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Become a Certified DES Child Care Provider

There are several types of child care provider opportunities available through DES. You can apply to become a:

  • Family Home Child Care Provider (caring for up to 4 children in your home)
  • Group Home (caring for 5 to 10 children in your home)
  • Child Care Center (caring for more than 10 children outside the home)

Family Home Child Care Provider

The Department of Economic Security (DES) certifies family child care providers to care for up to four children in their home. There is a particular need for providers who care for infants and for homes that are available to provide care during evening, night and weekend hours, as well as weekdays.

Eligibility & Required Documents

Some of the requirements for becoming a Family Home Child Care Provider include:

  • Current immunization records for provider and all family members aged 13 years and younger
  • Current proof of freedom from tuberculosis for provider and all household members
  • Background check for provider and all household members aged 18 years and older
  • Fingerprint clearance card for provider and all household members aged 18 years and older
  • Child care liability insurance
  • Three references, professional or personal, whom you have known for at least one year
  • A safe and healthy home environment

How to Apply to Become a Certified Family Home Child Care Provider

To determine if you are eligible, please take a moment and complete the Family Home Child Care Provider Questionnaire.  Note: the answers you provide are confidential. 

After you complete the questionnaire, if you believe you meet the requirements, you will be prompted to provide your name and contact information so that a Certification Specialist can contact you to explain the certification process in more detail and provide you with an application, if you wish to proceed.

After the Application

After you apply to become a DES Family Child Care Provider, DES has 90 days to process your application. The process is broken down into two steps. 

  • Step 1: 60 days for you to work with the DES Certification Specialist to:
    • obtain and submit all of the required documents
    • ensure your home is safe for children
    • develop a program to include supplies, an activity schedule and meal plan
  • Step 2: 30 days for DES to:
    • conduct a home inspection
    • determine if you are eligible to be a DES Certified Family Home Child Care Provider

DES will notify you about the status of your application by the 90th day.

  • If denied, you may appeal by submitting a written request for a fair hearing to DES within 15 calendar days of receiving your notice.
  • If certified, you will receive a welcome packet which includes:
    • an official certificate
    • a signed agreement accepting your contract
    • a copy of your rate agreement with the rates that DES will pay for qualified clients 

Group Homes

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) certifies group homes. These are family home child care providers who care for 5 to 10 children in their home. In order to provide care to DES qualified children, group homes must be contracted with DES and be certified by ADHS.

  • For information on becoming certified as a group home, please contact:
    ADHS
    (602) 364-2539
    ww.azdhs.gov
  • For information on becoming contracted as a group home, please contact:
    DES
    (602) 542-4216 (inside Maricopa County)
    1 (877) 822-2322 (outside Maricopa County).

Child Care Centers

The ADHS licenses child care centers. These are child care providers who care for 10 or more children at a location separate from their residence. In order to provide care to DES qualified children, child care centers must be contracted with DES and be licensed by ADHS.

  • For information on becoming licensed as a child care center, please contact:
    ADHS
    (602) 364-2539
    |www.azdhs.gov
  • For information on becoming contracted as a child care center, please contact:
    DES
    (602) 542-4216 (inside Maricopa County)
    1 (877) 822-2322 (outside Maricopa County).
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