DCCECE Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Facilities Compliant

Arkansas ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Arkansas DCCECE Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Facilities regulations. Bloomily helps Arkansas childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Staff-to-Child Ratios

Required ratios for Arkansas licensed childcare facilities

Age Group	Staff : Children	Max Group Size	Regulation
Infants (0-12 months) Birth through 17 months inclusive; max group = 2× ratio per Section 301.13	1:5	10 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401
Young Toddlers (12-24 months) 18 months through 29 months; max group = 2× ratio per Section 301.13	1:8	16 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401
Older Toddlers (24-36 months) 2½–3 years (30–35 months); regulation notes children 30–36 months may be placed in group most suited to developmental maturity; max group = 2× ratio	1:12	24 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401
preschool_3 3 years (36–47 months); same ratio as 2½–3 band; max group = 2× ratio	1:12	24 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401
preschool_4 4 years (48–59 months); max group = 2× ratio per Section 301.13	1:15	30 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401
preschool_5 5 years to kindergarten (60–71 months); max group = 2× ratio per Section 301.13	1:18	36 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401
School Age (5+ years) Kindergarten and above; upper age 156 months (13 years) per licensing scope default; max group = 2× ratio	1:18	36 children	016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 301.2 – Staff-to-child ratios; codified as 20 CAR § 1025-401

Bloomily automatically monitors staff-to-child ratios in real-time and alerts you when you're approaching limits.

Required Certifications

Certifications required for Arkansas childcare staff

Annual Training (Arkansas)

Arkansas required minimum 15 clock hours annual professional development

Renew annuallyDocument required

Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check

Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Criminal Background Check (Arkansas)

Arkansas State Police criminal background check and FBI fingerprint check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Director Qualifications (Arkansas)

Director qualifications including Child Development Associate (CDA) or higher education

Document required

First Aid (Arkansas)

Pediatric first aid certification required

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Food Handler Permit (Arkansas)

Food handler certification for staff preparing food

Renew every 3 yearsDocument required

Lead Teacher Qualifications (Arkansas)

Lead teacher qualifications per Arkansas licensing requirements

Document required

Mandated Reporter Training

California mandated reporter training for child abuse

Document required

Mandatory Reporter Training (Arkansas)

Arkansas mandatory reporter training on recognizing and reporting child abuse

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Orientation Training (Arkansas)

Initial orientation training within first week of employment

Document required

Pediatric CPR (Arkansas)

Infant and child CPR certification required

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Safe Sleep Training (Arkansas)

Safe sleep training required for infant caregivers

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Bloomily tracks certification expiration dates and sends automated renewal reminders before they lapse.

Emergency Drill Requirements

Required safety drills for Arkansas childcare facilities

Required Drills

Fire Drill

Monthly

Monthly fire drills required; all staff including volunteers and substitutes must participate; written records maintained

Ref: 016.22.20 Ark. Code R. § 005 (Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers), Section 602 (Record of Emergency Drills) and Section 306.4.1 (Emergency Procedures Training); confirmed by multiple Arkansas DHS licensing guidance sources

Tornado/Severe Weather

Monthly

Monthly tornado/severe weather drills required alongside fire drills; written records maintained

Recommended Drills

Shelter in Place

Annually

Emergency plan must address shelter-in-place and lockdown procedures, but no specific drill frequency is mandated in the regulation; plan-only requirement

Bloomily automatically schedules drills and tracks completion to ensure you never miss a requirement.

Arkansas Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on DCCECE Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Facilities requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

Current DCCECE license posted conspicuously

Ref: AR MLR 200

Certificate of occupancy available

Ref: AR MLR 200

Fire inspection report current

Ref: AR MLR 200

Health inspection certificate posted

Ref: AR MLR 200

Liability insurance documentation current

Ref: AR MLR 200

Parent handbook available and current

Ref: AR MLR 500

Child records complete and accessible

Ref: AR MLR 500

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: AR MLR 500

Incident/accident reports documented

Ref: AR MLR 500

DCCECE complaint procedures posted

Ref: AR MLR 200

Health & Safety

First aid kit stocked and accessible

Ref: AR MLR 700

Emergency phone numbers posted

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Poison control number posted

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Medications stored properly and locked

Ref: AR MLR 700

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: AR MLR 700

Immunization records current (WebIZ verified)

Ref: AR Code 20-7-109

Hand washing procedures posted

Ref: AR MLR 700

Diapering/toileting area sanitary

Ref: AR MLR 700

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: AR MLR 700

Cribs meet CPSC safety standards

Ref: AR MLR 700

Cleaning supplies stored locked away from children

Ref: AR MLR 900

Hazardous materials inaccessible to children

Ref: AR MLR 900

Outlet covers installed throughout facility

Ref: AR MLR 900

Water temperature safe (120°F or below)

Ref: AR MLR 900

Food handling and storage meets standards

Ref: AR MLR 700

Staff

Arkansas State Police background checks current

Ref: AR MLR 300

Child Maltreatment Central Registry checks complete

Ref: AR MLR 300

FBI fingerprint checks current

Ref: AR MLR 300

Director qualifications documented (CDA or higher)

Ref: AR MLR 400

Lead teacher qualifications documented

Ref: AR MLR 400

Pediatric CPR certifications current

Ref: AR MLR 400

First aid certifications current

Ref: AR MLR 400

Mandatory reporter training completed

Ref: AR Code 12-18-402

Annual training hours documented (15 hours minimum)

Ref: AR MLR 400

Orientation training completed (new staff)

Ref: AR MLR 400

Safe sleep training documented (infant caregivers)

Ref: AR MLR 700

Staff personnel files complete

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: AR MLR 600

Emergency

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Tornado drill records current (monthly Mar-Oct)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Full evacuation drill completed (annual)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency evacuation plan posted

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Smoke detectors functional

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency contact information for all children accessible

Ref: AR MLR 500

Operations

Indoor space meets 35 sq ft per child requirement

Ref: AR MLR 900

Outdoor play area safe and enclosed

Ref: AR MLR 900

Children supervised at all times

Ref: AR MLR 600

Better Beginnings rating posted (if participating)

Ref: Better Beginnings

This checklist is provided for reference only. Always verify requirements with your state licensing agency.

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on Arkansas DCCECE Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Facilities requirements

Licensing(10)Health & Safety(15)Staff(13)Emergency(8)Operations(4)

Current DCCECE license posted conspicuously

Ref: AR MLR 200

Licensing

Certificate of occupancy available

Ref: AR MLR 200

Licensing

Fire inspection report current

Ref: AR MLR 200

Licensing

Health inspection certificate posted

Ref: AR MLR 200

Licensing

Liability insurance documentation current

Ref: AR MLR 200

Licensing

Parent handbook available and current

Ref: AR MLR 500

Licensing

Child records complete and accessible

Ref: AR MLR 500

Licensing

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: AR MLR 500

Licensing

Incident/accident reports documented

Ref: AR MLR 500

Licensing

DCCECE complaint procedures posted

Ref: AR MLR 200

Licensing

First aid kit stocked and accessible

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Emergency phone numbers posted

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Health & Safety

Poison control number posted

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Health & Safety

Medications stored properly and locked

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Immunization records current (WebIZ verified)

Ref: AR Code 20-7-109

Health & Safety

Hand washing procedures posted

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Diapering/toileting area sanitary

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Cribs meet CPSC safety standards

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Cleaning supplies stored locked away from children

Ref: AR MLR 900

Health & Safety

Hazardous materials inaccessible to children

Ref: AR MLR 900

Health & Safety

Outlet covers installed throughout facility

Ref: AR MLR 900

Health & Safety

Water temperature safe (120°F or below)

Ref: AR MLR 900

Health & Safety

Food handling and storage meets standards

Ref: AR MLR 700

Health & Safety

Arkansas State Police background checks current

Ref: AR MLR 300

Staff

Child Maltreatment Central Registry checks complete

Ref: AR MLR 300

Staff

FBI fingerprint checks current

Ref: AR MLR 300

Staff

Director qualifications documented (CDA or higher)

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

Lead teacher qualifications documented

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

Pediatric CPR certifications current

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

First aid certifications current

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

Mandatory reporter training completed

Ref: AR Code 12-18-402

Staff

Annual training hours documented (15 hours minimum)

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

Orientation training completed (new staff)

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

Safe sleep training documented (infant caregivers)

Ref: AR MLR 700

Staff

Staff personnel files complete

Ref: AR MLR 400

Staff

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: AR MLR 600

Staff

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Tornado drill records current (monthly Mar-Oct)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Full evacuation drill completed (annual)

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Emergency evacuation plan posted

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Smoke detectors functional

Ref: AR MLR 1000

Emergency

Emergency contact information for all children accessible

Ref: AR MLR 500

Emergency

Indoor space meets 35 sq ft per child requirement

Ref: AR MLR 900

Operations

Outdoor play area safe and enclosed

Ref: AR MLR 900

Operations

Children supervised at all times

Ref: AR MLR 600

Operations

Better Beginnings rating posted (if participating)

Ref: Better Beginnings

Operations

Track your Arkansas compliance digitally

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Arkansas compliance and operations resources

Health and safety featuresTrack incidents, medication, immunizations, and safety workflows.Ratio calculatorCalculate staff-to-child ratios for your classrooms.Attendance softwareMonitor rosters, ratios, check-in, and pickup in real time.Daycare management softwareRun compliance, attendance, billing, and parent communication together.Daily reports guideImprove parent communication with consistent daily reports.Meal tracking guidePlan meal records, parent updates, and billing connections.

Nearby State Requirements

Louisiana Mississippi Missouri Oklahoma Tennessee Texas

Requirements vary by state. Click to view specific licensing requirements.

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Real-time staff-to-child ratio monitoring

Automated certification expiration alerts

Pre-inspection checklist management

Emergency drill scheduling and tracking

Digital parent communication

Mobile check-in/check-out kiosks

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