• Inspected quarterly
• CPR certified
• 30 hours of training every 2 years

• • care for 3 to 6 children at a time in their homes.  Some Family Child Care providers may also care for 1 or 2 additional school-age children.

Group Family Day Care Providers

• • care for 7 to 12 children at a time in their homes.  Some Group Family Care providers may also care for 1 to 4 additional children.  A group  family child care provider will have an assistant in the program when more than 6 children are present.

Day Care Centers

• • provide care for more than 6 children in a non-residential facility.

Head Start and Early Head Start

• • targeted for infants to preschool-age children from low income families; federally funded and usually licensed as Day Care Centers

School-Age Child Care Programs

• • provide care for more than 6 children from kindergarten through age 12. These programs care for children during non-school hours and may also provide care during school vacation periods and holidays. 

Legally Exempt Care (Informal Care)

• • NYS limit of 2 unrelated children when care is for 3 and more hours per day in provider’s home
  • Legally exempt providers are not registered/licensed with NYS, but must enroll with NYS
  • Parent must be eligible for or receiving a child care subsidy through DHHS

Private Informal

• • Family & Friend care that the parent pays out of pocket
  • NYS limit of 2 un-related children when care is regularly for 3 and more hours per day in provider’s home

Nursery Schools

• • Provide care for 3 hours a day or less. A nursery school may voluntarily register with OCFS or the State Education Department (SED).

Pre-Kindergartens

• • Care usually located in public schools but may also be found in private schools or day care centers and are supervised by the SED.