How to Start a Daycare in Wyoming

Starting a daycare in Wyoming is a great way to turn your passion for early education into a lucrative business. However, before starting your childcare business, you must meet certain requirements to become a licensed provider.

Our guide covers the different types of childcare licenses in Wyoming and the licensing requirements. We also discuss the steps involved in the application process and how to stay compliant with state regulations.

Do I need a childcare license in Wyoming?

You need a childcare license in Wyoming if you intend to care for more than two children unrelated to you. The Wyoming Department of Family Services manages childcare licenses and approves licenses for the below classifications of childcare:

• Family Child Care Home (FCCH): Provides care for three to ten children in your home without additional staff
• Family Child Care Center (FCCC): Provides care for a maximum of 15 children in your home or another facility with one additional staff when more than 10 children are present
• Child Care Center (CCC): Provides care for 16 or more children with adequate staff to meet staff-to-child ratio requirements. It must not be located at any individual’s home

Childcare licensing exemptions include:

• Occasional care of a friend’s or neighbor’s child if the provider doesn’t do it regularly
• A legal parent or legal relative caring for a child
• An employee in the home (of a parent or guardian) caring for children
• Parents exchanging care cooperatively
• Childcare facilities caring for a maximum of two unrelated children
• Childcare facilities under the supervision of the state, local government, school district, agency, or political subdivision

Operating a childcare facility without a license is a crime if you’re not exempt. If you’re unsure whether you’re exempt from the licensing requirement, contact the childcare licensing staff in your county.

Childcare licensing requirements in Wyoming

Before starting a daycare center, your program will need to meet all state licensing requirements. 

Owner, director, and staff requirements

Before assuming responsibility for childcare, the director and all staff must have the below general requirements on file:

• All staff and household members must undergo a tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment before employment
• All adult staff and household members must complete a Central Registry of Abuse and Neglect check in Wyoming, and all states lived in for the past five years. This check also applies to any adult intending to move into the home
• All staff and household members must complete a National Sex Offender Registry check and a Wyoming Sex Offender Registry check, as well as a check for each state the person has lived in for the past five years. If found to be a registered sex offender, the individual must not be employed or present in the facility
• All staff and household members must complete a full fingerprint-based national background check and a Wyoming Criminal Records check, as well as for each state the person has lived in for the past five years. In addition, any individual with a convict record or a pending deferred prosecution of a felony or misdemeanor must not be employed or present in the facility

Below are the specific owner and staff requirements for a Family Child Care Home:

• The owner must be 18 years old and physically and mentally able to care for children
• The owner must have a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate; or
  • Documentation showing at least three months of supervised work experience or education caring for children other than their own
  • Six training credits of child care training in addition to pre-service training before licensing
  • A professional credential from an organization recognized by the department

• The owner must be onsite and available in the facility at least 75% of the working week unless given an exception by the licenser for a good cause
• When an owner is absent at the facility, a qualified adult staff person with sufficient knowledge and training in the facility operations and decision-making authority must be left in charge
• The owner must ensure all records and reports required are maintained onsite

Below are the specific director/assistant director and staff requirements for a Family Child Care Center:

The director must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate
• Have the following education and experience:
  • Any combination of education and experience equivalent to one year in the areas of early childhood management or early childhood education, child development, nursing, or other related fields
  • Six clock hours of childcare training in addition to pre-service training before licensing
  • A professional credential from an organization recognized by the department

• Ensure all records and reports required are maintained onsite
• Meet all training requirements
• Be onsite and available for at least 50% of the operating week unless given an exception by the licenser for a good cause

The director requirements for a Child Care Center are similar to the Family Child Care Center, except the director of a Child Care Center must have a combination of education and experience equivalent to two years (instead of one) in the areas of early childhood management or early childhood education, child development, nursing, or other related fields. 

For both a Family Child Care Center and Child Care Center, an assistant director must be on duty whenever the director is absent from the facility. If the director leaves the facility's employment, the assistant director will take over responsibility until a director is hired. The provider must notify Child Care Licensing immediately and must hire a new director within a reasonable timeframe (three months). While an assistant director doesn’t need to have director requirements, they must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate
• Have six months of full-time experience in licensed or legally exempt childcare or 15 hours of approved training, including orientation
• Sufficient knowledge and training in the operation of the facility and decision-making authority to assume the director’s duties during their absence before assuming the responsibility of the facility operations
• Meet all training requirements

Capacity and supervision requirements

The total capacity for a Family Child Care Home is 10 children and the total capacity for a Family Child Care Center is 15 children. This number includes the owner’s infant, toddler, and/or children ages three to five. The owner’s children who are six years or older, have completed kindergarten, or are in first grade or higher are excluded in the licensed capacity.

A Child Care Center can accommodate 16 children or more. The licensor will determine facility capacity based on individual room capacity. The room capacity must be displayed in each room and never be exceeded. The total capacity includes all children, including infants, toddlers, school-age children, and children related to staff.

Staff-to-child ratio requirements

Below are the staff-to-child ratio requirements for a childcare business in Wyoming:

• Birth to 12 months: One staff member to four children (1:4), two staff members to eight children (2:8), and three staff members to 10 children (3:10) for a maximum group size of 10 children
• 12 months to 24 months: One staff member to five children (1:5), two staff members to 10 children (2:10), and three staff members to 12 children (3:12) for a maximum group size of 12 children
• 24 months to 36 months: One staff member to eight children (1:8), two staff members to 16 children (2:16), and three staff members to 18 children (3:18) for a maximum of 18 children

• Three-year-olds: One staff member to 10 children (1:10), two staff members to 20 children (2:20), and three staff members to 24 children (3:24)  for a maximum of 24 children

• Four and five-year-olds: One staff member to 12 children (1:12), two staff members to 24 children (2:24), and three staff members to 30 children (3:30) for a maximum of 30 children

• School-age and older: One staff member to 18 children (1:18), two staff members to 32 children (2:32), and three staff members to 40 children (3:40) for a maximum of 40 children

Training requirements

Before license issuance, the owner/director and all staff must complete pre-service training, which includes:

• Fire safety (building and physical premises safety)
• Emergency preparedness and disaster planning
• Sanitation procedures (handling and storage of hazardous materials)
• Medication administration (not necessary if a program doesn’t administer medication)
• First aid (FA) and pediatric and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (includes in-person skills demonstration from a certified instructor)
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (not necessary if a program doesn’t provide care to infants)
• Infectious disease control (blood-borne pathogens)
• Safe sleep practices (not necessary if a program doesn’t provide care to infants)
• Mandatory reporting (recognition and reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect)
• Shaken baby syndrome (not essential if a program doesn’t provide care to infants)
• Transportation safety (not necessary if a program doesn’t transport children)
• Food allergies (nutrition)

All staff caring for infants or toddlers must complete at least four hours of specialized infant or toddler training every two years. Whenever four or more infants are present:

• At least one staff member caring directly for infants or toddlers must have at least eight training credits of specialized training in caring for infants or toddlers every two years
• One staff member must have the Infant/Toddler Director Credential

Any individual providing direct care for children for 24 hours or more per month or counted in staff-to-child ratios must complete a minimum of 32 training credits within two years based on the licensing date. Directors must meet all training requirements regardless of the hours the director supervises children.

Play space requirements

The indoor area designated for children’s use must include a minimum of 35 square feet of usable play space per child on a continual basis. Indoor play equipment with a more than 24 inches fall height must be installed over a sturdy surface covering the appropriate use zones. Resilient surfacing must be installed, maintained, and replaced per the manufacturer’s instructions. In the absence of manufacturer’s instructions, refer to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards. 

The outdoor play space per child must be a minimum of 75 square feet when different ages are combined. The outdoor play space isn't required if your facility doesn’t provide care for more than four hours daily. However, if the facility uses outdoor play space, that space must meet licensing requirements.

Childcare license application in Wyoming

Below are the steps to take when applying for a childcare license in Wyoming:

Step 1: Pre-service and provider training

All staff must complete pre-service training and facility orientation before assuming responsibility for the unsupervised direct care of children or within three months of their starting date. 

Pre-service and provider training equips the directors and staff with the knowledge and skills to provide quality care for children. The Wyoming Statewide Training and Resource System (STARS) provides childcare providers and staff with online training access, awards training credits, prints certificates, and maintains training records for all childcare staff. Facility orientation includes Child Care Licensing Rules and facility policies and procedures.

Step 2: Complete the application

You can download a copy of the application or request it from the childcare licensor for your county. You’ll need to submit the below information with your application:

• Fingerprint cover letter
• Fingerprint card labels
• Results for child abuse and neglect registry checks from Wyoming and each state lived in the last five years
• Division of Criminal Intelligence (DCI) Waiver and Release form
• Tuberculosis (TB) screening form
• Local zoning approval (if required)
• Proof of required training, education, or experience
• Physician’s statement form signed by a licensed healthcare professional indicating whether or not you have a physical/mental condition or health problem that would affect your ability to work with or around young children

• Application fee of $50 by money order or check payable to the Department of Family Services
• Additional documents include a sample child record form, sample attendance record form, sample staff record forms, and an emergency preparedness plan 

Step 3: Facility inspection

Within 30 days of submitting your application to the department, your facility will undergo scheduled inspections, including childcare licensing, fire, and health and sanitation inspections. 

Step 4: Await approval

The department will review program documents demonstrating compliance with the licensing rules and all applicable facility inspections. Based on the information submitted and the inspection result, the department will issue you a license which must be displayed for public viewing at all times. 

The department may issue a provisional license for a period not exceeding six months, permitting the operation of your childcare business when your compliance with licensing rules is being monitored based on an approved corrective action plan. 

As you apply for the proper childcare license for your program, consider developing a business plan, choosing an inspiring name for your daycare, and creating a marketing plan to attract prospective families to your center. 

How to stay compliant with a daycare license in Wyoming

Whether you are operating a childcare center or starting a preschool at home, you’ll need to comply with the licensing rules at all times. A childcare license is valid for 12 months and must be renewed on or before the expiry date. To obtain a license renewal, you must submit a renewal request and renewal fee of $25 and demonstrate continued compliance with the childcare licensing rules.

The Wyoming Department of Family Services monitors childcare facilities through childcare licensors across the state responsible for programs in one or more counties. The licensor will conduct at least one announced and unannounced visit to your facility annually. Additionally, the licensor may visit your facility for a follow-up, technical assistance, non-compliance monitoring, and complaint investigations. The department may revoke or suspend your license if you violate the licensing rules. 

A reliable childcare management software can help you create and quickly access records required during annual program inspections. A tool like brightwheel’s center management feature allows you to keep records of staff training hours and certifications, children’s contacts, meal types, billing, and health information. This tool is also great for streamlining childcare enrollment and creating detailed reports, saving you valuable time each month.

Funding resources for your childcare business

As you go through the licensing process, you may come across grants or other funding resources that can help fund your childcare business. A grant is an often overlooked financial resource given by a government agency or private foundation that does not need to be repaid. This makes them an attractive funding option if you are looking to expand or enhance the quality and accessibility of your program.

Grants provide funding that can be used towards a variety of purposes, such as improving facilities, purchasing new equipment or materials, or offering professional development opportunities for staff. The available resources vary by state so it is crucial to research and understand the grants for childcare providers in Wyoming to make informed decisions about which ones to apply for.

Start a daycare in Wyoming

Obtaining a childcare license is an essential first step in starting a daycare business in Wyoming. Whether you are operating a childcare business at home or in a separate facility, you’ll need to meet specific regulations and apply for the proper license. Utilize all of the state resources provided to navigate the licensing requirements so that you can start focusing on the next steps of your business.

Brightwheel is the complete solution for early education providers, enabling you to streamline your center’s operations and build a stand-out reputation. Brightwheel connects the most critical aspects of running your center—including sign in and out, parent communications, tuition billing, and licensing and compliance—in one easy-to-use tool, along with providing best-in-class customer support and coaching. Brightwheel is trusted by thousands of early education centers and millions of parents. Learn more at mybrightwheel.com.