New Hampshire State Requirements

Qualifications: Child Care Worker: Must be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent and documentation of successful completion of a 2 year vocational child care course; or 6 college credits in early childhood education or early childhood special education, including 3 credits in human growth and development; or a minimum of 1000 hours of supervised child care experience with a written recommendation from supervisor and 3 college credits in early childhood education, or early childhood special education; or 72 hours of workshops, courses or in-service training with at least 12 hours in human growth and development and the remainder in early childhood education or early childhood special education; or employmenton 7/24/90 as a teacher in a NH licensed facility and 5 years experience as a teacher.

Provider/Child Ratio:

Age Range Ratios for Center-based Care in New Hamphsire
6 wks. - 12 mos. (1:4)
13 mos. - 24 mos. (1:5)
25 mos. - 35 mos. (1:6)
36 mos. - 47 mos. (1:8)
48 mos. - 59 mos. (1:12)
60 mos. and older (1:15)
Mixed age group ratio based on average age of group
Age Range Ratios for Family Child Care in New Hamphsire
One provider may care for any one of the following groups of children (includes the provider's own biological or adopted children, foster and resident children up to 10 years of age:

1) 6 preschool children and 3 school age children provided that no more than 3 children shall be under 36 months of age of which no more than 2 shall be under 19 months of age.

2) 5 preschool children and 3 school age children provided that no more than 4 children shall be under 36 months of age of which no more than 2 children shall be under 24 months of age.

3) 4 children under 36 months of age.

4) 6 preschool children and 3 school age children provided that no more than 4 children shall be under 36 months of age (requires an assistant/aide).

Important Contact Information:
Child Care Licensing Agency
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-3857
Phone: (603) 271-4624
Toll Free: (800) 852-3345 ext. 4624 (within State)
Fax: (603) 271-4782

Child Care Subsidy Agency
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Division for Children, Youth & Families
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-3857
Phone: (603) 271-7190
Fax: (603) 271-4729

Head Start - State Collaboration Office
Division for Children, Youth and Families
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH, 03301-6505
Phone: (603) 271-7190
Fax: (603) 271-4729

Child Care Food Program Agency
Bureau of Nutrition Programs & Services
New Hampshire Department of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Phone: (603) 271-3860
Fax: (603) 271-1953

State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Lakes Region Community Services Council
PO Box 509, 67 Communications Drive
Laconia, NH 03247
Phone: (603) 528-0274
Toll Free: (800) 649-8817

Office of Child Support Enforcement
Division of Child Support Services
Health & Human Services
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301-8711
Phone: (800) 852-3345
Fax: (603) 271-4787