How to start a daycare in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licenses child care centers in Massachusetts. These are the steps, each with the state's own page.

Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.

  • 3,013

    Licensed center programs

    205,378 spots

  • 111

    New center programs

    In the last twelve months

  • 59

    Licensed spots per 100 children under 5

    Centers and home daycares

  • 347,527

    Children under 5

    The Census Bureau's estimate

Opening a child care center in Massachusetts, step by step

  1. Find out if you need a license

    Before you open, ask your local EEC office if your program needs a license.

    Source: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license

  2. Attend a Potential Provider meeting

    Your application starts with a Potential Provider meeting. Find one in the StrongStart Professional Development System.

    Source: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license

  3. Pass facility inspections

    Get certificates of facility inspections, such as building, fire, water source and lead paint.

    Source: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license

  4. Get a LEAD account

    Ask the EEC office nearest your program for a new account in LEAD.

    Source: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license

  5. Apply through LEAD

    Apply for your license in LEAD, EEC's Licensing Education Analytic Database.

    Source: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license

  6. Meet background check rules

    Your program must complete EEC's background record check requirements.

    Source: Learn about Group and School Age Child Care programs

  7. Have your licensing visit

    Once EEC has your complete application, a licensor contacts you to set up a licensing visit.

    Source: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license

At a glance

Who licenses centers
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Licenses group and school age child care programs.Source: Learn about Group and School Age Child Care programs
License for a center
Large Group and School Age Child Care, for more than 10 childrenSource: Apply for a Large Group and School Age Child Care license
Up to 10 children outside a home
Small Group and School Age Child Care licenseSource: Apply for a Small Group and School Age Child Care license
First aid and CPR
Required for administrators and educatorsSource: Learn about Group and School Age Child Care programs

Good to know

Where Massachusetts has the fewest licensed spots per child

Licensed spots per 100 children under 5, lowest first, among counties with 20 or more center programs.

Run a program in Massachusetts? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works

Plan your program

Questions, answered

How do I start a daycare in Massachusetts?

The first step: Find out if you need a license. All 7 steps are on this page, each with the state's own link.

Who licenses child care centers in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Licenses group and school age child care programs.

How many licensed daycares are in Massachusetts?

3,013 licensed center programs and 5,841 home daycares, as of November 3, 2026.

About this page

Steps checked on the state's own pages, November 3, 2026.

Every license count here comes from the state's monthly program files, read November 3, 2026. The latest snapshot in them is dated October 2, 2026. Children under 5 are the Census Bureau's estimates.

This page is a summary of the state's own pages. It is not legal advice, and rules change.

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