DCF Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52) Compliant

New Jersey ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with New Jersey DCF Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52) regulations. Bloomily helps New Jersey childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

No card · Nothing to install · You can't break anything

60-day money-back guaranteeSetup in 15 minutes

New Jersey Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on DCF Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Written operational policies available

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Physical Environment

Indoor space meets minimum (35 sq ft per child)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Outdoor play area adequate (75 sq ft per child)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4

Temperature maintained (68-78°F)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4

Health Practices

Daily health observation performed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.5

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.2

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Safety Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Smoke detectors working

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Severe weather drills monthly (Apr-Oct)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Lockdown drills monthly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Evacuation drill semi-annually

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Drill records documented properly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Emergency plan posted

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Staff Requirements

CHRI background check current for all staff

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.10

CARI child abuse check completed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.10

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.7

CPR certification current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

First Aid certification current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.5

Annual training completed (20 hours)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Orientation within first two weeks

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Health assessment with TB test on file

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.10

AED training current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Child Records

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Emergency contact information current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Immunization records on file (NJIIS)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 8:57-4

UCHR health record within 30 days

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Allergy/special needs documented (IHCP)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Supervision

Children supervised at all times

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.5

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

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

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on New Jersey DCF Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52) requirements

Licensing(5)Physical Environment(10)Health Practices(7)Safety Practices(10)Staff Requirements(10)Child Records(6)Supervision(2)

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Licensing

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Licensing

Written operational policies available

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Licensing

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-3.1

Licensing

Indoor space meets minimum (35 sq ft per child)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Outdoor play area adequate (75 sq ft per child)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4

Physical Environment

Temperature maintained (68-78°F)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Physical Environment

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4

Physical Environment

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4

Physical Environment

Daily health observation performed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Health Practices

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Health Practices

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Health Practices

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.5

Health Practices

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Health Practices

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.2

Health Practices

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-7.1

Health Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Smoke detectors working

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Severe weather drills monthly (Apr-Oct)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Lockdown drills monthly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Evacuation drill semi-annually

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Drill records documented properly

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Emergency plan posted

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.3

Safety Practices

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.2

Safety Practices

CHRI background check current for all staff

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.10

Staff Requirements

CARI child abuse check completed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.10

Staff Requirements

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.7

Staff Requirements

CPR certification current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Staff Requirements

First Aid certification current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Staff Requirements

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.5

Staff Requirements

Annual training completed (20 hours)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Staff Requirements

Orientation within first two weeks

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Staff Requirements

Health assessment with TB test on file

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.10

Staff Requirements

AED training current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6

Staff Requirements

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Child Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Child Records

Immunization records on file (NJIIS)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 8:57-4

Child Records

UCHR health record within 30 days

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Child Records

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Child Records

Allergy/special needs documented (IHCP)

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Child Records

Children supervised at all times

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.5

Supervision

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.3

Supervision

Track your New Jersey compliance digitally

Bloomily keeps your checklist updated, tracks staff certifications, and alerts you before items expire.

No card · Nothing to install · You can't break anything

Cancel anytimeFlat monthly pricingSetup in 10 minutes

New Jersey 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

Delaware New York Pennsylvania

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

View All States·Health & Safety Features·Book a Demo

Ready to simplify New Jersey compliance?

Join childcare centers across New Jersey that use Bloomily to stay compliant and save hours every week.

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

No card · Nothing to install · You can't break anything

60-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.