Licensed Child Care Programs

The Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU) ensures that children attending NH child care programs are in safe and healthy environments and are provided with care, supervision and developmentally appropriate activities that meet each child's physical and emotional needs.

Program Types

• Family Child Care Home
  A child care program operated in a home in which the provider resides. In a family child care home one provider may care for a maximum of 6 preschool children plus up to 3 children who are enrolled in a full-day school program. The number of children younger than 36 months of age and 24 months of age that may be cared for is limited.
   
• Family Group Child Care Home
  A child care program operated in a home in which the provider resides. In a family group child care home one provider and one family child care worker or assistant may care for 7 to 12 preschool children plus up to 5 children enrolled in a full-day school program. The number of children younger than 36 months of age that may be cared for is limited.
   
• Group Child Care Center
  A center-based child care program that cares for 1 or more children ages 3 to 6 years of age, up to 4 of whom may be younger than 3 years of age, plus 5 children enrolled in a full-day school program.
   
• Infant/Toddler Program (Child Care Nursery)
  A center-based child care program that cares for 5 or more infants and toddlers under three years of age.
   
• Preschool Program
  A center-based child care program that provides care and a structured program for children 3 years of age and older who are not attending a full day school program. Preschool programs can care for children up to 5 hours per day.
   
• School Age Program 
  A family or family group child care program that elects to care for 6 or more school age children who are enrolled in a full-day school program, or a center-based child care program that cares for 6 or more children ages 4 years and 8 months of age or older who are enrolled in a kindergarten program or full-day school program. School age programs can care for children up to 5 hours before or after school and all day during school vacations.
   
• Night Care Program
  A center-based, family, or family group child care program that provides care during the evening or night time hours between 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The type of center-based family will determine the limits on ages and numbers of children or family group child care program license issued.
   
• Residential Child Care Program
  A residential child care program that provides 24-hour care for 1 or more children unrelated to the operator of the program and apart from the parents. Residential child care programs are required to have a qualified program director and may be licensed as a Group Child Care Home, Child Care Institution, or Independent Living Home.