Qualifcations: Teacher: Must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or GED plus 24 post-secondary quarter credits and 4,160 hrs. experience as assistant teacher; or a diploma from the Association of Montessori Schools International with a Preprimary Credential or a primary diploma or provisional certificate from the American Montessori Society without a baccalaureate and 12 post-secondary quarter credits and 2080 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or student intern; or a preprimary credential, primary diploma, or provisional certificate from the Association of Montessori Schools International with a baccalaureate degree and 1040 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or student intern; or a Minnesota technical institute certificate as a CDA with 6 quarter credits and 2080 hrs. as an assistant teacher; or a CDA (center or family day care) for preschool or infants and toddlers from the Council on Early Childhood Professional Recognition and 1560 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or student intern; or license from MN Department of Education as a Prekindergarten Associate or a certificate or credential from a 2-year program from an accredited community college or technical college in child development or early childhood education with 6 quarter credits and 1040 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or student intern; or a baccalaureate from accredited college or university in any field with 18 quarter credits and 1040 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or intern; or a license from the MN Department of Education for elementary education without a kindergarten endorsement and 6 quarter credits within 1 year of employment and 520 hours as an assistant or aide teaching children under school age; or a license from the MN Dept. of Ed. for prekindergarten/nursery or license for elementary education with a kindergarten endorsement.
License fees
Application fee for initial license: An applicant for an initial license or certification issued by the Licensing Division must submit a $550 application fee with each new application. The application fee is not prorated, is nonrefundable, and is in lieu of the annual license or certification fee that expires on Dec. 31. The Licensing Division will not process an application before the application fee is paid.
Annual license fee (See Minnesota Statutes 2003, Section 245A.10 - amended by Laws of Minnesota 2005, Chapter 4, Special Session, Article 3, section 4 and article 5, section 6):
Child care centers are required to pay an annual nonrefundable license fee based on licensed capacity, according to the following schedule:
Licensed capacity - Fee
One to 24 children - $225
25 to 49 children -$340
50 to 74 children - $450
75 to 99 children -$565
100 to 124 children - $675
125 to 149 children - $900
150 to 174 children - $1,050
175 to 199 children - $1,200
200 to 224 children - $1,350
225 or more children - $1,500
All other programs with a licensed capacity are required to pay an annual nonrefundable license or certification fee based on the following schedule:
Licensed capacity - Fee
One to 24 people - $400
25 to 49 people - $600
50 to 74 people - $800
75 to 99 people - $1,000
100 to 124 people - $1,200
125 to 149 people - $1,400
150 to 174 people - $1,600
175 to 199 people - $1,800
200 to 224 people - $2,000
225 or more people - $2,500
A day training and habilitation program serving people with developmental disabilities or related conditions is assessed a license fee based on the schedule above unless the license holder serves more than 50 percent of the same persons at two or more locations in the community. When a day training and habilitation program serves more than 50 percent of the same people in two or more locations in a community, the day training and habilitation program is required to pay a license fee based on the licensed capacity of the largest facility and the other facility or facilities are charged a license fee based on a licensed capacity of a residential program serving one to 24 people.
A program without a stated licensed capacity is required to pay a license fee of $400.
A program licensed to provide residential-based habilitation services under the home and community-based waiver for persons with developmental disabilities shall pay an annual license fee that includes a base rate of $250 plus $38 times the number of clients served on the first day of August of the current license year. State-operated programs are exempt from the license fee under this paragraph.
A mental health center or mental health clinic requesting certification for purposes of insurance and subscriber contract reimbursement under Minnesota Rules, parts 9520.0750 to 9520.0870 is required to pay a certification fee of $1,000 per year. If the mental health center or mental health clinic provides services at a primary location with satellite facilities, the satellite facilities are certified with the primary location without an additional charge.
The commissioner cannot issue a license or certification until the license or certification fee is paid.
Provider/Child Ratio:
| Age Range | Ratios for Center Based Care in Minnesota State |
| Infants | (1:4) |
| Toddlers | (1:7) |
| Preschool | (1:10) |
| School-age | (1:15) |
| Mixed age group | ratio for youngest child in group |
| Age Range | Ratios for Family Child Care in Minnesota State |
| Minnesota has seven classes of Family Child Care, each with different ratios and requirements. The two categories shown here are for reference only. For more detailed information, contact the state licensing agency listed below. | |
| Family Child Care
(All ages) |
(1:10) infants defined as 12 months and under; toddlers defined as 12 - 30 months ratio includes provider's own children 11 years of age and younger |
| Group Family Child Care
(All ages) |
(1:10) infants defined as 12 months and under; toddlers defined as 12 - 30 months ratio includes provider's own children 11 years of age and younger |
Important Contact Information:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Division of Licensing
444 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-3842
Phone: (651) 296-3971
Fax: (651) 297-1490
Child Care Subsidy Agency
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Child Care Assistance Program
P.O. Box 64951
St. Paul, MN 55164-0951
Phone: (651) 431-4005
Fax: (651) 431-7526
Head Start - State Collaboration Office
Early Learning Services
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville, MN, 55113-4266
Phone: (651) 582-8463
Fax: (651) 582-8494
Child Care Food Program Agency
Grants Coordination and School Support
Michigan Department of Education
Post Office Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: (517) 373-4013
Fax: (517) 373-4022
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Minnesota CCR&R Network
380 Lafayette Road, Suite 103
St. Paul, MN 55107
Phone: (651) 290-9704
Toll Free: (888) 291-9811
Fax: (651) 290-9785
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Department of Human Services
444 Lafayette Road, 4th floor
St Paul, Minnesota 55155-3846
Phone: (651) 296-4085
Fax: (651) 297-4450