Know Your Child Care Facility - General Requirements
- alicia3658
- Dec 23, 2025
- 4 min read
This brochure was created by the
Department of Children and Families in
consultation with the Department of Health.
For additional information, please visit
or contact your local licensing office.
General Requirements
Every licensed child care facility must meet the
minimum state child care licensing standards
pursuant to s. 402.305, F.S., and ch. 65C-22, F.A.C.,
which include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Valid license posted for parents to see.
• All staff appropriately screened.
• Maintain appropriate transportation practices
(if transportation is provided).
• Provide parents with written disciplinary and
expulsion practices used by the facility.
• Provide access to the facility during normal hours
of operation.
• Maintain minimum staff-to-child ratios.
Health Related Requirements
Emergency procedures that include:
• Posting Florida Abuse Hotline number along
with other emergency numbers.
• Staff trained in first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) on the premises at all times.
• Fully stocked first aid kit.
• A working fire extinguisher and documented
monthly fire drills with children and staff.
• Medication and hazardous materials are
inaccessible and out of children’s reach.
Training Requirements
• 40-hour introductory child care training.
• 10-hour in-service training annually.
• 0.5 continuing education unit of approved
training or 5 clock hours of training in early
literacy and language development.
• Director Credential for all facility directors.
Food and Nutrition
Post a meal and snack menu that provides daily
nutritional needs of the children (if meals are provided).
Record Keeping
Maintain accurate records that include:
• Children’s health exam/immunization record.
• Medication records.
• Enrollment information.
• Personnel records.
• Daily attendance.
• Accidents and incidents.
• Parental permission for field trips and
administration of medications.
Physical Environment
• Maintain sufficient usable indoor floor space for
playing, working, and napping.
• Provide space that is clean and free of litter and
other hazards.
• Provide sufficient outdoor play area.
• Maintain sufficient lighting and inside temperatures.
• Equipped with age and developmentally
appropriate toys.
• Provide appropriate bathroom facilities and other
furnishings.
• Provide isolation area for children who become ill.
• Practice proper hand washing, toileting, and
diapering activities.
Ratios
Age of Child. Child: Teacher Ratio
Infant 4 : 1
1 year old 6 : 1
2 year old 11 : 1
3 year old 15 : 1
4 year old. 20 : 1
5 year old and up 25 : 1
Training Requirements
• 40-hour introductory child care training.
• 10-hour in-service training annually.
• 0.5 continuing education unit of approved
training or 5 clock hours of training in early
literacy and language development.
• Director Credential for all facility directors.
Food and Nutrition
Post a meal and snack menu that provides daily
nutritional needs of the children (if meals are provided).
Record Keeping
Maintain accurate records that include:
• Children’s health exam/immunization record.
• Medication records.
• Enrollment information.
• Personnel records.
• Daily attendance.
• Accidents and incidents.
• Parental permission for field trips and
administration of medications.
Physical Environment
• Maintain sufficient usable indoor floor space for
playing, working, and napping.
• Provide space that is clean and free of litter and
other hazards.
• Provide sufficient outdoor play area.
• Maintain sufficient lighting and inside temperatures.
• Equipped with age and developmentally
appropriate toys.
• Provide appropriate bathroom facilities and other
furnishings.
• Provide isolation area for children who become ill.
• Practice proper hand washing, toileting, and
diapering activities.
Parent’s Role
A parent’s role in quality child care is vital:
• Inquire about the qualifications and experience
of child care staff, as well as staff turnover.
• Know the facility’s policies and procedures.
• Communicate directly with caregivers.
• Visit and observe the facility.
• Participate in special activities, meetings, and
conferences.
• Talk to your child about their daily experiences
in child care.
• Arrange alternate care for your child when
they are sick.
• Familiarize yourself with the child care
standards used to license the child care facility.
Quality Child Care
Quality child care offers healthy, social, and
educational experiences under qualified supervision
in a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment.
Children in these settings participate in daily,
age-appropriate activities that help develop essential
skills, build independence and instill self-respect.
When evaluating the quality of a child care setting,
you should consider the facility’s quality indicators
related to activities, caregivers, and environment.
Quality Activities
• Activities are children initiated and teacher faciliated.
• Activities include social exchanges with all children.
Quality Caregivers
• Caregivers are friendly and eager to care for children.
• Caregivers accept family cultural and ethnic differences.
Quality Environments
• Environments are clean, safe, inviting, confortable,
and child-friendly.
• Environments provide easy access to
age-appropriate toys.
Quality Caregivers
• Caregivers are friendly and eager to care for children.
• Caregivers accept family cultural and ethnic differences.
Quality Environments
• Environments are clean, safe, inviting, confortable,
and child-friendly.
• Environments provide easy access to
age-appropriate toys.
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