Child Care Licensing Policies and Procedures

The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is responsible for licensing and monitoring child care facilities around the state to ensure they meet health and safety requirements. We believe our role is to support licensed family home and center child care providers in offering care that is safe, healthy and nurturing for children and families in Washington.

Our licensing work is guided by this belief, as well as by state laws, state rules, which are also called WACs, and our own internal DEL policies and procedures. The policies and procedures are posted here. They are developed and reviewed internally, and our DEL licensing team is trained on them to help ensure consistency in our licensing work around the state.

10.1 General Licensing
Child Care Certification Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Child Care Check - removing name from background check listings Policy Procedure
Compliance Agreement Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Emergent On-Call Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Fire Inspection Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Initial Full License Policy Procedure  
Licensing Policy Development Policy Procedure
Monitoring Visit Policy Procedure Tip sheet
No Referral Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Nonexpiring License Policy Procedure  
On-Site Consultation Referral Policy Procedure  
Product Safety Recall Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Reasonable Accommodations for Employees with Disabilities Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Supervisory Review Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Window Blind Covering Policy Procedure Tip sheet
10.2 Licensing Action
Civil Penalties Policy Procedure
Exception Policy Procedure Matrix
Probationary License Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Revocation License Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Summary Suspension Policy Procedure Tip sheet
10.3 Complaint Inspections
Complaint Inspection Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Licensing Complaint Findings Memo
Safety Plan Policy Procedure Tip sheet
10.4 Unlicensed
Unlicensed Care Policy Procedure  
10.5 Background Checks
Background Check Verification Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Qualification Policy Procedure Tip sheet
10.6 Communication
Child Care Orientation Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Child Care Provider Communication Policy Procedure Tip sheet
LCIR Policy Procedure Tip sheet
Licensing File Consistency Policy Procedure Tip sheet
10.7 Health
Cleaning and Sanitizing Policy Procedure Tip sheet
10.8 Other
Designation of Authority for Summary Suspension Memo
Hand Sanitizer Memo
Inspection versus investigation Memo
Policy Clarification Memo
10.9 Forms
For a list of child care forms, visit the Licensing Forms & Documents section.
Evaluation of Child Care Orientation Form
Application Received Form
Compliance Agreement English Spanish
Declaration of Personal Service Form
On-Site Consultation and Referral Form Form
Reconsideration Review Form
Release of Information Form
Revocation Denial Recommendation Form
Health Service Request Form
Proposed Capacity Determination Form
Provider Safety Recall Statement for Equipment English Spanish
Receipt of Records Removed Letter
Request for Additional Information Letter
Safety Plan Agreement
Supervisory Review Decision Letter
Supervisory Review Extention Letter
Unlicensed Care Status Report Form