Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
An application for certification shall be submitted for initial certification, recertification and relocation.
A “complete” application means that the following forms (completed and signed) have been submitted to the certification agency as part of the initial application: (See Section 3.12 regarding relocation applications)
Application for Family and In-home Child Care Certification (including tax identification number and business name, if applicable)
BCR forms for operator and all individuals age 10+ subject to the Background Check Law
Certification fees (if applicable)
Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) / Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) Prevention training verification (if the operator is or will care for children under age 5). See Certification Policy Module 5 – Training for more information. If verification of AHT/SBS training cannot be made, the application may be accepted as “complete,” however, the certification cannot be backdated with ages served younger than 5.
Once the above items have been received, the certification worker must start an application in WISCCRS if they have not yet done so. See WISCCRS User Guide – Creating New Providers for more information.
It is important to know that the Date Complete Application Received cannot be more than 12 months from the Application Materials Received Date.
Note: Do not conduct an initial / recertification / relocation site visit prior to the application materials listed above being submitted. The WISCCRS system will require the “complete application date” be prior to the site visit date.
The following documents / information are not required for a “complete application” but it is advised they be submitted before the initial site visit:
TB screening (applicant and any other caregivers)
Regulatory Agency Approval/Acknowledgement to Operate Child Care Business (if the applicant also holds a license / certificate to care for other adults / children).
Water test, if the home does not have public water (not required for in-home care).
Department-Approved Entry Level Training verification, if Regular (Level 1) certified, but not required to conduct a site visit. See Module 5 - Training for more information.
References (agency discretion).
SIDS training verification (if the provider will be approved to care for children under age 1). See Module 5 – Training for more information regarding qualified SIDS training.
This page last updated 08/2022.