Q: Does my program require a licence?
There are several exemptions, including:
Additional exemptions are set out under section 4 of the CCEYA and in sections 3 and 3.1 under Ontario Regulation 137/15.
The Ministry of Education only responds to written inquiries about whether a child care licence is required. Telephone inquiries are not accepted. Inquiries must be sent by email to: information.met@ontario.ca
Inquiries to determine if a program will require a licence should include detailed information about the prospective program, including:
Q: How much will my application cost?
Child Care Centre
Maximum Number of Children |
Fee for a new licence, in dollars | Fee for renewal of a licence, in dollars | Licence Revision fee, in dollars |
---|---|---|---|
0-24 | 200 | 100 | 50 |
25-49 | 250 | 120 | 65 |
50-74 | 300 | 140 | 75 |
75-99 | 350 | 170 | 90 |
100-124 | 400 | 200 | 100 |
125 or more | 450 | 230 | 115 |
Home Child Care Agency
Number of premises | Fee for a new licence, in dollars | Fee for renewal of a licence, in dollars | Licence Revision fee, in dollars |
---|---|---|---|
0-25 | 200 | 100 | 50 |
26-50 | 250 | 120 | 65 |
51-75 | 300 | 140 | 75 |
76-100 | 350 | 170 | 90 |
101-125 | 400 | 200 | 100 |
126- or more | 450 | 230 | 115 |
Q: Where do I submit my application?
Step-by-step instructions about how to register with One-Key (a unique electronic credential that allows you to communicate securely with online Government services) and complete your CCLS registration can be found on the Early Years Portal. Fee deposits are not refundable.
Q: What happens after I submit my application and fee deposit?
The Program Advisor will review the application and contact the applicant. The applicant may then communicate with the assigned Program Advisor to discuss specific questions regarding their licence application.
As part of the application process, the applicant will submit in CCLS, a variety of supporting documents (e.g. policies and procedures, municipal approvals, floor plans, etc.). The Program Advisor will review the documents and determine if revisions are required. The Program Advisor will also schedule a site inspection with the applicant. Once the inspection is complete and all licensing requirements have been met, a licence may be issued.
It is not mandatory to use the Licensing Kit; however, the documents are useful resources that will help applicants meet licensing requirements.
In addition to the Licensing Kit, the following licensing resources are available on the Early Years Portal:
Q: How long does it take to become licensed?
Q: Can I provide care to children while my application is being processed?
Providers must include all of their own children under the age of 4 who are on the premises in the total number of children in their care.
For more information on the other rules that unlicensed providers must follow, please refer to the ministry’s infographic: Home Child Care and Unlicensed Child Care: How Many Children Are Allowed?
Once a licence is issued, the applicant, now called a licensee, may operate a licensed child care program according to the terms set out in their licence and the rules set out the CCEYA and its regulations.
Q: What research should I do before submitting an application?
Prospective applicants should review the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) and Ontario Regulation 137/15 to develop an understanding of the licensing requirements. To assist in this review, resources such as the Child Care Licensing Manual, Home Child Care Licensing Manual and the Licensing Kit are available on the Early Years Portal.
The Early Years Portal also provides applicants with resources to support the application process. The portal includes information about the CCEYA licensing standards, such as nutrition and staff qualification requirements.
Applicants are encouraged to contact their local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Board (DSSABs) to learn about child care needs in their community.
Q: What municipal approvals are required to open a child care centre/home child care agency?
Where applicants are unsure about which municipal approvals are required, they are encouraged to contact their Program Advisor for additional information after they have submitted their application.
In addition to local service system planning, CMSMs/DSSABs provide funding to licensees for child care fee subsidies, general operating expenses and wage enhancement for child care staff, through purchase of service agreements with licensees. Prospective child care operators are encouraged to contact their local CMSM or DSSAB to learn more about the need for child care spaces and to inquire about potential opportunities to apply for funding.
To find out the CMSM/DSSAB that serves your area, please review the list available on the Ministry of Education website.
It is each licensee’s responsibility to ensure that there are adequate toys, play materials and equipment available for all children in care.
A home child care agency must set out in a written agreement with each provider who is responsible for providing toys, play materials and equipment at the premises. In some cases each provider supplies the toys and equipment, while in other cases the agency supplies toys and equipment or maintains a lending library for providers to use.
Applicants may wish to contact their local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Board (DSSABs) for information about funding opportunities that may be able to support the one-time start-up costs for child care programs.
The Ministry of Education does not assist applicants in finding children to receive services from a child care centre or home child care agency. Your local Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM) and District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSAB) may be able to assist you by providing information about the service system plan and outlining which areas are in need of child care services.
Once a licence has been issued, applicants, now called licensees, are encouraged to contact their local CMSM/DSSAB to notify them of their licence status and that they are providing care to the community. This will assist in communicating to parents which child care centres and home child care agencies in the community are currently enrolling children into care.
Q: Can the Ministry of Education refuse to issue me a licence?
The grounds for refusing to issue a licence are set out in the CCEYA, and include things like lack of competency to operate a licensed child care program, past conduct that leads the Ministry to believe that a licensed child care program would not be operated in accordance with the law, and evidence of a previous revocation or refusal to issue a child care licence. For more information, please see section 23 of the CCEYA.
The Ministry does not issue refunds to applicants who were not successful in obtaining a licence to operate a child care program.
Applicants may appeal a notice of proposal to refuse to issue a licence by requesting a hearing before the Licence Appeal Tribunal within 15 days of being served with a notice of proposal. If an applicant does not request a hearing the Ministry will carry out the proposal and refuse to issue a licence.
Once your application and fee have been assigned to a Ministry of Education Program Advisor, you may discuss your questions and concerns regarding the space and request an initial site visit.
Q: Do I need to rent or buy the child care centre premises before I submit an application?
You will also be required to submit detailed site and floor plans that reflect the proposed layout of the child care centre. You cannot begin any construction or renovation until your plans are approved by the Ministry of Education.
Q: Where can I get funding to open a child care centre?
In Ontario, Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs) and District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs) are the service system managers responsible for planning, managing and coordinating child care for their surrounding region. CMSMs/DSSABs have the authority to make decisions that best meet the needs of their communities within the parameters of provincial legislation, regulations and policies.
Q: Can I open a child care centre in my house?
Licensed home child care agencies contract with individual providers who use their own homes to look after children.
However, every child care licensee must employ a supervisor who is a member in good standing of the College of Early Childhood Educators, has at least two years of experience providing licensed child care and is approved by a Ministry of Education director; or in the opinion of a Ministry of Education director, is capable of planning and directing the program of a child care centre, being in charge of children and overseeing staff.
Q: I want to buy a child care centre that is already licensed, what do I do?
Q: Are home child care premises licensed by the Ministry of Education?
Home child care agencies and home child care providers are subject to the licensing requirements set out under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. Although homes are not licensed, they may be inspected by Ministry staff and must comply with all licensing requirements at all times.
You may search for a home child care agency that services your area by visiting the Licensing Child Care Website.
- Last Modified: 27/6/19 8:12:11 AM