Kentucky childcare center licensing requirements
Everything a Kentucky childcare center needs to get licensed and stay compliant: ratios, training, background checks, and facility standards, with the exact figures from 922 KAR Chapter 2.
Last reviewed June 2026· Summary only, not legal advice
Compliance quick reference
- Regulating agency
- CHFS Division of Child Care (DCC)
- Regulatory code
- 922 KAR Chapter 2 (2:090, 2:120, 2:280)
- Subsidy program
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
- License term
- Renews every 1 year
- Infant ratio
- 1:5 (group max 10)
Opening or operating a childcare center in Kentucky means meeting the standards set out in 922 KAR Chapter 2 and passing inspection by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). Licensing and on-site compliance reviews are handled through the CHFS Division of Child Care and the Division of Regulated Child Care, whose branch offices conduct the visits that verify your program meets state requirements for ratios, staff qualifications, health and safety, and the physical environment.
This page summarizes the rules that matter most to operators and prospective buyers: how many children one caregiver may supervise in each age group, the training hours staff and directors must complete, which background checks are required and how often, the emergency drills Kentucky expects, and the indoor and outdoor space every child is entitled to. Every figure below is drawn from Kentucky's administrative regulations so you can plan with confidence.
Kentucky also runs the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), the state's federally funded subsidy that helps eligible families pay for care. Centers that serve CCAP families take on additional attendance and documentation duties, which we cover alongside the core licensing standards.
Kentucky staff-to-child ratios by age
The maximum children one caregiver may supervise, and the maximum group size, for each age band under 922 KAR Chapter 2.
| Age group | Ratio | Max group |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (birth to 1 year)Birth–1 yr | 1:5 | 10 |
| Toddler (1 to 2 years)1 yr–2 yr | 1:6 | 12 |
| 2 to 3 years2 yr–3 yr | 1:10 | 20 |
| 3 to 4 years3 yr–4 yr | 1:12 | 24 |
| 4 to 5 years4 yr–5 yr | 1:14 | 28 |
| School-age (5 years+)5 yr and up | 1:15 | 30 |
- Infant (birth to 1 year)Birth–1 yr1:5Max group: 10
- Toddler (1 to 2 years)1 yr–2 yr1:6Max group: 12
- 2 to 3 years2 yr–3 yr1:10Max group: 20
- 3 to 4 years3 yr–4 yr1:12Max group: 24
- 4 to 5 years4 yr–5 yr1:14Max group: 28
- School-age (5 years+)5 yr and up1:15Max group: 30
Kentucky ratio calculator
Enter how many children you have in each age group to see the minimum number of caregivers Kentucky requires.
Estimates the legal minimum from each group's ratio and assumes single-age groupings. Mixed-age rooms must use the youngest child's ratio, and other rules (naptime, ages turning over) can change staffing. Always confirm against the official Kentucky regulations.
Caregiver qualifications and training
What Kentucky requires of directors, lead teachers, and the training every staff member completes each year.
Annual training hours
- 15 hours/year of ongoing training for each staff member
- 15 hours/year for the director
- 6-hour new-staff orientation
Common required courses
Minimum qualifications
Director
Bachelor's/master's in education or child development; OR ECE associate; OR CDA + 1 yr paid experience; OR 3 yrs full-time paid experience (922 KAR 2:090 §10)
Lead teacher
18+, HS diploma/GED or Commonwealth Child Care Credential (922 KAR 2:090 §11)
Emergency drills, reporting, and child health
The emergency drills Kentucky centers must run, mandatory-reporting duties, and the health practices required at every center.
Required emergency drills
- Fire922 KAR 2:120 §3(12)Monthly
- Tornado / Severe weather922 KAR 2:120 §3(13)Quarterly
- Earthquake922 KAR 2:120 §3(13)Quarterly
- Lockdown / Intruder922 KAR 2:120 §3(13)Quarterly
- Shelter-in-place922 KAR 2:120 §3(13)Quarterly
Suspected abuse or neglect must be reported: Within 24 hours of discovery (922 KAR 2:090 §13(1)); reporters must report immediately per KRS 620.030.
- Safe-sleep practices required for infants
- Medication-administration training required
- Children follow the CDC/ACIP immunization schedule; Kentucky accepts medical and religious exemptions with the required documentation
Background checks
Recheck at least every 5 years
Once per 5-yr employment period; FBI Rap Back continuous monitoring between cycles (922 KAR 2:280 §3).
Facility & license
- Indoor space
- 35 sq ft/child
- Outdoor space
- 60 sq ft/child
- License term
- 1 year
- Inspections
- Unannounced; at least annual at renewal, semi-annual during the 2-yr probation (KRS 199.896).
CCAP subsidy in Kentucky
Kentucky helps eligible families pay for care through CCAP. Participating centers take on attendance and documentation duties to claim reimbursement.
- Program
- CCAP
- Attendance / signature record
- DCC-94E
- Eligibility basis
- 85% of State Median Income (SMI), applied at initial application, recertification, and recalculation.
- Income eligibility
- Effective October 1, 2025, a Kentucky family qualifies for CCAP if total gross monthly income is at or below 85% of State Median Income for their household size (for example $6,005/mo for a family of 3, or $7,149 for a family of 4). The same 85% SMI ceiling applies at initial application, recertification, and reported changes. A family whose income later exceeds the limit may receive up to 6 additional months of Transitional Child Care (available once every 12 months). Protection-and-Permanency child-welfare cases are eligible without regard to income. Verified against the official DCBS DCC-113 fact sheet (R.12/24).
- Monthly income limits (by household size)
- 2 in household: $4,862/mo3 in household: $6,005/mo4 in household: $7,149/mo5 in household: $8,293/mo6 in household: $9,437/mo7 in household: $9,651/mo
- Family copay
- CCAP copay is a flat daily family copayment (not per child), set by gross monthly income band and family size via the CCAP Daily Co-Payment Chart in 922 KAR 2:160 section 11 (amended effective 11/18/2024). Families with monthly income below $1,600 pay $0; the first nonzero band is $1,600 to $1,899.99 (about $4/day at family size 2), rising with income and family size to a maximum of $25/day at the top brackets ($8,200+/mo), with $1 added per $300 over $8,199.99. Per a federal rule, copayments never exceed 7% of a family's monthly income. The copay is fixed at application or recertification and cannot rise during the 12-month eligibility period.
- Grace absence days
- Up to 5 paid absence days per year
- Source
- Figures effective 2025. Official Kentucky program source
How to get a childcare license in Kentucky
The typical path from application to an issued license. Steps and timelines vary, so confirm the current process with the licensing agency.
Request the application packet and pre-licensing guidance
Contact the CHFS Division of Child Care to request a licensing application packet for a child care center under 922 KAR 2:090. Submit facility information, disclosure forms, and background-check authorizations for the owner, director, and every staff member who will have contact with children.
Complete background checks for all staff
Each applicant must clear a Kentucky state criminal history check, the child abuse and neglect registry, the sex offender registry, and an FBI fingerprint check before having unsupervised contact with children.
Pass fire marshal and health inspections
Obtain fire safety clearance from the State Fire Marshal and any required local health department inspection of the facility. These clearances confirm the building meets life-safety and sanitation standards before a license is issued.
Pass the pre-licensing site visit
A CHFS licensing analyst conducts an on-site inspection to verify the physical environment, indoor and outdoor space, supervision, and program standards required under 922 KAR Chapter 2, including the 35 square feet of indoor space and 60 square feet of outdoor space per child.
Receive your license and prepare for ongoing reviews
Once compliance is verified, CHFS issues the center license, which renews every year. Inspections are unannounced and occur at least annually at renewal, and semi-annually during the first two-year probationary period, so build documentation and drills into your routine from day one.
How hayway supports Kentucky center workflows
hayway organizes center records and compares them with configured baselines. It does not replace the licensing agency, state portal, or professional advice.
Kentucky childcare licensing FAQ
Quick answers to the questions operators ask most.
What is the infant-to-staff ratio for childcare centers in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires one caregiver for every five infants (birth to 1 year), with a maximum group size of ten. Ratios then loosen as children age. For example, one caregiver to six toddlers (1–2 years). The full age-by-age breakdown is in the ratio table on this page.
What qualifications does a childcare center director need in Kentucky?
A director may qualify through any of several paths: a bachelor's or master's degree in education or child development; an associate degree in early childhood education; a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential plus one year of paid experience; or three years of full-time paid experience. Lead teachers must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED, or hold the Commonwealth Child Care Credential.
How many training hours are required each year in Kentucky?
Both staff and the director must complete 15 hours of ongoing training each year. New staff also complete a 6-hour orientation within their first three months and an additional 9 hours within their first year. hayway tracks each person's hours and flags shortfalls before the deadline.
How often are background checks required in Kentucky?
Required checks include Kentucky state criminal history, the child abuse and neglect registry, the sex offender registry, and an FBI fingerprint check. Kentucky requires a recheck once per five-year employment period, with FBI Rap Back providing continuous monitoring between cycles.
How much indoor and outdoor space does each child need?
Kentucky childcare centers must provide at least 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child and 60 square feet of outdoor play space per child. Inspectors verify these measurements during the pre-licensing site visit and at renewal.
How long is a Kentucky childcare license valid, and how is it renewed?
A center license renews every year. Inspections are unannounced and occur at least annually at renewal; during the first two-year probationary period, centers are inspected semi-annually. Maintaining clean records, current drills, and complete files year-round keeps renewal straightforward.
What emergency drills does Kentucky require?
Centers must conduct fire drills monthly, plus tornado/severe weather, earthquake, lockdown/intruder, and shelter-in-place drills each quarter. Earthquake drills apply statewide because all of Kentucky sits within the New Madrid seismic zone. Suspected abuse must be reported within 24 hours of discovery, and immediately under KRS 620.030.
What is Kentucky's childcare subsidy program?
Kentucky's subsidy is the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), administered by CHFS. Eligibility extends to families up to roughly 85% of the State Median Income (the federal CCDBG ceiling), with a sliding-scale family copay. Participating centers record attendance and signatures using the DCC-94E form.
Official sources
Verify any figure on this page against the primary sources below before you act on it.
Disclaimer: These figures are a summary of Kentucky's childcare regulations as of publication; always confirm current requirements directly with the CHFS Division of Child Care before relying on them. This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal or compliance advice.
Keep licensing records connected to daily operations
hayway tracks ratios, drills, training, and CCAP claim records alongside billing and family engagement. Confirm requirements and submissions with the official agency.