Starting an in-home daycare in Michigan is a rewarding career path that allows you to provide essential care while building a sustainable business. However, before you can welcome children into your home, you must navigate the state’s licensing process. It is illegal in Michigan to care for unrelated children in your home without being licensed or registered by the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).
This comprehensive guide details the requirements and steps for obtaining your home daycare license in Michigan, ensuring you are in full compliance with state regulations. Understanding the Michigan home daycare licensing process is the first critical step toward opening your doors.
The state of Michigan offers two types of licenses for home-based child care, distinguished by the number of children in your care. Licensing is the process by which the MiLEAP Child Care Licensing Division regulates these homes to ensure they meet specific health and safety standards.
The type of license you need depends on the size of your program. The state of Michigan home daycare licensing defines two categories:
Both Family and Group Child Care Home licensees must be in compliance with the rules established for their respective license types.
The path to getting your in-home daycare license in Michigan involves several distinct stages, from initial research and application to an on-site inspection. The entire process can be expected to take between three and six months after a complete application packet is submitted, though individual circumstances may alter this timeline.
Before you begin the online application, there are foundational steps you must take. First, you must read the Licensing Rules for Family and Group Child Care Homes and the Child Care Organizations Act (1973 PA 116). Upon receipt of your application, a rule book and a copy of the Act will be sent to you.
If you plan to open a Group Child Care Home, you must contact your local zoning authorities to confirm that operating such a business is permitted in your neighborhood. This step is guided by the Zoning Enabling Act (2006 PA 110), which requires counties and townships to grant approval if specific requirements are met and prevents local ordinances from being more restrictive than the Child Care Organization Act.
Understanding these initial legal and regulatory hurdles is crucial. At Wonderschool, we can help you navigate these first steps to start your childcare business with confidence.
The application for a home daycare license in Michigan must be completed online. To do so, you will need to use Internet Explorer. You must also have a credit or debit card ready to pay the non-refundable application fee online; note that Discover and American Express cards are not accepted.
The application fees are:
As part of the online application, you will be instructed to print several forms and gather specific information. All of these materials must be mailed to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems, P.O. Box 30664, Lansing, MI 48909-8164.
The required documentation includes:
Navigating the paperwork for a Michigan home daycare license can be complex, but we offer business coaching and resources to guide you through it.
The process for background checks and fingerprinting has changed. For the most current information on this critical step, applicants for a Family or Group Child Care Home should contact 1-844-765-2247, Extension #4.
After your application materials are reviewed and approved, the local licensing office will arrange for you to attend a required orientation session. The purpose of this orientation is to review the licensing rules and laws to prepare you for the final inspection and for successfully running your business.
The session lasts approximately six hours and covers the licensing rules and the Child Care Organizations Act in detail. It also provides time for you to ask questions. These six hours count toward the 10 hours of annual training required for your first year.
Once all application materials are complete, a licensing consultant will schedule a time to inspect your home to assess compliance with all rules. The consultant may take pictures to document their findings. It is your responsibility to be in full compliance at the time of the inspection.
During the on-site inspection, the consultant will verify the following:
Successfully completing the inspection is the final major step to becoming a licensed provider. From there, you will focus on maintaining compliance to continue operating your home daycare.
Once it is determined that you are in compliance with the rules and the law, you will be issued a 6-month original license. Prior to its expiration, you will receive a renewal application packet. After submitting the completed packet and renewal fee, another on-site inspection will occur. If you remain in compliance, a regular license, valid for two years, will be issued.
A license is issued to a specific person at a specific address and is not transferable. To maintain your license, you must meet several ongoing requirements:
As a licensee, it is your responsibility to be in compliance with all rules and laws at all times. If licensing receives a complaint about your child care home, an investigation may be conducted, which could include an unannounced inspection of your home. Licensing also provides technical assistance to help providers understand and comply with all child care licensing rules.
Michigan's licensing division provides several documents to help you prepare for and maintain compliance. You can find these on the MiLEAP forms page.
For questions or assistance during the process, you can contact licensing toll-free at 866-685-0006.
Navigating the state of Michigan home daycare licensing requirements is a detailed but manageable process. At Wonderschool, we specialize in helping passionate educators and caregivers like you start, run, and grow successful in-home childcare businesses. We are a childcare marketplace that connects families with high-quality local providers while providing you with the tools you need for success.
We provide comprehensive support to help you start your childcare program, including assistance with navigating the complex licensing process. Our business coaching and classes offer expert guidance on everything from setting up your space to managing your finances. We also help connect potential and existing providers with government grants to help fund their programs.
Once you are licensed, we provide the software and support to help you operate your daycare efficiently and grow your enrollment. Every enrollment through our platform helps a family child care program like yours earn a sustainable income. You can even use our tools to find out how much you can make operating a daycare in your area. Let us partner with you on your journey to creating a thriving home daycare in Michigan.
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