Open the official state resources
Start with the state licensing information linked on this page. Find the office that regulates family or home-based child care in the county or region where you live.
Provider PathBy Holly’s Growing Minds StudioEspañolND guide
ND home child care
How to start a home daycare in North Dakota.
Start with North Dakota HHS’s child care licensing guidance and its Future Providers resources. Use the licensing portal for the application, renewal, staffing, and other licensing tasks that apply to your program. Use the Early Childhood Workforce Registry for professional-development records and learning. The workforce registry, formerly known as Growing Futures, is a separate system from your program’s licensing portal.
Closed employer-matching pilot
Working Parents Child Care Relief state match has ended
Source check: October 12, 2026
HHS ended the WPCCR state match after September 2026. Its final match covered employer benefits provided in August. No continuation has been announced; employers decide whether to continue their own benefits.
The closure does not end North Dakota’s separate Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Families can check current HHS assistance options and confirm eligibility.
What to do next
- Confirm remaining employer benefits and revise the family’s payment plan without a future WPCCR state match.
Source review: September 13, 2026
Reviewed background-check resources, center resources, home-provider resources, provider-start guidance, rules navigation, provider support, professional-development guidance. This was a targeted review of the linked public guidance, not a complete review of every rule or local requirement.
Individual courses, staff qualifications, local approvals and account submissions have not been certified by this review. Confirm those details with the responsible agency.
Free state paperwork guide
Forms & records for North Dakota.
North Dakota uses the Child Care Licensing portal for licensing submissions and the ND Gateway portal for background checks. Its numbered SFN forms provide concrete child-record and emergency documentation.
- Child Care Licensing (CCL) portal — apply
Submit application documents, add staff, and pay fees.
Official source ↗ - Child Information Sheet · SFN 845
Record contacts, emergency treatment authorization, authorized pickup, and identity verification.
Official source ↗ - Parent's Statement on Health of Child · SFN 847
Describe health history, allergies, medication, and care-plan needs.
Official source ↗ - Incident Report · SFN 438
Document event, injury, response, and notification.
Official source ↗ - Child Care Evacuation and Disaster Plan · SFN 517
Plan evacuation, shelter, relocation, reunification, and continued operations.
Official source ↗ - ND Gateway background-check request and business registration
Submit and track HHS background checks and schedule fingerprints.
Official source ↗
Paperwork sources reviewed September 14, 2026. The full guide identifies provider types, use instructions, format choices, and review limits.
Your starting roadmap
Seven steps to organize the process.
This roadmap shows what most applicants need to ask about. It does not replace North Dakota’s current packet, regulations or licensing representative.
Prepared byHolly
Teacher, former in-home provider, and family child care specialist with more than 35 years in early childhood.
Source standardReview scope matters
How Provider Path is researched →Targeted source review dated September 13, 2026. The source-review note identifies the scope and limits. Confirm your category and location before applying.
Confirm which provider type applies
Ask whether your program will be licensed, registered, certified or legally license-exempt. The answer can depend on capacity, children’s ages, relationship to the children and whether care happens in your own home.
Request the application and orientation
Ask how to receive the current application packet and whether orientation is required before applying. Follow the state’s order instead of completing training, fingerprints or home changes too early.
Build your paperwork and training file
Confirm the required identification, education, health records, references, household information, emergency plans, insurance, training and local approvals. Keep copies of every document and certificate.
Complete background checks as directed
Ask exactly who must be checked, which forms are required and where approved fingerprinting is completed. Requirements may include caregivers, substitutes, employees and household members.
Prepare the home for inspection
Use the current state rules to review exits, alarms, sleeping and play spaces, outdoor areas, pets, water safety, medications, supervision, emergency plans and any local fire, zoning or health requirements.
Submit, inspect and follow up
Submit the complete packet in the order your licensing office requires. Prepare for the home visit, correct any remaining items and wait for written approval before operating when a license or registration is required.
Questions for your first call
Write these answers down.
The first conversation with the licensing office can save you from paying for the wrong training, inspection or home changes.
- Which home child care category fits my planned capacity?
- Do I need orientation before receiving or submitting the packet?
- Which documents and training certificates are submitted together?
- Who needs background checks, and when should fingerprints be completed?
- Which local fire, health, zoning or business approvals apply?
- Is liability insurance required, and what coverage limit or proof must I provide?
- May I operate before final written approval?
Official starting links
Use current sources for the final answer.
Choose training for your setting and role.
The Early Childhood Workforce Registry, formerly Growing Futures, is accessed through the ND Early Childhood Hub and supports training and career records. Licensing tasks use CCL.
Before enrolling, confirm the exact course, provider category, staff role, format, required topics and hours, completion deadline, renewal and accepted certificate. Check pediatric CPR and first aid separately; a general online child-development or health-and-safety course is not a substitute for the certification your agency accepts.
Provider starting point
HHS child care licensing
Identify your provider category and the office responsible for your application.
Open resource ↗Home child careFuture providers: choose your category and apply
Use the family or home child care guidance for the category you plan to operate.
Open resource ↗Family resourcesProvider types: homes and centers
Information for families and finding care; use the provider guidance for an application.
Open resource ↗Rules and standardsNorth Dakota child care regulations
Choose the current rules for your program category and confirm the effective edition with the agency.
Open resource ↗Background checksHHS criminal background checks
Confirm who must be checked, the required documents and the timing before arranging checks.
Open resource ↗Professional developmentEarly Childhood Workforce Registry
Find professional-development guidance and confirm the exact course, format and certificate for your role.
Open resource ↗Provider supportLicensing portal instructions and access
Find practical assistance and contact information for your next step.
Open resource ↗Inspection recordsNorth Dakota provider and inspection search
Use the state’s search starting point to understand monitoring records and how licensed programs are displayed.
Open inspection resource ↗Child care assistanceNorth Dakota subsidy resources
Find the state program that helps eligible families pay for care and ask how providers participate.
Open assistance resources ↗Meal reimbursementNorth Dakota CACFP finder
Start with the USDA and state directories for family day care home sponsors and program contacts.
Find food-program contacts →Insurance regulatorNorth Dakota insurance department
Verify companies and agents, find consumer help, and ask state insurance questions.
Open state regulator directory ↗Business protection guideHome daycare insurance questions
Check state requirements, home-policy exclusions, child-capacity eligibility, and provider options.
Open insurance guide →Program setupEquipment and supplier guide
Compare professional and budget sources, then track verified items, quotes, purchases, and recall checks.
Plan equipment purchases →After written approvalMarketing and enrollment guide
Build a clear program description and a responsible 30-day plan for filling openings.
Plan responsible promotion →