Non-urgent government operations are closed December 24 to January 1, reopening January 2. See the list of services available during this time.
Federal-provincial child care agreement
On November 15, 2021, the Alberta and federal governments announced an agreement to reduce child care fees by an average of 50% in early 2022 and to provide $10 per day fees, on average, by 2026. Learn more about this historic agreement.
If you have questions about finding or choosing child care and other options, call Child Care Connect toll free at 1-844-644-5165.
This service is available in more than 100 languages.
Overview
Updated Child care legislation in Alberta came into effect on February 1, 2021. Learn more about Changes in Child Care under the updated legislation.
Under the Early Learning and Child Care Act, a licence is required to operate a child care program that provides care for 7 or more children except for:
- group homes, foster homes or other residential care settings
- programs or services provided under the Education Act
- day camps, vacation camps or other recreational programs that are operated for less than 12 consecutive weeks in any 12‑month period
- supervision of children at a recreational facility, retail centre or other commercial establishment where the parents of the children remain on the premises and are immediately available
The Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulation set out the minimum standards that must be met in a licensed child care program to ensure the safety, well-being and developmental needs of children are met.
Child Care Connect
Children's Services licenses, monitors and issues enforcement actions. If you have any questions about applying for a child care licence, contact us.
Facility-based child care licences
How to get a licence
To apply for a facility-based child care licence in Alberta, contact early learning and child care staff. They will take you through the steps you need to take to prepare and apply for a licence and will provide you with a child care licence application package.
Child Care Licensing Handbook for facility-based programs
The Child Care Licensing Handbook: Facility-based Programs provides guidance and information about:
- how you can apply for or renew a child care licence
- what is involved in inspecting and monitoring a licensed child care program
- terms used in the act and regulation
- how to appeal or dispute a licensing decision
- how to report incidents
- other important information to assist you with being licensed
This handbook does not supersede the act or regulation. Find the necessary forms, checklists and templates related to child care licensing below.
Application package for licensed facilities
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Application for an Early Learning and Child Care Licence or Family Day Home Agency – Main application form that you will fill out as part of your application for a new licence or to renew your existing licence. In this form you will include information about the applicant, what type of child care you are planning to provide, as well as a checklist of all the pieces you will need to compile and include in your application.
Program plan (facility-based programs) – Outlines required submissions, including those for your staffing plan and administrative policies and procedures.
Child Care Subsidy Grant Application form – This is a funding agreement between your program and Children’s Services if you will be receiving subsidy benefits on behalf of parents or guardians who qualify for subsidy.
Application for EFT Direct Deposit (CAD) – Provides your financial information to allow payment of eligible claimed funding (for example, wage-top ups, and subsidy).
Infant Care Incentive Parent Statement of Acknowledgement form – Notifies the parent that you will be receiving this funding for providing a space to their infant.
The Certification Guide for Staff – Provides guidance regarding the staff certification process and procedures.
Collateral information – see Step 5: Obtain the required health, municipal and safety approvals on page 17 of the Child Care Licensing Handbook for facility-based programs
The Early Learning and Child Care Act and Early Learning and Child Care Regulation – Sets out the minimum standards that must be met in a licensed child care program to ensure the safety, well-being and developmental needs of children are met.
If you have any questions, or would like to receive an application package by email, contact us.
Licence holder information session
If you are a first-time applicant for a facility-based licence under the act, you must complete an information session offered by Children’s Services before you can be issued a facility-based licence. If the applicant is a corporation, one or more corporate directors, as determined by the ministry, should complete the session. You will be required to produce proof that you completed an information session.
Through the information session, you will receive information to help you understand the licensing process, as well as an outline of the act and regulation.
Family day home agency licences
How to get a license
Applications for a family day home agency licence are considered when the Alberta government determines there is a need for additional agencies. To inquire about when an application will be accepted for a new family day home agency, contact us.
Child Care Licensing Handbook for family day home agencies
The Child Care Licensing Handbook: Family Day Home Agencies provides guidance and information about:
- how you can apply for or renew a child care licence
- what is involved in inspecting and monitoring licensed agencies and family day home programs
- terms used in the Act and Regulation
- how to appeal or dispute a licensing decision
- how to report incidents
This handbook does not supersede the Act, Regulation, or Family Day Home Standards Manual for Alberta. Find the necessary forms, checklists and templates related to child care licensing below.
Application package for family day home agencies
Application for an Early Learning and Child Care Licence or Family Day Home Agency – This is the main application form that you will fill out as part of your application for a new licence or to renew your existing licence. In this form you will include information about the applicant, what type of child care you are planning to provide, as well as a checklist of all the pieces you will need to compile and include in your application.
The Early Learning and Child Care Act, Early Learning and Child Care Regulation and Family Day Home Standards Manual for Alberta set out the minimum standards that must be met in a licensed child care program to ensure the safety, well-being and developmental needs of children are met.
Family Day Home Agency Program Plan Template – Outlines required submissions, including those for your staffing plan and administrative policies and procedures.
Child Care Subsidy Grant Application form – This is a funding agreement between your program and Children’s Services if you will be receiving subsidy benefits on behalf of parents or guardians who qualify for subsidy.
Application for EFT Direct Deposit (CAD) – Provides your financial information to allow payment of eligible claimed funding (for example, wage-top ups, and subsidy).
Infant Care Incentive Parent Statement of Acknowledgement form – Notifies the parent that you will be receiving this funding for providing a space to their infant.
The Certification Guide for Staff – Provides guidance regarding the staff certification process and procedures.
Collateral information – see Step 5: Obtain documentation of approvals, on page 28 of the Child Care Licensing Handbook for Family Day Home Agencies
Family Day Home Standards Manual – Contains the standards for operating a licensed family day home agency and for the individual family day home programs working under contract with licensed agencies to provide child care.
Family Day Home Contracts
Alberta’s government is introducing new contracts for licensed family day home agencies, which will take effect on January 1, 2025. For more information, consult the FDH Agency Contract Factsheet.
Forms and templates
Facility-based child care programs and family day home agencies
New Incident Report Form for Programs – Licence holders are required to report serious illness, injury to a child, or any other incident that occurs while the child is attending a program that may seriously affect the health or safety of the child. The Incident Report form must be completed and submitted to your local Children's Services’ licensing office within two days of the incident.
Licence Holder Request for Variation of a Licence
Early Learning and Child Care Regulation Exemption Request – Use this form for facility-based program and family day home agency exemption requests.
Notice of Appeal Form – Use if you have applied for a new licence or licence renewal and were refused, or you are a licence holder and you want to appeal an enforcement decision by a licensing staff member. Find out how to appeal a decision about child care licensing.
Family day home agencies only
Family Day Home Program Complaint Record – Use for documenting a complaint and the outcome of a complaint made regarding a family day home program.
Family Day Home Program Initial Screening Checklist – Checklist used during the initial screening process for family day home educators.
Family Day Home Program Profile – Licensed agencies use the family day home program profile to assist families in finding a family day home program that suits their needs.
Family Day Home Program Profile Sharing of Information Acknowledgement – Use to allow family day home program educators to consent to agencies sharing information with families on the program profile document.
Licensed Family Day Home Agency Home Visitor/Consultant Checklist – Licensed agencies use this form when they visit family day home programs to check how well they are following the Family Day Home Standards.
Become a family day home educator
There is a different process for becoming a family day home educator if you are interested in providing child care in your private residence for 6 or fewer children (not including your own) under a licensed family day home agency.
For more information, see Become a family day home educator.
Contact
Send all initial licensing applications and fees, as well as variance requests to us via:
Email: [email protected]
Mail:
Child Care Connect
J.G.O ‘Donoghue Building, 2nd Floor
7000 113 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6H 5T6
There is no courier or in-person drop off available.
Connect with Child Care Connect if you have questions about applying for and receiving a child care licence:
Toll free: 1-844-644-5165