A daycare license in Connecticut is issued by Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), which administers childcare licensing statewide. Providers must keep 6 documents on file for staff and children and meet 3 staff-to-child ratios by age group. Renewal: Annual license renewal required. The checklist below covers what belongs in each file and what has to stay current.
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Informational only — not legal advice, and not a statement of what Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) requires today. GetDocsSigned is not affiliated with or endorsed by Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC). Requirements change; confirm with your licensing representative before relying on anything on this page.
Free Checklists
See a ready-made enrollment packet →Connecticut childcare licensing is administered by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC). All centers caring for 13 or more children must be licensed. Connecticut requires a Head Teacher to be on-site for at least 60% of operating hours and mandates specific ECE qualifications for lead teachers. The state has detailed requirements for early childhood curriculum and developmental programming.
| Age Group | Staff : Children |
|---|---|
| Under 3 years | 1:4 |
| 3–5 years | 1:10 |
| School age | 1:10 |
School-age group size may increase to 30 for outdoor activities and field trips.
Ratios shown are a summary and have not yet been checked against Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC)'s rule text. Confirm with the agency before relying on them. Source: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Early Childhood Health Assessment Record (Yellow Form)
Connecticut state health assessment form completed by a healthcare provider. Updated annually for children under 5; every 3 years for school-age.
Immunization Records
Current immunization records per Connecticut DPH schedule required on file.
Enrollment/Emergency Form
Complete enrollment form with emergency contacts and authorized pickup persons.
Emergency Medical Authorization
Parental consent for emergency medical care.
Allergy and Dietary Information
Documentation of any food allergies or special dietary needs.
Medication AuthorizationConditional
Written parental authorization for any medication to be administered.
GetDocsSigned tracks every one of these per file and flags what’s missing or expiring.
Start freeSummary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Exemption Policy
Medical and religious exemptions are permitted. Contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health for current exemption procedures.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Minimum Age
18 years for staff counted in ratios
Background Check
State and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check required for all staff and volunteers.
Lead Teacher Education
Head Teacher requires a minimum of 1,080 hours of supervised experience plus a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or relevant degree in ECE.
Assistant Education
High school diploma or GED required. Must work under supervision of Head Teacher.
CPR / First Aid
Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required. At least one certified staff member on-site at all times.
Continuing Education
Approximately 20 hours of annual professional development required (approximately 1% of total annual hours worked for full-time staff).
Director Qualifications
Director must be 20 years of age or older with a minimum of 3 college credits in ECE administration or program management.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Inspection Frequency
At least one unannounced inspection annually. Additional inspections based on complaints or compliance history.
License Renewal
Annual license renewal required.
Application Process
Contact the OEC to begin the application process. Includes background checks, facility inspection, and review of program curriculum and staffing plan.
Licensing Fee
Varies by capacity. Contact the OEC for current fee schedule.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
These are the pages this summary was checked against. The agency's published rules govern; where this page and the agency differ, the agency is right.
Ratios, required documents, and inspection schedules vary from state to state. If you operate near a border, run a second location, or are deciding where to open, start with the states in New England.
Daycare Enrollment Forms Checklist: Every Document You Need Per Child
The complete list of documents required per child, with state-specific variations.
How to Prepare for a Daycare Licensing Inspection
Step-by-step checklist covering child files, staff records, ratios, and facility safety.
Staff-to-Child Ratios by State: The Complete Comparison
Compare infant, toddler, and preschool ratio requirements across all 50 states.
Daycare Immunization Requirements by State
Required vaccines and exemption policies — medical only, religious, or philosophical.
One link. Parents complete child information, emergency contacts, pickup, immunizations, health details, and consents on their phone, and the finished packet lands in your account as a PDF. Free to start, no card.