| License Description |
Occupational Description
Child Care Providers offer care and supervision of children in lieu of parental care and supervision for compensation.Child Care Providers in Nebraska may receive one of five types of licenses:. Family Child Care Home I providers are licensed to offer a child care program in the licensee's residence for at least four but not more than eight children, except that a licensee may be approved to serve up to two additional school-age children during non-school hours if no more than two of the other children in care are under 18 months of age.. Family Child Care Home II providers are licensed to offer a child care program in the licensee's residence or another location which is licensed to serve at least four but not more than 12 children..Child Care Center providers are licensed to provide a child care program for 13 or more children. A center may be located in the licensee's residence or another location. .School-Age Only Center providers are licensed to provide a child care program for 13 or more children who attend kindergarten or above. A school age center may be located in the licensee's residence or another location. .Preschool providers are licensed to provide a partial-day early child care program of primarily education services to any number of children age three or older, where children do not nap and are not served a meal. A preschool may be located in the licensee's residence or another location.No license is required for those who provide child care on an irregular, informal basis; without receiving compensation; to supervise three or fewer children at any one time; or to supervise only children age 13 or older.
Licensure Requirements
Provisional License-Provisional licenses are issued to all newly licensed child care programs, and are effective for one year.An applicant for a provisional license must submit:1. A complete, accurate, written and signed application and disclosure of ownership on a form provided by the Department;2. For the purpose of complying with Neb. Rev. Stat. 4 §§ 108 to §§ 114, an attestation that s/he is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien lawfully present in the U.S. The applicant must provide his/her immigration status and alien number, and agree to provide a copy of his/her USCIS documentation upon request;3. Consent for central registry checks and authorization for release of information for the applicant, all staff and volunteers age 13 or older, and all household members age 13 or older;4. Documentation of a criminal history record check for the applicant, all staff and volunteers age 19 or older, and all household members age 19 or older (See 391 NAC 1-006.02A);5. A Report of Law Enforcement Contact for the applicant, all staff and volunteers age 19 or older, and all household members age 19 or older (See 391 NAC 1-006.02C);6. A Health Information Report for the applicant on a form provided by the Department (See 391 NAC 1-006.02F);7. Written proof of liability insurance coverage of at least $100,000 per occurrence. (See Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.03);8. Documentation of completed CPR/First Aid training (See 391 NAC 1-006.04F);9. Documentation of completed pre-service orientation training by the Department;10. A sketch, diagram, or blueprint of the facility showing the dimensions, arrangement of rooms to be used by the children, and outdoor play area;11. Copies of zoning approval from the relevant jurisdiction;12. The $25 licensing fee (See 391 NAC 1-004.06);13. A completed Rules Compliance Checklist;14. Documentation that the applicant resides at the address on the application for licensure.Operating License-A standard, non-expiring license is issued to child care programs that have been inoperation for more than one year and are in full compliance with all regulations. Licensees must have completed one full year with a provisional license with satisfactory compliance with all regulations before qualifying for an operating license.An applicant for an operating license must submit:1. A complete, accurate, written and signed application and disclosure of ownership on a form provided by the Department, which contains all information required and authorized by the Child Care Licensing Act;2. For the purpose of complying with Neb. Rev. Stat. 4 §§ 108 to §§ 114, an attestation that s/he is a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien lawfully present in the U.S.;3. A Health Information Report for the applicant on a form provided by the Department (See 391 NAC 1-006.02F);4. Documentation of a criminal history record check for the applicant, all staff and volunteers age 19 or older, and all household members age 19 or older (See 391 NAC 1-006.02A);5. A Report of Law Enforcement Contact for the applicant, all staff and volunteers age 19 or older, and all household members age 19 or older (See 391 NAC 1-006.02C);6. Written proof of liability insurance coverage of at least $100,000 per occurrence. (See Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1911.03);7. Documentation of annual training hours completed during the provisional year;8. A completed Rules Compliance Checklist;9. A Fire Inspection Approval issued by the appropriate fire marshal's office;10. The $25 licensing fee (See 391 NAC 1-004.06).See the Nebraska Child Care Licensing Act for additional details.All Child Care Provider Staff Members and adult residents of Family Child Care Homes-Child care staff and residents of Family Child Care Homes must submit to a national criminal history record information check at the applicant's or licensee's expense, as set forth below.National criminal history record information checks are required:1. For staff and prospective staff prior to employment, except as otherwise permitted under 45 C.F.R. 98.43, as such regulation existed on January 1, 2019;2. For non-staff individuals ages 18 years and older, prior to residing in a licensed Family Child Care Home;3. A child care staff member who was employed by a child care provider prior to October 1, 2019, or who resided in a family child care home prior to October 1, 2019, shall submit to a national criminal history record information check by October 1, 2021, unless the child care staff member ceases to be a child care staff member prior to such date.A child care staff member shall be required to undergo a national criminal history record information check not less than once during each five-year period.For additional information concerning the national criminal history record information check process, see Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-1912.A child care staff member shall also submit to the following background checks at his or her expense not less than once during each five-year period:1. A search of the National Crime Information Center's National Sex Offender Registry;2. A search of the following registries, repositories, or databases in the state where the child care provider is located or where the child care staff member resides, and each state where the child care staff member resided during the preceding five years:(a) State criminal registries or repositories;(b) State sex offender registries or repositories;(c) State-based child abuse and neglect registries and data bases.Any individual shall be ineligible for employment by a child care provider if such individual:1. Refuses to consent to the national criminal history record information check or a background check as described above;2. Knowingly makes a materially false statement in connection with the national criminal history record information check or a background check;3. Is registered, or required to be registered, on a state sex offender registry or repository or the National Sex Offender Registry;4. Has been convicted of a crime of violence, a crime of moral turpitude, or a crime of dishonesty.
Fees
Family Child Care Home I & II Licenses- $25.00 Child Care Center, School-Age Only Center, and Preschool Licenses- $25 for a licensed capacity of up to 29; $50 for a licensed capacity of 30 or more
Renewal
The operating license renewal is due yearly on the anniversary date of the initial provisional license issuance. |