Daycare License Requirements for Virginia

Worker requirements

Must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. If hired or promoted after 11/1/93, must also have an endorsement or BA in a child- related field; or 48 semester hours from accredited college or university, at least 12 of which are in a subject relating to group care of children and 6 months of age-appropriate experience; or a 1 year early childhood certificate from an accredited college or university of at least 30 semester hours and 6 months of age-appropriate experience; or a CDA credential or equivalent; or one year age appropriate program experience in group care and participation in a staff training plan of at least 10 hours in first year of employment.

Provider / Child Ratio

Age Range	Ratio For Center-based Care
Infants	(1:4)
Young toddlers	(1:5)
2 and 3 years	(1:10)
4 years	(1:12)
School age	(1:20)
Mixed age group	ratio for youngest child in group

Age Range	Ratio For Family Child Care
0 – 15 months	(1:4)
16 – 23 months	(1:5)
2 – 4 years	(1:8)
5 – 9 years	(1:16)
10 years and older	these children shall not count in determining any ratio
Mixed age group	a point system shall be applied to determine the need for an assistant

Virginia Department of Social Services
Division of Licensing Programs
7 North Eighth Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 800-543-7545 (within state)
or 804-662-9743 (nationwide)
Fax: 804-662-9743
Web site: http://www.dss.state.va.us/division/license/

Rules for day care centers

http://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/licensing/licensed_child_care/child_day_centers/regulations_code/applicable_regulations/032-05-017-8.pdf

Rules for family daycare homes

http://nrc.uchsc.edu/STATES/VA/va_4.pdf

Virginia Child Care Associations:

Virginia Child Care Association – VCCA

Virginia Alliance of Family Child Care Associations – VAFCCA

Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children – NVAEYC

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Daycare License Requirements for Virginia

Worker requirements

Provider / Child Ratio

Rules for day care centers

Rules for family daycare homes

Virginia Child Care Associations:

Blog Posts

Daycare Success System

Daycare Policy Handbook Template

Daycare Grants and Loans

Home Daycare Business Plan

Daycare Center Business Plans

Daycare Forms