Alabama childcare licensing requirements.
Ratios, group sizes, certifications, and drills for Alabama — per DHR Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers. Bloomily tracks every one of them live, so the paperwork is ready before anyone asks.
Staff-to-child ratios in Alabama
| Age group | Ratio | Max group size |
|---|---|---|
| Infants (0-12 months) | 1:5 | — |
| Young Toddlers (12-24 months) | 1:7 | — |
| Older Toddlers (24-36 months) | 1:11 | — |
| Preschool (3-5 years) | 1:18 | — |
| school_age_5to8 | 1:21 | — |
| school_age_8plus | 1:22 | — |
Per DHR Minimum Standards for Day Care Centers. Ratios in Bloomily are computed live from real check-ins against these limits.
Required certifications
Alabama required 15 hours annual professional development for directors
Renews every 12 months
Alabama required 12 hours annual professional development for staff
Renews every 12 months
Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and FBI fingerprint background check per DHR standards
Renews every 60 months
Child abuse and neglect recognition and reporting training
Renews every 12 months
Alabama Central Registry check for child abuse and neglect
Renews every 60 months
Director qualifications per DHR standards including education and experience
Pediatric first aid certification required
Renews every 24 months
Lead teacher qualifications per DHR standards
California mandated reporter training for child abuse
Infant and child CPR certification required per DHR Minimum Standards
Renews every 24 months
Safe sleep training required for infant caregivers per DHR standards
Renews every 36 months
Initial health assessment and TB screening required
Renews every 24 months
Drill requirements
| Drill | Frequency | Required |
|---|---|---|
| fire | quarterly | Yes |
| lockdown | quarterly | Yes |
| evacuation | quarterly | Yes |
| tornado | quarterly | Yes |
Alabama DHR Pre-Inspection Checklist
- License posted in visible location
- License capacity not exceeded
- Operational policies current and available
- Parent handbook distributed to all families
- DHR inspection reports available to parents
- Indoor space meets minimum (35 sq ft per child)
- Outdoor play area meets minimum (50 sq ft per child)
- Temperature maintained 68-78°F
- Adequate lighting and ventilation
- Toilets clean and child-accessible
- Handwashing sinks accessible to children
- Drinking water readily available
Run a Alabama program? Keep it compliant without the binder.
Ratios computed live from real check-ins, certifications flagged before they lapse, and inspection-ready reports one click away.