How to Check a Preschool’s License
By First Cubby Editorial · Updated 2026-07-10
Every U.S. state requires child care programs to be licensed, and you can look up a preschool’s license, inspection history, and any violations through your state’s child care licensing agency. The easiest entry point is the federal site childcare.gov, which links to every state’s licensing search. A license means basic health and safety minimums are met — it’s a floor, not a quality guarantee.
What a license actually means
To be licensed, a program must meet your state’s minimum standards — ratios, staff background checks, facility safety, health rules — and submit to inspections. That’s important, but it’s the baseline; plenty of licensing minimums are looser than what a top program offers.
How to look it up
- Go to childcare.gov and find your state’s child care licensing agency.
- Search the licensing database by the program’s name or address.
- Check the license status (current/active), the inspection reports, and any citations or violations and how they were resolved.
Reading violations in context
A citation isn’t always a dealbreaker — minor, quickly-corrected issues are common. Look for patterns: repeated serious violations (supervision, safety, health) are the red flags. Ask the director about anything you see.
License vs. accreditation
Licensing is required; NAEYC accreditation is an optional higher standard. Use both, plus what you see on a tour — see signs of a good preschool.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a preschool is licensed?
Look it up through your state’s child care licensing agency — the federal site childcare.gov links to every state’s licensing search. Many states publish each program’s license status, inspection reports, and any violations online.
What does a child care license mean?
A license means the program has met your state’s basic health and safety minimums — things like ratios, background checks, and facility standards — and is inspected. It’s a floor, not a guarantee of quality.
Where can I see a preschool’s violations or inspection reports?
Many state licensing websites post inspection history and citations for each licensed program. Search your state’s child care licensing database (linked from childcare.gov) by the program’s name.
Is a licensed preschool the same as accredited?
No. Licensing is mandatory and sets minimum standards; accreditation (like NAEYC) is voluntary and sets a higher bar. A great school may be licensed but not accredited — accreditation is a bonus signal, not a requirement.
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