Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
There are two types of certified child care operators:
Certified family child care operators
Certified in-home operators
The diagram below illustrates the levels (and types) of legal or regulated child care in Wisconsin.
Unregulated child care is legal if the provider cares for 3 or fewer children under age 7 who are not related to the provider.
Child care providers who are not required to be licensed may choose to be certified. A certified child care operator may care for up to three (3) unrelated children under age 7.
The licensing law applies when there are four (4) or more children under the age of seven (7), who are unrelated to the provider, at any one time.
This page last updated 01/2020.