Arizona Home Daycare License Requirements

If you live in Arizona and are interested in starting a child care career, you may want to consider opening a home daycare facility. Arizona home daycare facilities operate out of your home and provide educational and safety resources for children. If you are interested in starting an Arizona home daycare, you will want to continue reading to learn the basic requirements and gain information on how to proceed with the licensing process.

Application Procedure:

To apply for an Arizona home daycare license, you must be at least 21 years old and be a valid United States citizen and an Arizona resident.

The application process for an Arizona home daycare license requires the completion of 12 forms. These forms are available at the Arizona Department of Health Services website, as well as in the sources section found at the end of this article. You will need to read through all of the application forms; however, I have outlined all of the forms below to provide you with a quick educational glance.

The first step in applying for an Arizona home daycare license is to obtain agricultural and vacant property owner’s names and addresses within ¼ of a mile surrounding your home. You will then need to submit the Agricultural Land Notification Form with the completed application packet. Also, you’ll need to send a copy of the Buffer Zone Agreement and Documentation to the County Recorder after sending the completed application.

Contact your local cities zoning department and have them come out and review your property. After a zoning official has signed off on your property, you will need to apply for the proper permits for the application to be completed.

Criminal Background Check:

An Arizona home daycare applicant is required to submit a completed criminal background check report as well as a fingerprint card to the Department of Health Services along with the rest of the application. These forms are located in the sources section below. To request a fingerprint card you will need to contact the Department of Public Safety at 602-223-2279.

Property Inspection:

After you have mailed in all of the required application materials, you will be visited by an inspector from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The inspector will review the condition of the home and ensure it meets all of the requirements set forth by the state. A list of requirement is available in the Small Group Homes Initial Inspection Readiness Self-Checklist form, which is also included in the sources section below.

Qualifications:

After you have completed the aforementioned, you will need to fill out the Child Care Group Home Provider Qualifications form. This form requires copies of your high school diploma, associates degree or your bachelor’s degree. You’ll also need to provide documentation, or transcripts, proving you have completed 3 credit hours or a total of 60 clock hours in early education training. A copy of your Arizona Driver’s License and a copy of the fingerprint clearance card. Lastly, you will need to submit the Certificate of Completion document verifying you attended the mandatory Department Training Seminar.

Sources Complete Application Forms (12 Documents):

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/ccc_gh_forms/readme_initial.pdf
Child Care Group Home Certificate Initial Information

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/gh4.pdf
Initial Certification Application for a Child Care Group Home

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/ccgh6.pdf
Guidelines for Fingerprinting Registration

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/ccc_gh_forms/gh_infosheet.pdf
Child Care Information Sheet

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/ag_land.pdf
Agricultural Land Notification Form

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/ccc_gh_forms/controlling.pdf
Controlling Persons Information

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/ccgh3.pdf
Criminal History Affidavit

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/cc_citizenship.pdf
Arizona Statement of Citizenship and Alien Status for State Licensing or Certification

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/gh8.pdf
Applicant, Staff and Resident Report

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/ccc_gh_forms/sgh_ready.pdf
Small Group Homes Initial Inspection Readiness Self-Checklist

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/gh10.pdf
Child Care Group Home Provider Qualifications

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/forms/sgh_fee.pdf
Child Care Group Home Initial Fee Application Form

http://www.azdhs.gov/als/childcare/index.htm
Arizona Division of Licensing Services Office of Child Care Licensing