A daycare license in Arkansas is issued by Arkansas DHS, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE), which administers childcare licensing statewide. Providers must keep 7 documents on file for staff and children and meet 6 staff-to-child ratios by age group. Renewal: Annual license renewal required. 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 Arkansas DHS, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE) requires today. GetDocsSigned is not affiliated with or endorsed by Arkansas DHS, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE). Requirements change; confirm with your licensing representative before relying on anything on this page.
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See a ready-made enrollment packet →Arkansas childcare licensing is administered by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE) within the Department of Human Services. All facilities providing care to 6 or more children under age 13 for more than 10 hours per week must be licensed. Arkansas requires liability insurance for all licensed centers.
| Age Group | Staff : Children |
|---|---|
| Infants (0–18 months) | 1:5 |
| Toddlers (18–36 months) | 1:8 |
| 3 years | 1:12 |
| 4 years | 1:15 |
| 5 years / Kindergarten | 1:18 |
| School age | 1:18 |
Ratios shown are a summary and have not yet been checked against Arkansas DHS, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE)'s rule text. Confirm with the agency before relying on them. Source: Arkansas DCCECE Child Care Licensing
Enrollment Form
Complete enrollment form with child information and parent/guardian contact details.
Health Record
Physician-completed health record updated annually including physical examination.
Immunization Records
Current immunization records required on file and updated as vaccines are received.
Emergency Contact Information
Names and phone numbers of emergency contacts and authorized pickup persons.
Emergency Medical Authorization
Parental consent for emergency medical care.
Allergy and Dietary Information
Documentation of any food allergies or special dietary needs.
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 August 2026 · Source: Arkansas DCCECE Child Care Licensing
Exemption Policy
Medical and religious/philosophical exemptions are permitted. Contact the Arkansas Department of Health for current exemption forms and procedures.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Arkansas DCCECE Child Care Licensing
Minimum Age
18 years
Background Check
Arkansas Early Learning System (AELS) background check plus FBI and state fingerprinting required. Child Maltreatment Central Registry check also required for all staff.
Lead Teacher Education
Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or relevant ECE coursework. Contact DCCECE for specific requirements by star rating level.
Assistant Education
High school diploma or GED required. Must work under supervision of qualified lead teacher.
CPR / First Aid
Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required. At least one certified staff member on-site at all times.
Continuing Education
Annual professional development training required. Contact DCCECE for current hour requirements by staff role.
Director Qualifications
Director must meet qualification requirements set by DCCECE based on facility star rating. Higher star ratings require greater education and experience.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Arkansas DCCECE Child Care Licensing
Inspection Frequency
At least one unannounced inspection annually. Additional inspections based on complaints or compliance history.
License Renewal
Annual license renewal required.
Application Process
Contact DCCECE to begin the application process. Includes background checks for all staff, liability insurance verification, facility inspection, and documentation review.
Licensing Fee
Varies by capacity. Required liability insurance: $500,000 per occurrence for 1–74 children; $1,000,000 for 75+ children.
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Arkansas DCCECE Child Care Licensing
Summary of the requirement as published — not the governing text. Verified August 2026 · Source: Arkansas DCCECE Child 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 South Central states.
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.