Licensing Process

Pre-Licensing Support – Personalized Services

Beginning Aug. 1, 2025, DCYF’s Pre-Licensing Support team will begin providing personalized services to individuals interested in becoming a licensed early learning provider.

DCYF will provide this service in group settings and one-on-one. On Aug. 1, those interested can complete an electronic registration. They will receive technical assistance to prepare them for their initial visit with the pre-licensing support team.

Features will include the following supports and coaching: 

  • Help with completing the application process.
  • Education of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
  • Navigating the complexities of opening a child care program.
  • Operating a child care program in different regions of Washington state.
  • Tools and resources specific to the different type of licenses. 

DCYF hopes that these expanded pre-licensing supports will help remove barriers to success experienced by individuals during the application process.

If you are interested in learning more about the licensing process, please contact dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov.  

If you are interested in applying for an Outdoor Nature-Based (ONB) child care license, email the ONB team at dcyf.outdoornaturebasedchildcare@dcyf.wa.gov.

Licensing Orientation

The early learning program licensing process includes an online orientation, where the information will be available based on facility type. The online orientation is available in English, Spanish and Somali.

Upon completion of the orientation, you will develop an understanding of:

  • Why quality early learning care is important
  • The different roles within the early learning community and licensed facility types
  • The ages that early learning programs serve
  • Washington's quality rating improvement system
  • The difference between WAC and RCW, and how to navigate the WAC
  • The requirements for your facility to be licensed or certified
  • The education requirements for the different early learning provider roles
  • The variables involved in developing your business
  • What a licensing visit looks like and the expectations of the licensee
  • The application process and timelines
  • The role of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Go to the DCYF Training site and search for the orientation title based on facility type:

  • Licensing Orientation for Family Home Providers
  • Licensing Orientation for Center Providers
  • Licensing Orientation for School Age Providers
  • Licensing Orientation for Outdoor Nature-Based Providers
Business Start-Up Series Registration Selection Tool

The Business Start-Up Series Registration Selection Tool is available to help you identify the applicable licensing orientation or other training tailored to your facility type, supporting your access to DCYF programs as you start your business.

Available in English, Somali, and Spanish

Step One

If you do not have a Stars ID number, you must register for one in MERIT.

Step Two

Visit the DCYF Training Site. You will need to register as a new user if this is your first time accessing the training site.

Step Three

Complete the Orientation and save your certificate of completion.

The training site will automatically record your completed training on your Professional Record in your MERIT and a certificate of completion will be available on the training site to submit with your application. If your completed training is not recorded in your MERIT Professional Record, contact MERIT@dcyf.wa.gov.

Step Four

If you are interested in applying for a Child Care License, please email the welcome team at dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov.

If you require another language besides English, Spanish, or Somali, or have another special accommodation, please email dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov with the following information and our orientation team will contact you:

  • Your full name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Physical address of the early learning program
  • Anticipated opening date for the program

For specific information and resources about school-age only or outdoor nature-based programs, visit the School-Age Providers or the Outdoor Nature-Based Child Care Programs webpages.