A daycare license in Illinois is issued by Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC), which administers childcare licensing statewide. Providers must keep 8 documents on file for staff and children and meet 6 staff-to-child ratios by age group. Renewal: 3-year license renewal cycle. 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 Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) requires today. GetDocsSigned is not affiliated with or endorsed by Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). Requirements change; confirm with your licensing representative before relying on anything on this page.
Free Checklists
See a ready-made enrollment packet →Illinois childcare licensing is administered by the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). Child care licensing moved from DCFS to the Illinois Department of Early Childhood on July 1, 2026; the licensing standards were transferred unchanged to 23 Ill. Adm. Code Part 2008 (formerly 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407). Facilities providing care for 8 or more children under age 12 must be licensed. Illinois has no licensing fee — one of the few states where a childcare license is free. Illinois requires radon testing every 3 years and lead-in-water testing with results shared with parents.
| Age Group | Staff : Children | Max Group Size |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (6 weeks–14 months) | 1:4 | 12 |
| Toddlers (15–23 months) | 1:5 | 15 |
| 2 years | 1:8 | 16 |
| 3 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 4–5 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| School age (6+ years) | 1:20 | 30 |
Ratios shown are a summary and have not yet been checked against Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)'s rule text. Confirm with the agency before relying on them. Source: Illinois DCFS Day Care Licensing
CFS 600 Certificate of Child Health Examination
Illinois state health certificate required for all enrolled children.
Certified Birth Certificate
Copy of birth certificate required for enrollment verification.
Immunization Verification
Current immunization records per IDPH schedule required on file.
Lead Risk Assessment
Required for children 6 months–6 years, typically included in the CFS 600.
Enrollment Form
Complete enrollment with emergency contacts and authorized pickup persons.
Consents for Emergency Medical/Trips/Topical Products
Separate consents for emergency medical treatment, field trips, and sunscreen/topical products.
Receipt of Summary of Licensing Standards
Parent must sign acknowledging receipt of state licensing standards summary.
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 September 2026 · Source: Illinois DCFS Day Care Licensing
Exemption Policy
Medical exemptions (physician-signed) and religious exemptions are permitted. Religious exemption requires an Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption signed by both parent and healthcare provider.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Illinois DCFS Day Care Licensing
Minimum Age
18 years (14+ for supervised assistants in vocational programs)
Background Check
FBI and Illinois State Police fingerprint check plus CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) and sex offender registry check required for all staff.
Lead Teacher Education
Minimum 60 semester hours of college coursework with 6 hours in ECE or child development.
Assistant Education
High school diploma or GED required.
CPR / First Aid
Pediatric CPR and First Aid required with renewal every 2 years. At least one certified staff member per group.
Continuing Education
15 hours of annual professional development training required for all teaching staff.
Director Qualifications
Must be 21 years or older with minimum 60 college credits (18 in ECE) and 2 years of experience in a licensed childcare center.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Illinois DCFS Day Care Licensing
Inspection Frequency
At least one unannounced inspection annually.
License Renewal
3-year license renewal cycle.
Application Process
Contact the Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). Includes mandatory orientation, CFS 597 application, background checks, radon test, and pre-licensing facility study.
Licensing Fee
No fee. Illinois childcare licensing is free.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Illinois DCFS Day Care Licensing
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified September 2026 · Source: Illinois DCFS Day Care Licensing
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 the Great Lakes.
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.