Child Care Licensing

Licensing is managed by the SC Division of Early Care and Education at the SC Department of Social Services (SCDSS). We regulate approximately 2,500 child care providers, through four regional offices. There are several key functions that build safe, healthy environments for children:

1. Inspections: These help to ensure that providers comply with state laws and regulations through a yearly unannounced inspection. Additionally, a fire and health safety inspection is conducted for all licensed child care providers. 

2. State and Federal Comprehensive Background Checks: As required by state law, federal and state background checks must be conducted on all child care staff members who work in child care facilities. More information on background checks can be found here. Background checks include:

• SC Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry & Database checks and out of state Abuse and Neglect checks if child care staff lived out of SC in the past 5 years.
  • For all center-based care, licensed, registered, and legally exempt
  • Licensed and registered home child care facilities
  • Family, Friend, and Neighbor checks for providers enrolled in the SC Voucher Program
• In-state and National Sex Offender Database checks for all child care facility types, to include legally exempt child care facilities
• State and Federal fingerprinting for all child care facility types, to include legally exempt child care facilities

The State of South Carolina uses a digital fingerprint service. Find complete information here.

3. Investigations: We investigate complaints against regulated facilities and reports of facilities or individuals operating without a license or registration.

4. Regulation: A state Advisory Committee is responsible for reviewing the regulations regarding their improvement. 

Step 1. Attend Orientation. At orientation, you will receive an application packet that has all the forms you will need to apply. In addition, you will be able to ask any questions related to the process and you are provided resources for your area to help as you go through the process. To sign up for orientation, click here or call your local regional Licensing Office.

Step 2. Submit architectural plans to DSS Child Care Fire and Health Safety at the Child Care Licensing Central Office:

Child Care Licensing
P.O. Box 1520
Columbia, SC 29202-1520

Step 3. After you have attended orientation and received your application packet and your building plans have been approved by the Chief Fire Marshal at Child Care Licensing, please contact your local zoning office for zoning approval, then Submit your Zoning Approval, your application to apply and your fire inspection request to your local the Child Care Licensing Regional Office.

Step 4. Once the above items have been submitted to Child Care Licensing, you will be assigned a Licensing Specialist and you will be asked to complete the necessary document in the application packet. Those items should be completed and submitted for our review.

Step 5. Once your items have been approved, we will contact you for a visit. If everything meets the requirements, your case will be submitted for a provisional license.

Step 6. After you have operated for 45 days, we will visit to complete your full evaluation, and if a successful visit, your case will be submitted for a regular license.

• 1081 - Non-Criminal Justice Applicant Privacy Rights Notification
• 1083 - Privacy Act Statement
• 1706 - Criminal Background Check Questionnaire
• 2900 - General Record and Statement of Child’s Health for Admission to Child Care Facility
• 2901 - Staff Medical Statement
• 2902 - Application to Operate a Child Care Facility
• 2905 - Health-Fire Inspection Request
• 2908 - Reference Release Statement - Registered FCCH's Only
• 2909 - Consumer Parent Statement
• 2922 - Original or Renewal Registration of Family Child Care Home – Registered FCCH’s Only
• 2924 - Consent to Release – Central Registry
• 2925 - Director/Staff Evidence of Non-Conviction and Statement of Compliance
• 2926 - Staff Health Assessment
• 2927 - Household Member List
• 2930 - Authorization for Intervention, Therapy and Extracurricular Activities
• 2944 - Original or Continuing Registration Study for a Facility Operated by a Religious Body or Group
• 2945 - Current Child Care Facility List of Children – Faith-Based Facilities
• 2963 - Current Child Care Facility List of Children – Centers
• 2964 - Current Child Care Facility Staff/Caregiver Checklist
• State Applicant Fingerprint Electronic Processing Services (SAFE) Form
• SC Escrow Account Application for State Applicant Fingerprint Electronic Processing Services (SAFE)

Quick Links
Reporting Child Abuse
Director/Staff Training
Public Playground Safety Handbook (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Family Child Care Home Guide To Success
List of Animals - Rodents
Safe Sleep Video
Abusive Head Trauma Video

Checklists
Child Care Center Checklist
Licensed Family Child Care Home Checklist
Group Child Care Home Checklist
Registered Faith-Based Child Care Checklist
Transportation File Requirements

Forms
State Applicant Fingerprint Electronic Processing Services (SAFE) Form
SC Escrow Account Application for State Applicant Fingerprint Electronic Processing Services (SAFE)

Sample Exposure Control and Hazard Communications Plans 
OSHA Model Plans and Programs - Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazard Communications Standards
Sample Plan-Template 1
Sample Plan-Template 2
Sample Plan-Template 3
Sample Plan-Template 4

Cynthia Lara, Director
Child Care Licensing
(803) 898-9024

Child Care Licensing Central Office
Central Office: (803) 898-9020
Toll-Free: (800) 556-7445
Fax: (803) 898-9029

SC Office of State Fire Marshal
141 Monticello Trail
Columbia, SC 29203
Tel: (803) 896-9800
Hours: 08:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday