MSDH Child Care Facilities Licensure Regulations Compliant

Mississippi ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Mississippi MSDH Child Care Facilities Licensure Regulations regulations. Bloomily helps Mississippi childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Staff-to-Child Ratios

Required ratios for Mississippi licensed childcare facilities

Age Group	Staff : Children	Max Group Size	Regulation
Infants (0-12 months) Under 1 year. Regulation specifies no maximum group size.	1:5	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities
Young Toddlers (12-24 months) 1-year-olds. Regulation specifies no maximum group size.	1:9	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities
toddler 2-year-olds. Regulation specifies no maximum group size.	1:12	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities
preschool_3 3-year-olds. Regulation specifies no maximum group size.	1:14	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities
preschool_4 4-year-olds. Regulation specifies no maximum group size.	1:16	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities
school_age_5to9 5 through 9 years. Regulation specifies no maximum group size.	1:20	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities
school_age_10to12 10 through 12 years. Upper licensed age is 12 years; exclusive max set to 156 months (end of age 12).	1:25	—	15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.8.2 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 8.2) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities

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

Required Certifications

Certifications required for Mississippi childcare staff

Annual Training (Mississippi)

Mississippi required minimum 15 clock hours annual professional development

Renew annuallyDocument required

Child Abuse Registry Check (Mississippi)

Mississippi Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Criminal Background Check (Mississippi)

Mississippi Department of Public Safety criminal background check and fingerprinting required

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

Director Qualifications (Mississippi)

Director qualifications per MSDH regulations including education and experience requirements

Document required

First Aid (Mississippi)

Pediatric first aid certification required

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Food Handler Certification (Mississippi)

Food handler certification for staff preparing food

Renew every 3 yearsDocument required

Lead Teacher Qualifications (Mississippi)

Lead teacher qualifications per MSDH regulations

Document required

Mandated Reporter Training

California mandated reporter training for child abuse

Document required

Mandatory Reporter Training (Mississippi)

Mississippi mandatory reporter training on recognizing and reporting child abuse

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Orientation Training (Mississippi)

Initial orientation training within first week of employment

Document required

Pediatric CPR (Mississippi)

Infant and child CPR certification required for all staff

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Safe Sleep Training (Mississippi)

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 Mississippi childcare facilities

Required Drills

Fire Drill

Monthly

Monthly fire/disaster evacuation drill; all staff and children must exit the building; records required (date, time, headcount, total exit time).

Ref: 15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.12.7 (Mississippi Administrative Code, Title 15, Part 11, Subpart 55, Chapter 1, Section 12.7) — Regulations Governing Licensure of Child Care Facilities, MSDH Bureau of Child Care Facilities

Severe Weather

Monthly

Disaster drills explicitly include tornados, severe weather, floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes under the same monthly fire/disaster evacuation drill requirement (15 Miss. Code. R. 11-55-1.12.7).

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

Mississippi Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on MSDH Child Care Facilities Licensure Regulations requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

Current MSDH license posted conspicuously

Ref: MSDH CCR

Certificate of occupancy available

Ref: MSDH CCR

Fire inspection report current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health inspection certificate posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Liability insurance documentation current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Parent handbook available and current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Child records complete and accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: MSDH CCR

Incident/accident reports documented

Ref: MSDH CCR

MSDH complaint procedures posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

First aid kit stocked and accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency phone numbers posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Poison control number posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Medications stored properly and locked

Ref: MSDH CCR

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: MSDH CCR

Immunization records current (Form 121/MIIS)

Ref: MS Code 41-23-37

Hand washing procedures posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Diapering/toileting area sanitary

Ref: MSDH CCR

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Cribs meet CPSC safety standards

Ref: MSDH CCR

Cleaning supplies stored locked away from children

Ref: MSDH CCR

Hazardous materials inaccessible to children

Ref: MSDH CCR

Outlet covers installed throughout facility

Ref: MSDH CCR

Water temperature safe (120°F or below)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Food handling and storage meets standards

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

DPS criminal background checks current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Child Abuse Registry checks complete

Ref: MSDH CCR

FBI fingerprint checks current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Director qualifications documented

Ref: MSDH CCR

Lead teacher qualifications documented

Ref: MSDH CCR

Pediatric CPR certifications current

Ref: MSDH CCR

First aid certifications current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Mandatory reporter training completed

Ref: MS Code 43-21-353

Annual training hours documented (15 hours minimum)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Orientation training completed (new staff)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Safe sleep training documented (infant caregivers)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff personnel files complete

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Tornado drill records current (monthly Mar-Sep)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Full evacuation drill completed (annual)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency evacuation plan posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Smoke detectors functional

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency contact information for all children accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Operations

Indoor space meets 35 sq ft per child requirement

Ref: MSDH CCR

Outdoor play area safe and enclosed

Ref: MSDH CCR

Children supervised at all times

Ref: MSDH CCR

Quality Stars rating posted (if participating)

Ref: Quality Stars

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

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on Mississippi MSDH Child Care Facilities Licensure Regulations requirements

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

Current MSDH license posted conspicuously

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Certificate of occupancy available

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Fire inspection report current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Health inspection certificate posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Liability insurance documentation current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Parent handbook available and current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Child records complete and accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Daily attendance records maintained

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

Incident/accident reports documented

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

MSDH complaint procedures posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Licensing

First aid kit stocked and accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Emergency phone numbers posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Poison control number posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Medications stored properly and locked

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Medication authorization forms complete

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Immunization records current (Form 121/MIIS)

Ref: MS Code 41-23-37

Health & Safety

Hand washing procedures posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Diapering/toileting area sanitary

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Cribs meet CPSC safety standards

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Cleaning supplies stored locked away from children

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Hazardous materials inaccessible to children

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Outlet covers installed throughout facility

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Water temperature safe (120°F or below)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

Food handling and storage meets standards

Ref: MSDH CCR

Health & Safety

DPS criminal background checks current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Child Abuse Registry checks complete

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

FBI fingerprint checks current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Director qualifications documented

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Lead teacher qualifications documented

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Pediatric CPR certifications current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

First aid certifications current

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Mandatory reporter training completed

Ref: MS Code 43-21-353

Staff

Annual training hours documented (15 hours minimum)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Orientation training completed (new staff)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Safe sleep training documented (infant caregivers)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Staff personnel files complete

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Staff-to-child ratios maintained at all times

Ref: MSDH CCR

Staff

Fire drill records current (monthly)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Tornado drill records current (monthly Mar-Sep)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Lockdown drill records current (semi-annual)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Full evacuation drill completed (annual)

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Emergency evacuation plan posted

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Fire extinguishers inspected and accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Smoke detectors functional

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Emergency contact information for all children accessible

Ref: MSDH CCR

Emergency

Indoor space meets 35 sq ft per child requirement

Ref: MSDH CCR

Operations

Outdoor play area safe and enclosed

Ref: MSDH CCR

Operations

Children supervised at all times

Ref: MSDH CCR

Operations

Quality Stars rating posted (if participating)

Ref: Quality Stars

Operations

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Mississippi compliance and operations resources

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Nearby State Requirements

Alabama Arkansas Louisiana Tennessee

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

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Real-time staff-to-child ratio monitoring

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Pre-inspection checklist management

Emergency drill scheduling and tracking

Digital parent communication

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