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 StudioEspañolPA guide
PA home child care
How to start a home daycare in Pennsylvania.
Use Pennsylvania DHS and OCDEL provider guidance to determine the certification requirements for your planned home, group, or center program. Read the rules applicable to that setting before completing the application and required orientation. PA’s Promise for Children can provide helpful learning and family information, but it is not the certification authority. Use the Pennsylvania Key and PD Registry for professional-development support and verify each course’s purpose.
2026–27 workforce funding opportunity
Retention bonus applications: October 13–November 30, 2026
Source check: October 12, 2026
DHS announced retention bonuses of at least $540 per qualified employee, with applications submitted through local Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs) from October 13 through November 30, 2026. Providers and staff must meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
Certified programs participating in Child Care Works should check with their ELRC, including family child care homes. Confirm owner and staff eligibility before assuming a payment; this is not an automatic bonus for every home provider.
What to do next
- Update the program’s PD Registry staff information and prepare the current staff registry report.
- Ask your ELRC for the 2026–27 application and eligibility instructions.
- Submit the complete application within the published window and keep a copy.
Source review: September 13, 2026
Reviewed 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 Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania's official forms directory covers centers, group homes, and family homes. Several health and safety forms cite all three regulatory chapters; the certificate application is labeled CD 633.
- Application for Certificate of Compliance — Center, Group, and Family Home · CD 633
Apply for a Certificate of Compliance using the designated application.
Official source ↗ - Child Health Report / Child Health Assessment · CD 51
Document health status, care needs, medication, screenings, and immunizations.
Official source ↗ - Emergency Contact / Parental Consent Form · CY 867
Document emergency contacts, release persons, and activity/medical permissions.
Official source ↗ - Child Care Staff Health Assessment · CD 322
Assess suitability for child care work and document health examination.
Official source ↗ - Fire Drill and Fire Detection Log · CY 864
Document evacuation drills and detector/system testing.
Official source ↗ - Incident Report Form · CY 866
Document a child care incident.
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 Pennsylvania’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.
Follow DHS setting-specific opening orientation, then use Pennsylvania Key and the PD Registry for professional-development support. A course listing is not blanket licensing approval.
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
DHS provider requirements: start here
Identify your provider category and the office responsible for your application.
Open resource ↗Home child careFamily home orientation and application preparation
Use the family or home child care guidance for the category you plan to operate.
Open resource ↗Program categoriesCenter and group-home orientation
Choose the center or group-home orientation for that category. Family child care home orientation is listed separately.
Open resource ↗Rules and standardsCurrent DHS child care regulations
Choose the current rules for your program category and confirm the effective edition with the agency.
Open resource ↗Provider supportFind your regional certification office
Find practical assistance and contact information for your next step.
Open resource ↗Professional developmentCurrent provider orientation schedules
Find professional-development guidance and confirm the exact course, format and certificate for your role.
Open resource ↗Professional developmentPennsylvania Key and PD Registry
Find professional-development guidance and confirm the exact course, format and certificate for your role.
Open resource ↗Family resourcesPA’s Promise for Children
Information for families and finding care; use the provider guidance for an application.
Open resource ↗Background checksPennsylvania background-check reference
Confirm the current provider-specific process, forms and timing with the licensing authority. This existing reference was not reverified in full.
Open resource ↗Inspection recordsPennsylvania 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 assistancePennsylvania subsidy resources
Find the state program that helps eligible families pay for care and ask how providers participate.
Open assistance resources ↗Meal reimbursementPennsylvania CACFP finder
Start with the USDA and state directories for family day care home sponsors and program contacts.
Find food-program contacts →Insurance regulatorPennsylvania 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 →