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 StudioEspañolWY guide
WY home child care
How to start a home daycare in Wyoming.
Start with Wyoming DFS’s “Who Needs to Be Licensed” guidance to determine the category and approval process for your proposed program. Use the corresponding application, licensing rules, and background-check instructions. Confirm requirements for home providers, assistants, substitutes, and center staff separately. Use the state-linked professional-development resources to plan learning, while keeping licensing decisions and training records as separate tasks.
Source review: September 13, 2026
Reviewed background-check resources, home-provider resources, provider-start guidance, rules navigation, professional-development guidance. This was a targeted review of the linked public guidance, not a complete review of every rule or local requirement.
DFS identifies WY STARS as the training and record system. Direct registry access and new login instructions remain unverified; use the DFS guidance first.
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 Wyoming.
Wyoming separates new-provider materials, renewal documents, adult screening, site records, and subsidy registration. Its family child care home and family child care center categories both appear in the licensing resources.
- Application for Child Care Certification · CCL-100
Start the child care certification application.
Official source ↗ - Application for Recertification · CCL-100b
Apply for recertification with the renewal packet.
Official source ↗ - Sample Child Record Form
Organize a child's program record.
Official source ↗ - Wyoming Child Injury Report · CCL-605
Document a child injury using the agency's report.
Official source ↗ - Fingerprint Cover Letter and Results · CCL-108
Accompany and document the fingerprint-check process.
Official source ↗ - Approved Emergency Preparedness Plan
Prepare the site's emergency planning document.
Official source ↗ - Registration for Licensed Child Care Providers · DFS 203a
Register the provider for reimbursement.
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 Wyoming’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.
DFS identifies WY STARS as the training and records resource. Start from DFS’s public provider-training guidance while direct registry access remains unconfirmed; no new registry login instructions are published.
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
DFS: Who needs a child-care license?
Identify your provider category and the office responsible for your application.
Open resource ↗Home child careNew provider child-care toolkit
Use the family or home child care guidance for the category you plan to operate.
Open resource ↗Rules and standardsWyoming child-care licensing rules
Choose the current rules for your program category and confirm the effective edition with the agency.
Open resource ↗Background checksDFS child-care background-check information
Confirm who must be checked, the required documents and the timing before arranging checks.
Open resource ↗Professional developmentDFS guide to WY STARS and provider training
DFS explains WY STARS and provider training. Use the agency’s current directions to reach the training and record system.
Open resource ↗Inspection recordsWyoming 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 assistanceWyoming subsidy resources
Find the state program that helps eligible families pay for care and ask how providers participate.
Open assistance resources ↗Meal reimbursementWyoming CACFP finder
Start with the USDA and state directories for family day care home sponsors and program contacts.
Find food-program contacts →Insurance regulatorWyoming 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 →