Getting your child care license in Massachusetts is a great start to opening your home-based preschool business. When your program is licensed, both you and your parents can feel a sense of relief and support as licensing adds an essential element of safety and insurance.

But paperwork, online forms, and state websites can be confusing. To help, we have this easy-to-use guide for child care providers and teachers in Massachusetts to alleviate the stress and jumpstart your process.

How to use this guide

1. Bookmark this guide and check things off as you go ✅
2. Make use of our library of resources.
3. Best of all, join Wonderschool for all the community support you will need.

Step 1: Contact your local licensing office, sign up for the required online orientation

• Find your regional early child care licensing office contact info here
• We recommend that you call as well as an email to follow up to get in touch with licensing
• Register online for their required pre-orientation course
• Search for EEC required course titled “Potential Provider Training FCC” and confirm signing up

Step 2: Complete training requirements

Save proof of these trainings for your application.

• Complete the training sessions:
  • “Potential Provider Training FCC”: a free two-part online module hosted by on demand learning through their EEC professional development site
• Complete the online EEC “Essentials” training requirements:
  • First Aid and CPR
  • EEC Essentials training:
    • Nutrition and choking prevention training for child care
    • Training on safe sleep practices for infants
    • Transportation safety training for child care
    • Medication administration training and information for child care
  • Training on reporting suspected child abuse or neglect for mandated reporters

Step 3: Prepare your application and the $100 fee

Along with a $100 application fee, your application requires:

• Pass a physical exam with your doctor
• Obtain proof of at least one-year full-time experience
• Add yourself to the Professional Qualifications Registry
• Submit an application via the LEAD Platform
• Your regional licensing office will provide you with a login and new user account once you have completed the Potential Provider Training.

Step 4: Pass required background checks

• Here is the comprehensive starter guide and website for Massachusetts background check requirements for new child care providers
• What you need to know. FAQ for navigating the new background check requirements
• Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) 
  • A name-based criminal record check (CORI) returns information on available Massachusetts arraignments
• Request sex offender registry information (SORI) 
• You will also need to do fingerprinting as part of your overall background check.
• If you are unsure about navigating this part of the process, contact your regional EEC licensing office and speak with a licensing specialist to get more guidance about the forms.

All members of your household ages 15+ will be required to submit these three background check forms. After submitting your application, the EEC will send instructions on how to schedule your fingerprinting appointment.

Step 5: Pass a pre-licensing home inspection by your Licensor

Your Licensor will schedule a home inspection once your background check and fingerprints have been cleared. Plan for this visit to take about two hours.

Your licensing surveyor should also provide you with a pre-inspection list to ensure that your visit will be successful and that you are compliant with regulations. If not, ask for one.

Step 6: Success!

Pat yourself on the back, take a deep breath, and get some rest– the real work is just beginning!

Start, run, and grow your child care business with Wonderschool

Join Wonderschool for support throughout the licensing process, setting up your environment, making critical business decisions, and running the day-to-day of your program. You don’t have to do this alone!