• Provider must be 18 years of age.
• Provider must submit references and a background information disclosure form (for all persons over age 10 residing in the home).
• Provider must be physically and emotionally able to provide responsible child care, and free of symptoms of illness or communicable disease.
• Provider must complete 15-20 hours of early childhood education (or remain provisionally certified without taking the training).
• Provider can provide care for no more than 16 hours in any 24 hour period.
• Provider will have a home safety inspection from the county certifier.
• Provider must comply with additional rules and regulations as stated in HSS 55 Rules for Certification (for a copy of this book please visit the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development at www.dwd.state.wi.us/dws/programs/childcare/certification/, or contact your local social services department).

Certified Family Child Care Providers may care for up to three children in addition to their own, for a total group of six children under 7 years of age in their home. (Providers own children over 7 years do not count toward the group total of six children).

• Provider must be 18 years of age.
• Provider must submit references and a background information disclosure form (for all persons over age 10 residing in the home).
• Provider shall have a health exam and TB test dated and signed by a licensed physician.
• Provider must complete 40 hours of early childhood education and complete 15 hours of continuing education each year.
• Provider can provide care for no more than 12 hours in any 24 hour period.
• Provider must develop written policies and procedures and have a site inspection.
• Provider must complete 10 hours of training in Infant/Toddler care if they plan to provide care for children under the age of two.
• Provider must comply with additional state licensing rules and regulations as stated in HSS 45 Licensing Rules for Family Child Care Centers (For a copy of this book please contact the State Department of Health and Social Services at www.dhfs.state.wi.us/rl_dcfs/ABOUT.htm).

Licensed family child care providers may care for four to eight children, including their own children under 7 years of age, in their home. (Providers own children over 7 years do not count toward group total of eight children).

Child care that takes place outside a home setting, for 9 or more children. Typically, children are grouped with children their own age. The following is the staff to child ratio from HFS 46 Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers:

MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE AND MINIMUM NUMBER OF CHILD CARE WORKERS IN GROUP DAY CARE CENTERS
Age of Children	Minimum # Child Care Workers to Children	Maximum # of Children in a Group
Birth to 2 years 2 years to 2-1/2 years 2-1/2 years to 3 years 3 years to 4 years 4 years to 5 years 5 years to 6 years 6 years and over	1:4 1:6 1:8 1:10 1:13 1:17 1:18	8 12 16 20 24 32 32