Start Your Daycare or Preschool in Georgia
This page is INFORMATIONAL ONLY and we strongly recommend that you contact the Licensing Agency for South Carolina directly. Please visit the Georgia Childcare Licensing Website today!
Exempt
Family Daycare Home
Large Registered Family Home Childcare
Center Based
Click Here to see a PDF
3-6(up to 12 children under 13-yrs, if 6 are related to provider, residents, or children for whom no compensation is received)
7-18
Based on location
N/A
Yes, if under 13
Yes, if under 13
Yes
Where should you start?
The hardest part of starting a daycare is figuring out how to begin the process. Right?
Maybe you have searched around already and are puzzled by the state requirements. Don’t worry. We have been there and can simplify this process for you.
Below you will find 5 easy steps to get your in-home South Carolina daycare going.
Step 1: Contact the Child Care Resource and Referral Center for your county
Use the form provided in our “How to Start Your Daycare” program to get all the important questions answered
Step 2: Decide if you can start small and be an exempt provider (see the details below for South Carolina Exempt Family Child Care)
You can always apply to be a licensed provider when you have enough students to necessitate it. Remember, the process for getting students won’t happen overnight. Why increase your costs right away?
Step 3: Begin the setup process for your daycare
See our setup suggestions in the How to Start Your Daycare WITH NO MONEY program
Step 4: Open your small daycare
Everyday management is explained and outlined for you in our program – accounting suggestions and fully customizable forms, contracts, and templates are included with our program.
Step 5: When you are ready, move to the licensed status
Let us know that you want to get registered or licensed and we can help you to do it quickly and affordably.
This is the easiest level to go with.
If you fall into this exempt status, you do not have to register with the state, have home inspections, take the orientation classes, etc.
You can be exempt from licensing if:
- Programs for children five (5) years and older which operate solely for educational purpose with an established curriculum during the school term for the customary seven (7) hour school day.
- Nursery school, playschools, kindergartens or other educational programs for children two (2) years through six (6) years of age which operate for no more than four (4) consecutive hours per day.
There are a few others as well. Visit http://nrckids.org/STATES/GA/ga_exemption.pdf for a complete list of exempt categories.
There are benefits to registering with the state though… we will go into those in the next section. However, its great to stay small and grow as you go so there isn’t so much of a financial burden.
This is the next step up as far as licensing goes.
There are some benefits to being registered. Families do feel that there is more reliability there. The homes are inspected regularly and rules and regulations must be adhered to.
To review the Family Daycare Home rules and reglations, visit the Georgia Website.
Maximum number of children:
If you provide care in your home, you can have 3-6 (up to 12 under 13-yrs, if 6 are related to provider, residents, or children for whom no compensation is received) depending on your county regulations for the type of home you live in.
Ages:
The exact number of children you can have is based on their ages. By default the number of allowed children will go down the younger the children in your group are.
General Requirements
Max # of Children: 3-6 (up to 12 under 13-yrs, if 6 are related to provider, residents, or children for whom no compensation is received)
Background Check: Required (on all people over 18 years old living in the home or regularly in the facility)
Training Required
Orientation Class: Yes (8 hours of free training)
Abuse and Neglect Class:
Adult / Infant First Aid and CPR: Yes
Inspections Required
State Inspections: Every year (or sooner if a complaint is filed)
Sanitation Inspection Required for License: No
One more step us will allow you to have 6 students (depending on your county regulations for the type of home you live in)
To review the Group Childcare Home rules and reglations, visit the Georgia Website.
Maximum number of children:
If you provide care in your home, you can have 6 or less children (not including your children) depending on your county regulations for the type of home you live in. Some counties allow 6 children.
Ages:
The exact number of children you can have is based on their ages. By default the number of allowed children will go down the younger the children in your group are.
General Requirements
Max # of Children: 7 – 18 children
Background Check: Required (on all people over 18 years old living in the home or regularly in the facility)
Training Required
Orientation Class: Yes (8 hours of free training)
Abuse and Neglect Class:
Adult / Infant First Aid and CPR: Yes
Inspections Required
State Inspections: Every 2 years (or sooner if a complaint is filed)
Sanitation Inspection Required for License: