Learn how to
become a child care provider
Step 1
Make sure you are eligible.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a high school graduate or the equivalent
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Complete orientation prior to submitting an application. Contact the child care surveyor in the county where the facility will be located to complete orientation.
- If you are interested in becoming a DCF-enrolled relative provider, proceed to step 4.
Step 2
Apply for licensing.
Complete this online application packet to be on your way to a new career as a licensed child care provider in Kansas. A KBI/DCF Background Check and State License Application Fee is required as part of the application process (some counties may also require a fee).
Step 3
Receive initial professional development training.
Within 30 days of submitting your application, you must receive the following training in courses approved by the KDHE Secretary:
Training Requirements
- Basic child development
- Recognizing, reporting, and preventing child abuse or neglect
- Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions
- Handling of hazardous materials
- Administration of medication to children
- Building and physical premises safety
- Reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and using safe sleep practices
- Prevention and control of infectious diseases
- Transportation of children
- Emergency preparedness and response planning
- Pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification (an in-person skill test is required, and a copy of the current certification card must be on file)
Note: With the exception of pediatric first aid and CPR, you can register for and meet these training requirements in the KCCTO’s Foundations for Safe and Healthy Early Care Facilities Module.
Find additional continued education and training resources.
Step 4
Learn about optional assistance for your child care program.
I want to provide child care for a relative inside the child’s home.
Talk to the family you are providing child care for and have them apply for child care assistance, listing you as their relative in-home provider. Once your local provider enrollment specialist has received the referral, they will mail you paperwork to complete.
I want to provide child care for a relative inside my own home.
Talk with the family you are providing child care for and have them apply for child care assistance, listing you as their relative provider. Once your local provider enrollment specialist has received the referral, they will mail you paperwork to complete.
I want to serve healthy food in my program.
When your facility participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), you can receive financial reimbursement for serving nutritious meals and snacks in your program. Find more information about CACFP in Kansas and how to become a certified program.
I want to become a licensed DCF-enrolled child care provider.
Once you have a permanent child care license through KDHE, please consider becoming a DCF-enrolled provider to begin accepting child care assistance. This will make your program more affordable for many families. By becoming a DCF provider, you will be increasing equal access to high quality child care that supports children’s development and learning.
Visit the Kansas Provider Access Portal to complete an application to become a DCF child care provider. Or, print a paper application located at the bottom of the page and return to your nearest DCF Office.
Provider Enrollment Specialists
Questions? Please select your county from the list below to talk with a specialist in your area.
- All
- Allen
- Anderson
- Atchison
- Barton
- Bourbon
- Brown
- Butler
- Chase
- Chautauqua
- Cherokee
- Cheyenne
- Clark
- Cloud
- Coffey
- Comanche
- Cowley
- Crawford
- Decatur
- Dickinson
- Doniphan
- Douglas
- Edwards
- Elk
- Ellis
- Ellsworth
- Finney
- Ford
- Franklin
- Geary
- Gove
- Graham
- Grant
- Gray
- Greeley
- Greenwood
- Hamilton
- Harper
- Harvey
- Haskell
- Hodgeman
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Jewell
- Johnson
- Kearny
- Kingman
- Kiowa
- Labette
- Lane
- Leavenworth
- Lincoln
- Linn
- Logan
- Lyon
- Marion
- Marshall
- McPherson
- Meade
- Miami
- Mitchell
- Montgomery
- Morris
- Morton
- Nemaha
- Neosho
- Ness
- Norton
- Osage
- Osborne
- Ottawa
- Pawnee
- Phillips
- Pottawatomie
- Pratt
- Rawlins
- Reno
- Republic
- Rice
- Riley
- Rooks
- Rush
- Russell
- Saline
- Scott
- Sedgwick
- Seward
- Shawnee
- Sheridan
- Sherman
- Smith
- Stafford
- Stanton
- Stevens
- Sumner
- Thomas
- Trego
- Wabaunsee
- Wallace
- Washington
- Wichita
- Wilson
- Woodson
- Wyandotte
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