Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Background Check Procedures
Before an individual may begin working under supervision or residing at a child care center, they will need to complete a fingerprint background check and receive preliminary eligibility approval from the CBU. Applicants for licensure or certification, and their household members, must complete all required components of the background check and receive final eligibility approval from the CBU before regulation may be granted.
The subject of the background check, who is age 18 or older, must be prepared to pay $39 at the time a Fieldprint fingerprint-scan appointment is made online. A background check begins the date the fingerprint results are received by the CBU. The CBU will issue the preliminary eligibility determination within 5-7 business days of receiving the fingerprint results, based on a review of the criminal history for barred offenses. Individuals may not begin working or residing at a child care center until they receive the preliminary eligibility determination, and must work or reside under supervision until they receive final eligibility. (Note: The certification agency must also verify the individual has met all other qualifications prior to working in a certified child care program.)
The final background check eligibility determination may take up to 45 days from the date the department receives the fingerprint-based background check results and can take longer depending on whether the individual has resided out of state in the last 5 years, or if there are any records or pending charges requiring further investigation. Once the final eligibility determination is made, separate eligibility notices are sent to the program and individual. Final approval means the individual can work or reside in a child care without an additional layer of supervision.
This page last updated 10/2019.