This post is a part of our series on Oregon family child care licensing. For more on licensing in Oregon, see the following posts:
Oregon Family Child Care Licensing: An Overview
The Licensing Process
Eligibility
Training Requirements
Home Requirements
As you start your in-home child care program in Oregon, you will have the option to choose between two types of programs: Registered Family Child Care Home License and Certified Family Child Care Home License.
Family child care home license comparison
Here’s an overview of the differences between Registered Family Child Care Homes and Certified Family Child Care Homes as detailed by the Oregon Early Learning Division Office of Child Care.
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Registered Family Child Care Home
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Certified Family Child Care Home
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| Characteristics |
- Up to 10 children
- 2 infants at maximum
- No square footage requirement
- Background checks for all applicable persons over the age of 18
- 10 hours of training within 2 years
- Minimum of 6 hours of training out of 10 hours must be in child development
- Minimum of 1 unannounced visit annually
- Biennial renewal
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- Up to 16 children
- Ratio and ages of children is dependent on the number of qualified caregivers
- Zoning approval is sometimes required
- Square footage requirement per child
- Qualifying experience needed
- Background checks for all applicable persons over the age of 18
- Annual training requirements varies based on position
- Minimum of 1 unannounced visit annually
- Annual environmental health inspection
- Annual renewal
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| Prior to application |
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- Certified Family Child Care Home introductory packet
- Contact OCC or Licensing Specialist
- Precertification visit – space approval and receive Certified Family Child Care Home application packet
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| Prior to visit |
|
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| Required training |
- Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety
- Food Handlers
- First Aid and CPR for infants and toddlers
- Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
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- Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety
- Food Handlers
- First Aid and CPR for infants and toddlers
- Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
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| After receiving license |
- 10 hours of training within 2 years
- Minimum of 6 hours of training out of 10 hours must be in child development
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- Annual training requirements varies based on position
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Caregiver-to-child ratio for Registered Family Child Care Homes
You can care for a maximum of 10 children under thirteen years of age, or under age eighteen if the child has special needs, at any one time. This includes your own children as well as the child care children.
- Of the 10 children under thirteen years of age or under eighteen years of age with special needs, the provider may care for:
- A maximum of 6 children preschool age or younger, including the provider’s children, of which only 2 children may be under twenty-four months of age.
- 4 school‐age children, in addition to the 6 children preschool‐age or younger.
- More school‐age children if there are fewer than 6 children preschool age or younger, as long as there are no more than 10 children in the home at any one time.
- No child younger than 6 weeks of age can be in care in a Registered Family Child Care Home. This does not include the provider’s child(ren).
Sources: Rules for Certified Family Child Care Homes, Rules for Registered Family Child Care Homes , Licensed Child Care Overview, Oregon Department of Education Early Learning Division (ELD)
Caregiver-to-child ratio for Certified Family Child Care Homes
The maximum number of children allowed in a Certified Family Child Care Home at any one time is 16. All children in the home, including the provider’s or other caregivers’ own children, shall be counted in determining the caregiver/child ratio and group size.
Staff ratio requirements are determined by capacity and children’s ages
The number of caregivers is determined by the age and number of the youngest child(ren) in the group. If the provider is certified to care for more than 12 children and plans to care for more than 8 infants and/or toddlers, the provider must develop a plan showing how infants and toddlers will be limited to a group size of not more than eight. The plan must be approved by the Office of Child Care.
If all children are in the same age group, the following table determines the staff/child ratio:
| When All Children in Care Are: |
No Group May Exceed: |
Caregiver to Child Ratio |
Notes |
| 6 weeks to 24 months |
12 |
1:4 |
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated, and if more than eight of the 13 children in care are infants or toddlers, the group size may not exceed eight. |
| 24 months to eligible for First grade |
12 |
1:10 |
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated. |
| Eligible for the First grade to Age 13 |
16 |
1:15 |
May be one group; must have the second provider if over 15 school‐age children are in care. |
If children in care include any infants and/or toddlers, the following table determines the staff/child ratio:
| When All Children in Care Are: |
No Group May Exceed: |
Caregiver to Child Ratio |
Notes |
| 1 child under 24 months |
12 |
1:8 |
If more than 12 children are in care and one is under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult to child ratio. |
| 2 children under 24 months |
12 |
1:7 |
If more than 12 children are in care and two are under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult to child ratio. |
| 3 children under 24 months |
12 |
1:6 |
If more than 12 children are in care and over 3 are under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult to child ratio. |
| 4 children under 24 months |
12 |
1:4 |
If more than 12 children are in care and 4 are under 24 months, the group must be separated. Each group must meet the appropriate adult to child ratio and if more than eight infants or toddlers are in care, group size may not exceed 8. |
If children in care include a mix of only preschool and school-aged children, the following table determines the staff/child ratio:
| When All Children in Care Are: |
No Group May Exceed: |
Caregiver to Child Ratio |
Notes |
| 1 child in care age 24 months to eligible for First Grade;
The rest of children in care are school-age |
12 |
1:12 |
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated to create groups of 12 or fewer children. |
| Between 2 and 12 children are
Between 24 months and eligible for First grade;
The rest of children in care are school age |
12 |
1:10 |
If more than 12 children are in care, the groups must be separated to create groups of 12 or fewer children. |
If the home is certified to care for more than 12 children and the age blend is such that group separation is required:
- Groups may be joined for meals, naps, outdoor play, and limited quiet activities such as a video or circle time
- The provider must develop a plan that shows how the groups will be separated without requiring remodeling of the home. The plan must be approved by the Office of Child Care
Prior to a facility providing care to more than 2 children under twenty-four months of age, the provider shall have at least 30 clock hours of training specific to infant and toddler care.
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