Registrations and filings required for businesses - Department of Children, Youth, and Families

You may be required to have a license, registration, or permit from the list below based on the business activity you selected from the Business Licensing Wizard. For more information, please contact the Department of Children, Youth, and Families at 1-866-482-4325.

Child Care Center License or Certification

Purpose

To help create safe, healthy, nurturing learning experiences for all Washington children. Licensed child care providers must follow licensing standards set by the state, including required training, background checks and health and safety checks. License is required for programs providing early learning services in an outdoor natural space, approved by the department, (for not less than four hours per day or fifty percent of the daily program hours and teaches a nature based curriculum) for children ages 30 months through 12 years old for periods of less than 24 hours a day.

How to submit

Resources to help you through the licensing process.
Providing child care.
Training and other support.
The licensing application.
Information relating to background check requirements.

Once you submit your application, DCYF has 90 days to act on your application.

Licensed provider

Processing time

90 days

Fees

$125 - Per year (for the first 12 children)
$12 - Per year (for each additional child)

License renewals

After the initial license is obtained, a provider who meets requirements will eventually move on to a non-expiring license. Licensing fees and background checks are still required.

Family Home Child Care License

Purpose

How to submit

To become a licensed provider in Washington State, a potential applicant must first participate in a Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) licensing orientation. During the orientation, a potential applicant will receive information including: Resources to help you through the licensing process, providing child care, training and other support, licensing application, and information relating to background check requirements. Once you submit your application, DCYF has 90 days to act on your application.

Licensed childcare and early learning provider

Processing time

Within 90 days.

Fees

$30 - per year

License renewals

After the initial license is obtained, a provider who meets requirements will eventually move on to a non-expiring license. Licensing fees and background checks are still required.

Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Programs

Purpose

To help create safe, healthy, nurturing learning experiences for all Washington children. Licensed child care providers must follow licensing standards set by the state, including required training, background checks and health and safety checks. License is required for facilities providing care in commercial, privately owned, school or faith based spaces for children ages 30 months through 12 years old for periods of less than 24 hours a day.

How to submit

To become a licensed provider in Washington State, a potential applicant must first participate in a Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care licensing orientation. During the orientation, a potential applicant will receive information including:

Resources to help you through the licensing process.
Providing child care.
Training and other support.
The licensing application.
Information relating to background check requirements.

Once you submit your application, DCYF has 90 days to act on your application.

Outdoor Nature-Based licensed provider

Processing time

Within 90 days

Fees

$125 per year for the first 12 children
$12 per year for each additional child

License renewals

After the initial license is obtained, a provider who meets requirements will eventually move on to a non-expiring license. Licensing fees and background checks are still required.

School-Age Child Care License

Purpose

To help create safe, healthy, nurturing learning experiences for all Washington children. Licensed child care providers must follow licensing standards set by the state, including required training, background checks and health and safety checks. License is required for programs providing early learning services in an outdoor natural space, approved by the department,(for not less than four hours per day or fifty percent of the daily program hours and teaches a nature based curriculum) for children ages 30 months through 12 years old for periods of less than 24 hours a day.

How to submit

To become a licensed provider in Washington State, a potential applicant must first participate in a Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) licensing orientation. During the orientation, a potential applicant will receive information including: Resources to help them through the licensing process, providing child care, training and other support. They will also receive information on the licensing application and also background check requirements. When they submit an application, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families has 90 days to respond.

Licensed childcare and early learning provider

Processing time

Within 90 days.

Fees

$125 - per year for the first 12 children
$12 - per year for each additional child

License renewals

After the initial license is obtained, a provider who meets requirements will eventually move on to a non-expiring license. Licensing fees and background checks are still required.