Colorado State Requirements

Qualifications: Group Leader: Must be at least 18 and have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; or a 2 year college degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college or university; or current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) or other Department-approved credential; or completion of 2 years of college education with at least 1 college course in child development, plus 6 months (910 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of 4 or more children under 6 years of age who are not related to the individual; or 12 semester hours in college-level credits in the area of child growth and development and /or early childhood education, plus 9 months (1,395) hours of verified experience in the care and supervision of 4 or more children under 6 years of age who are not related to the individual; or completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes training and work experience with children; or completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development plus 12 months (1,820) hours of verified experience in the care and supervision of 4 or more children under 6 years of age who are not related to the individual; or 36 months (5,460) of verified experience in the care and supervision of 4 or more children under 6 years of age who are not related to the individual.

Provider/Child Ratio:
Age Range     Ratio For Center Based Care in Colorado
Infants     (1:5)
Toddlers     (1:5)
2 Years     (1:7)
2 1/2 - 3 years     (1:8)
3 years     (1:10)
4 years     (1:12)
5 years and up     (1:15)

Age Range     Ratio For Family Child Care in Colorado
All ages     (1:6) includes family members plus an additional two before and after school children

No more than two children under 2 years of age or if provider has been licensed for at least 2 years with no substantiated complaints, provider may be approved for three children under 2 years of age with no additional school-aged children.
Infant/ Toddler     (1:4) or (2:6)
Large Family Care Home     (2:12)includes two children under 2 years of age who are siblings of older children

Important Contact Information:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Colorado Department of Human Services
Division of Child Care
1575 Sherman Street, First Floor
Denver, CO 80203-1714
Phone: (303) 866-5958
Toll Free: (800) 799-5876
Fax: (303) 866-4453

Child Care Subsidy Agency
Colorado Department of Human Services
Office of Children, Youth and Families
1575 Sherman Street, 1st Floor
Denver, CO 80203-1714
Phone: (303) 866-4426
Toll Free: (800) 799-5876
Fax: (303) 866-4214

Head Start - State Collaboration Office
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
130 State Capitol
Denver, CO, 80203
Phone: (303) 866-6361
Fax: (303) 866-5469

Child Care Food Program Agency
Child Nutrition/Transportation Unit
Colorado Department of Education
201 East Colfax Avenue, Room 209
Denver, Colorado 80203-1799
Phone: (303) 866-6661
Fax: (303) 866-6663

Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Qualistar Early Learning
3607 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Denver, CO 80205
Phone: (303) 339-6800
Toll Free: (877) 338-CARE(877-338-2273)
Fax: (303) 339-6833

Office of Child Support Enforcement
Division of Child Support Enforcement
Department of Human Services
1575 Sherman St. 5th floor
Denver, Colorado 80203-1714
Phone: (303) 866-4300
Fax: (303) 866-4360