Child Care Licensing

The role of the Child Care Licensing (CCL) program is to monitor, inspect, and support licensed and registered childcare facilities, as well as those working to become licensed or registered. Additionally, CCL establishes regulations for the health, safety, and well-being of the children in these facilities. All licensed or registered programs receive a pre-inspection prior to providing care, ongoing monitoring and an annual inspection, and complaints are followed up on.

Do I need to be licensed or registered?

There are different types of licensed/registered childcare programs in Montana:

  • Relative Care Exempt Provider: is a provider that may care for either a sibling group of any size or no more than 2 children from separate households. "Relative care" means the child is the brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandchild, or great grandchild of the person providing childcare and includes a child in a step, foster, or adoptive relationship. This provider type is considered ‘License Exempt’ and is for Best Beginnings Childcare Scholarship payment purposes only.

For more information and support on becoming licensed or registered, contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency or Child Care Licensing Contacts.

New Facility Flowchart

Quick Information for Staff

New Director Orientation Flowchart

New Teacher Orientation Flowchart

  • Effective 6/1/2021 FBI FINGERPRINTS are FREE of charge at CCR&R agencies! If you send in your fingerprints, there is no need to send payment with them. This is subject to change, and notifications will be sent when that happens.

Fingerprinting locations outside the CCR&R Agency by County

FBI Forms

Contact Information

Child Care Licensing

Phone: (406)444-2012

Fax: (406)444-2750

Email: childcarelicensing@mt.gov

Mail: PO Box 4210

          Helena, MT 59620-4210