Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Background Check Procedures
The following sex offender registry searches are made when processing a background check:
A search of the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) is conducted on all individuals age 18 and older who are subject to the background check law, and individuals who have resided out of state in the last five (5) years. The national sex offender registry (SOR) search includes sex offender information from all states and is conducted using the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW).
Each fingerprint result includes a search of the National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) national sex offender registry (NSOR).
The SOR check is not required for minor household members, per Wis. Stat. § 48.686(2)(am).
A SOR check is also conducted when the licensee or certified operator:
Reports new prospective household members age 18 and older;
Is considering a new potential employee, substitute or assistant age 18 or older;
The monthly data match between WISCCRS licensee or operator and the Wisconsin DOC sex offender registry checks the child care location address only. It does not search names and does not include a search of the national SOR website.
If the CBU determines that a person registered as a sex offender resides at the location of child care center, the CBU must immediately inform BECR regional licensing staff or the certification agency who will promptly conduct a monitoring visit to investigate the situation, verify the residence and determine next steps, such as summary suspension or other enforcement action. If a registered offender is living in a licensed or certified provider’s apartment building, this information will be provided to the regional licensing staff and certification agency. Licensing staff will inform the provider. Certification staff may choose to inform a certified operator but are not required to do so.
This page last updated 04/2021.