Child care is licensed by each state, not by the federal government. Every state runs a public search where you can confirm a license and, in most states, read inspection reports.
| State | Licensing agency | Official search |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Child Care Regulation | Search Texas Child Care |
| California | California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division | CDSS Care Facility Search |
| New York | New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) | Find child care providers in New York State |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) | Find Child Care (COMPASS) |
| Illinois | Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Day Care Licensing | DCFS Sunshine Day Care Provider Lookup |
| Michigan | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Child Care Licensing Bureau | LARA Child Care Licensing search |
| Florida | Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF); Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota counties license locally | DCF Child Care Provider Search |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF), Office of Licensing | Child Care NJ provider search |
| Washington | Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) | DCYF Child Care Check |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) | EEC Find Child Care |
What to look for
- The license or registration is current, and the name and address match.
- The ages served and capacity fit your child.
- Inspection reports and any violations, and whether they were corrected.
- Any enforcement action, probation or conditions on the license.
Special cases
- New York City: group child care centers in the five boroughs are permitted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, not OCFS, so the OCFS data we use for NYC covers school-age programs and family and group family day care.
- Florida: Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota counties license child care locally.
- License-exempt care: some school-based and religious programs are exempt in several states and may not appear in licensing data.
We are an independent guide, not a government website. Verify licensing with the state before you enroll: each state page links to the official search.