Girl eating and smiling

Child care centers provide care for groups of children, often placed in classrooms by age. They typically have many staff members who care for children. A child care center is managed by a center director, who oversees the program and its staff. Child care centers are usually located in commercial buildings and operated by individual owners, for-profit chains, government agencies, public schools or nonprofit entities such as faith-based organizations and community organizations. They usually offer full-time child care services.

Are Child Care Centers Licensed?

Center-based child care programs are often required to be licensed by their state or territory. This means that they must follow a set of basic health and safety requirements and are monitored to make sure they are following the requirements.

However, some states and territories may exempt some child care centers from child care licensing. For instance, if a child care center is already regulated by a government agency that is different from the agency that oversees child care licensing, the state or territory may not require the program to be licensed. These centers are considered legally “license exempt” and can include the following:

  • Early childhood programs operated by public schools
  • Faith-based or part-time programs, such as drop-in care or nursery schoolsChild care provider playing with children.

To learn more about what child care licensing is and why it is important, see the "How is Child Care Regulated to Ensure Children's Health and Safety?" page.

To understand the specific licensing requirements where you live, select your state or territory and review the “Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources” page.

Why Choose a Child Care Center?

Child care centers offer a variety of services and can include full- and part-time care. They may also serve children of a variety of ages, including infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age children.

Children playing with kitchen toys.Families choose child care centers for a variety of reasons, including the following:

  • Families may like their children to be cared for in groups with other children of the same age.
  • They may like the structured, classroom-like environment a child care center provides.
  • They appreciate that a child care center may offer a wider variety of equipment, supplies, and activities.
  • They appreciate having many adults present to care for children.

How Do I Find and Choose a Child Care Center?

To search for child care centers near you through your state or territory’s online child care search, go to the "Find Child Care" page and select your state or territory.

To learn more about how to find and choose quality child care, visit the “How Do I Find and Choose Quality Child Care?” page.

Use "Look, Listen, and Ask: Tips for Choosing a Quality Child Care Center" as a guide to help choose a quality child care center that is right for your family.