Qualifications: Staff: Must be "legal age of majority" and have a written, department-approved plan to acquire at least 3 credit hours or 15 clock hours of Department-approved in-service training in child development/early childhood education or child care administration within 12 months of hiring; or a CDA; or a bachelor's or associate's degree in a field related to care and education of children ages 0 - 12 years (e.g., early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or special education); or one year verified group experience with a positive reference from a supervisor.
| Age Range | Ratios for Center Based Care in Nebraska State |
| Infants | (1:4) |
| Toddlers | (1:6) |
| Preschool (3 years) |
(1:10) |
| Preschool (4 - 5 years) |
(1:12) |
| Schoolage | (1:15) |
| Mixed age group | center wide ratio count |
| Age Range | Ratios for Family Child Care in Nebraska State |
| Infants | (1:4) |
| All ages | (1:8) includes provider's own children under 8 years old; no more than 2 children may be under 18 months old; additionally, there may be 2 school age children during non-school hours |
| Mixed age group | (1:8) no more than 2 infants at one time |
| Schoolage | (1:10) |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING FOR AN OPERATING FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME II LICENSE
To start the application process for a non-expiring, operating license, the following items must be completed and submitted to the Department:
- Family Child Care Home II Application
- $25.00 License free: Check made payable to the State of Nebraska--Cash not accepted--License fees are not refundable
- Felony/Misdemeanor Statements from the primary provider, secondary provider, any household members age 19 and older and any individuals regularly present in the home who are age 19 and older.
- Copy of First Aid training certificate/card (front and back)
- Copy of CPR training certificate/card (front and back)
- Documentation of completed (12 clock hours) Inservice training hours (copies of certificates) obtained during the Provisional Year. If 12 clock hours have not been completed at the time the licensee submits the operating license application, the following must be completed at a minimum before an application will be processed:
- At least eight (8) clock hours must be completed and a plan of how 4 additional hours of in-service training will be obtained prior to the provisional license expiring.
Send completed application packets to, or if you have questions, contact:
Douglas and Sarpy Counties
Nancy Jones
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Children's Services Licensing
1801 North 73rd St.
Omaha, Ne 68114
Telephone: (402) 595-3343
All Other Nebraska Counties:
Denise Wooten
Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Children's Services Licensing
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, Ne 68509
Telephone: (402) 471-9562 or
1-800-600-1289
| Type | Licensing Fees for Daycare in Nebraska State |
| Family Child Care Home 1 | Provisional / Operating / Operating = $25 - Cash is not accepted |
| Family Child Care Home II | Provisional / Operating / Operating = $25 - Cash is not accepted |
| Child Care Centers | Provisional and Yearly License Fee (capacity less than 30) = $25 Provisional and Yearly License Fee (capacity 30 or more) = $50 |
Important Contact Information:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Phone: (402) 471-1802
Toll Free: (800) 600-1289
Fax: (402) 471-7763
Child Care Subsidy Agency
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 95044
301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-9434
Toll Free: (800 430-3244
Fax: (402) 471-9597
Head Start - State Collaboration Office
Nebraska Department of Education
301 Centennial Mall South
P.O. Box 94987
Lincoln, NE, 68509-4987
Phone: (402) 471-3501
Fax: (402) 471-0117
Child Care Food Program Agency
Child Nutrition Programs
State Department of Education
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4987
Phone: (402) 471-3566
Fax: (402) 471-4407
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Nebraska Resource and Referral System
University of Nebraska
Lincoln 121 S. 13th St., Suite 302
Lincoln, NE 68588-0227
Phone: (402) 472-0844 (in Lincoln) or (402) 472-3479
Toll Free: (800) 746-8420
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Office of Economic & Family Support
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O.Box 94728
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4728
Phone: (402) 471-1400
Fax: (402) 471-7311