school or child care setting; or a child development technician diploma; or at least 5 years supervised experience in a child care center; or a prekindergarten teacher endorsement.
Provider / Child Ratio
| Age Range | Ratio For Child Care Centers |
| Infants | (1:5) |
| Toddlers (up to 3 years) | (1:5) |
| Preschool (3 – 6 years) | (1:10) |
| School age | (1:15) |
| Mixed age group | according to number in each group |
| Age Range | Ratio For Family Child Care |
| All ages | (1:12)[with no more than 4 children under the age of 2 years and no more than 2 of those 4 can be under the age of 1; provider's children under the age of 6 must be counted] |
Department of Social Services
Child Care Services
Kneip Building
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2291
Phone: 605-773-4766
Fax: 605-773-7294
Web site: http://www.state.sd.us/social/CCS/CCShome.htm
Regulation family dare care homes
http://legis.state.sd.us/rules/DisplayRule.aspx?Rule=67:42:03
Regulating day care centers
http://legis.state.sd.us/rules/DisplayRule.aspx?Rule=67:42:10
Learn more about How To Start A Daycare
