Georgia Childcare Licensing Requirements Guide

The licensing agency: Georgia DECAL

Georgia childcare centers are licensed by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). The governing regulations are in the Georgia Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers, Chapter 591-1. DECAL is distinctive nationally in that it combines licensing, subsidy (CAPS), and the Georgia Pre-K program under one agency — a structure that creates both administrative efficiency and a unified compliance environment for Georgia providers.

DECAL operates field offices throughout the state that handle licensing inspections and complaint investigations. The department’s online systems are used for licensing applications, background checks, and subsidy billing.

Staff-to-child ratio requirements

Georgia’s required ratios under Chapter 591-1 by age group:

• Infants (0–12 months): 1 staff to 6 children
• 13–24 months: 1 staff to 8 children
• 2-year-olds: 1 staff to 10 children
• 3-year-olds: 1 staff to 15 children
• 4-year-olds: 1 staff to 18 children
• 5-year-olds: 1 staff to 20 children

Group size maximums apply alongside ratios. The infant group maximum is 12; toddlers 13-24 months may not exceed 16 per group; 2-year-olds are capped at 20; 3-year-olds at 30; 4-year-olds at 36; and 5-year-olds at 40. Both ratios and group size maximums must be satisfied simultaneously.

Note: Georgia’s infant ratio of 1:6 is more permissive than many neighboring states. Centers that operate at the maximum ratio for infants should be particularly attentive to group size caps — an infant room at 1:6 with two staff can have at most 12 infants, not 12 per staff member.

Staff qualifications

Georgia Chapter 591-1 establishes minimum qualifications by role:

Direct care staff: Must be at least 18 years of age (16-17 year olds may assist under direct supervision of a qualified adult). All new direct care staff must complete DECAL’s mandatory pre-service orientation training before working with children — this is a specific DECAL requirement covering child development, health and safety, and child abuse identification.

Lead teacher: Must have a high school diploma or GED, plus documented experience working with children, or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. DECAL recognizes CDA credentials as meeting lead teacher qualification.

Director: Must have a high school diploma or GED plus documented experience, or a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field. Directors are accountable for the center’s compliance with Chapter 591-1 and must be on-site or have a qualified designee available during operating hours.

Annual training requirements: all staff working directly with children must complete a minimum of 10 hours of DECAL-approved professional development annually. Documentation of training completion must be maintained in each employee’s personnel file.

CPR and first aid: at least one staff member per group must hold a current infant/child CPR and first aid certification.

Background check requirements

Georgia requires fingerprint-based background checks for all employees, volunteers, and others who have direct contact with children at licensed childcare facilities:

GCIC criminal history check: A Georgia Crime Information Center search of state criminal history records. Submitted through the DECAL background check portal using fingerprints.

DECAL registry check: DECAL maintains a registry of individuals disqualified from working in licensed facilities based on criminal history or substantiated abuse/neglect findings. All prospective employees must be searched against this registry before hire.

Federal check: The fingerprint submission also includes a check of federal criminal history databases through the FBI.

All checks must be completed and returned clear before an individual works with children. DECAL does not permit provisional employment while background checks are pending for direct care positions.

Facility requirements

Georgia requires a minimum of 25 square feet of usable indoor activity space per child, exclusive of bathrooms, storage, and kitchen areas. This is lower than many states — but DECAL inspectors assess actual usable space and may require more space if the layout is not functional for the licensed capacity.

Outdoor space: 75 square feet per child for the maximum number of children who use outdoor space simultaneously. Outdoor areas must be fenced, safe, and accessible from the classroom or program area.

Toilet and handwashing: one toilet and one sink per 15 children. Infant and toddler diaper changing areas must have cleanable surfaces and a dedicated handwashing sink within arm’s reach.

Health and safety documentation

Georgia Chapter 591-1 requires centers to maintain:

• Enrollment records with emergency contacts, authorized pickups, and health information for each enrolled child
• Immunization records per Georgia Department of Public Health requirements, reviewed at enrollment
• Medication authorization forms for all medications administered
• Incident/accident reports for any injury requiring professional medical treatment, retained for a minimum of three years
• Daily attendance records with arrival and departure times
• Staff training documentation showing annual professional development completion

Fire drill documentation: required monthly, with records retained for one year.

The initial licensing process

DECAL’s licensing application process is managed online through DECAL’s child care portal:

1. Director fingerprints and background check: The director must complete a background check before submitting an application. DECAL requires director clearance as a prerequisite to application review.
2. Application submission: Submit the online application with facility information, floor plan, lease or property documentation, and director qualifications.
3. Staff background checks: All staff must complete background checks through DECAL’s portal before the pre-licensing inspection.
4. Pre-licensing inspection: A DECAL field consultant visits the facility to assess compliance with Chapter 591-1. Deficiencies must be corrected before licensure.
5. Fire inspection clearance: Evidence of a current fire authority inspection must be on file.
6. License issuance: DECAL issues the license with a specified licensed capacity. Georgia licenses are renewed annually.

License renewal and ongoing compliance

Georgia DECAL licenses are renewed annually. DECAL conducts at least one unannounced annual monitoring visit. Additional inspections occur in response to complaints or when compliance concerns arise. Inspection results are documented and may be reviewed by parents through DECAL’s public-facing provider search.

Serious violations — those posing immediate risk to children — may result in an emergency license suspension. Repeated violations trigger progressive enforcement actions up to and including license revocation.

Quality Rated and Georgia Pre-K

Quality Rated is DECAL’s QRIS, awarding 1, 2, or 3 stars based on assessments of the physical environment (using ITERS or ECERS rating scales), staff qualifications and professional development, and program administration. Centers interested in CAPS subsidy at enhanced rates need Quality Rated participation — higher-rated centers receive higher reimbursement per subsidized child.

Georgia’s Pre-K program is a lottery-funded universal preschool program administered directly by DECAL. It serves 4-year-olds in approved Pre-K sites, including licensed childcare centers. Pre-K providers receive per-child funding and must meet requirements beyond standard licensing: a lead Pre-K teacher must hold a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, an approved curriculum must be implemented with fidelity, and children must be assessed using state-approved tools. Pre-K and CAPS funding can be layered at the same site, but each program has its own documentation and reporting requirements.