Virginia Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers (8VAC20-780) Compliant

Virginia ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Virginia Virginia Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers (8VAC20-780) regulations. Bloomily helps Virginia childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Staff-to-Child Ratios

Required ratios for Virginia licensed childcare facilities

Age Group	Staff : Children	Max Group Size	Regulation
Infants (0-12 months) Birth to 16 months per Table 1 (max group 12) and Table 2 (1:4)	1:4	12 children	8VAC20-780-350 (Tables 1 and 2), Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780
Young Toddlers (12-24 months) 16 months to 24 months per Table 1 (max group 15) and Table 2 (1:5)	1:5	15 children	8VAC20-780-350 (Tables 1 and 2), Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780
two_year 2 year olds (24-35 months) per Table 1 (max group 24) and Table 2 (1:8)	1:8	24 children	8VAC20-780-350 (Tables 1 and 2), Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780
Preschool (3-5 years) 3 year olds to school-age eligible per Table 1 (max group 30) and Table 2 (1:10); upper bound set at 72 months (6 years) as conventional conversion of 'school-age eligible'	1:10	30 children	8VAC20-780-350 (Tables 1 and 2), Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780
young_school_age School-age eligible to 9 years; regulation explicitly states group size limits do not apply to school-age children	1:18	—	8VAC20-780-350 (Tables 1 and 2), Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780
older_school_age 9 years through 12 years; group size limits do not apply; max 156 months (13 years) matches licensing scope upper bound ('children younger than 13 years')	1:20	—	8VAC20-780-350 (Tables 1 and 2), Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780

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

Required Certifications

Certifications required for Virginia childcare staff

Annual Training (16 hours)

Virginia required 16 hours annual training in addition to CPR/First Aid per 8VAC20-780-240

Renew annuallyDocument required

Background Check (Virginia)

Virginia fingerprint-based background check and CPS registry check per § 22.1-289.035

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

CPS Registry Check (Virginia)

Virginia Child Protective Services registry check

Renew every 5 yearsDocument required

First Aid (Virginia)

First aid certification appropriate to age of children in care

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

Mandated Reporter Training

California mandated reporter training for child abuse

Document required

Medication Administration Training (Virginia)

Virginia MAT certification required for staff administering prescription/non-prescription medications

Renew every 3 yearsDocument required

Orientation Training (Virginia)

Virginia orientation training including emergency procedures within 30 days of employment

Document required

Pediatric CPR (Virginia)

Infant and child CPR certification - required within 30 days of employment per 8VAC20-780-240

Renew every 2 yearsDocument required

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

Emergency Drill Requirements

Required safety drills for Virginia childcare facilities

Required Drills

Lockdown/Security

Annually

Regulation states 'lockdown procedures shall be practiced at least annually'; covers intruder/violence threat scenarios

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550, Procedures for Emergencies, Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780

Shelter in Place

Twice per year

Regulation states 'shelter in place procedures shall be practiced a minimum of twice per year'; covers tornado and chemical hazard scenarios

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550, Procedures for Emergencies, Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780

Evacuation

Monthly

Regulation states 'the center shall implement a monthly practice evacuation drill'; records kept for 1 year including date, time, weather conditions, headcount, time to complete, and problems encountered

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550, Procedures for Emergencies, Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, Virginia Administrative Code Title 8, Agency 20, Chapter 780

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

Virginia Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on Virginia Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers (8VAC20-780) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: 8VAC20-780-50

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: 8VAC20-780-50

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: 8VAC20-780-50

Written operational policies available

Ref: 8VAC20-780-40

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-40

Physical Environment

Indoor space meets minimum (25 sq ft per child)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Outdoor play area adequate and safe

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Temperature maintained appropriately

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-260

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: 8VAC20-780-260

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-260

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: 8VAC20-780-280

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: 8VAC20-780-420

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: 8VAC20-780-420

Health Practices

Daily health observation performed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-170

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-490

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-490

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-510

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-520

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: 8VAC20-780-170

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-280

Safety Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Smoke detectors working

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Shelter-in-place drills quarterly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Lockdown drills quarterly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Drill records maintained (2 years)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Emergency preparedness plan posted

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: 8VAC20-780-400

Pool secured (if applicable)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-430

Staff Requirements

Fingerprint background check current for all staff

Ref: § 22.1-289.035

CPS registry check completed

Ref: § 22.1-289.035

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

CPR certification current (within 30 days of employment)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

First Aid certification current

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: 8VAC20-780-500

MAT certification for medication administration

Ref: 8VAC20-780-510

Annual training completed (16 hours)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Orientation training within 30 days of hire

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Child Records

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Emergency contact information current

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Immunization records on file

Ref: § 32.1-46

Health information documented

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60(B)

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Attendance records maintained

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Supervision

Children supervised at all times

Ref: 8VAC20-780-500

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

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

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on Virginia Virginia Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers (8VAC20-780) requirements

Licensing(5)Physical Environment(10)Health Practices(7)Safety Practices(10)Staff Requirements(9)Child Records(7)Supervision(2)

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: 8VAC20-780-50

Licensing

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: 8VAC20-780-50

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: 8VAC20-780-50

Licensing

Written operational policies available

Ref: 8VAC20-780-40

Licensing

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-40

Licensing

Indoor space meets minimum (25 sq ft per child)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Physical Environment

Outdoor play area adequate and safe

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Physical Environment

Temperature maintained appropriately

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Physical Environment

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: 8VAC20-780-250

Physical Environment

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-260

Physical Environment

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: 8VAC20-780-260

Physical Environment

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-260

Physical Environment

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: 8VAC20-780-280

Physical Environment

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: 8VAC20-780-420

Physical Environment

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: 8VAC20-780-420

Physical Environment

Daily health observation performed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-170

Health Practices

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-490

Health Practices

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-490

Health Practices

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-510

Health Practices

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: 8VAC20-780-520

Health Practices

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: 8VAC20-780-170

Health Practices

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-280

Health Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Smoke detectors working

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Shelter-in-place drills quarterly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Lockdown drills quarterly

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Drill records maintained (2 years)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Emergency preparedness plan posted

Ref: 8VAC20-780-550

Safety Practices

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: 8VAC20-780-400

Safety Practices

Pool secured (if applicable)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-430

Safety Practices

Fingerprint background check current for all staff

Ref: § 22.1-289.035

Staff Requirements

CPS registry check completed

Ref: § 22.1-289.035

Staff Requirements

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Staff Requirements

CPR certification current (within 30 days of employment)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Staff Requirements

First Aid certification current

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Staff Requirements

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: 8VAC20-780-500

Staff Requirements

MAT certification for medication administration

Ref: 8VAC20-780-510

Staff Requirements

Annual training completed (16 hours)

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Staff Requirements

Orientation training within 30 days of hire

Ref: 8VAC20-780-240

Staff Requirements

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Child Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Child Records

Immunization records on file

Ref: § 32.1-46

Child Records

Health information documented

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60(B)

Child Records

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Child Records

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Child Records

Attendance records maintained

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Child Records

Children supervised at all times

Ref: 8VAC20-780-500

Supervision

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: 8VAC20-780-60

Supervision

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Virginia compliance and operations resources

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Nearby State Requirements

Kentucky Maryland North Carolina Tennessee West Virginia District of Columbia

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

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