How to Find Child Care Licensing, Subsidy, and Background Check Information on the DCDEE Website

Updated

The NC DHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) site at ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov organizes its services into a few main sections: Regulatory Services (licensing and rules), Subsidy Services (financial assistance for child care), and the Criminal Background Check Unit (which handles several distinct types of background checks). If you know which of these three areas your question falls under, you can go straight to that section rather than searching the whole site. Note that the site's own homepage currently displays a notice that "The Division of Child Development and Early Education has moved!" — so if you land on an old page, check for a redirect or updated link before assuming the content is gone.

Licensing: rules, star ratings, and fees

Licensing information lives under the Licensing section of the site. The main entry points are:

  • Child Care License Overview — the starting point for understanding what a license covers.
  • Licensing Requirements and Licensing Requirements FAQ — the actual rules a provider must meet.
  • Star Rated License and Star Rated License FAQs — how the state's star rating system works.
  • Education Standards and Program Standards — the criteria behind star ratings.
  • Increasing Your Star Rating and How Points Are Earned — for providers already licensed who want to move up.
  • Annual License Fee — fee information for licensed facilities.
  • Visit Types — what to expect from a licensing visit.

If you're a parent trying to check whether a specific provider is licensed, start with the Licensing section rather than the subsidy or background check pages — those serve different purposes.

Subsidy: who qualifies, how to apply, and rate tools

Subsidy Services covers financial assistance for child care. The practical path through this section is:

  1. Do I Qualify? — check eligibility first.
  2. How to Apply — the application process once you know you're eligible.
  3. Financial Assistance FAQs — answers to common questions along the way.
  4. Subsidy Rate Calculator and Market Rates — tools and data for understanding what the subsidy pays.
  5. Subsidized Child Care Services and Subsidy Funding Authorization — program details.
  6. Subsidy Compliance Unit and Provider Compliance Training — for providers participating in the subsidy program.

The site also links NC FAST, the state system associated with benefits applications, which is relevant if your application moves through that platform.

Background checks: pick the right type first

The Criminal Background Check Unit is not a single service — it branches by purpose, and choosing the wrong entry will send you to the wrong forms and requirements. The site lists these distinct categories:

Background check type Who it's for
Child Care Background Checks Child care providers and staff
Adoption Background Checks Prospective adoptive parents
Foster Parent Background Checks Prospective foster parents
NC DHSR (Senate Bill 41) Background Checks A separate category tied to SB 41
State Human Resource Personnel State HR-related checks
Out of State Background Check Information When the check must cover another state
Interstate Background Check Information Multi-state situations
Comprehensive Child Care Background Check Requirements The full requirements for child care checks

If your situation involves more than one state, look at both the Out of State and Interstate pages, since they address different scenarios.

Other sections worth knowing

Beyond the three main areas, the site also hosts:

  • NC Pre-K — the state pre-kindergarten program, including an Advisory Committee and program data.
  • Workforce Education Unit — with WORKS (Workforce Online Reporting and Knowledge System), Early Educator Support (EES), and Employment and Eligibility resources.
  • Stabilization Grants — a grant program listed under "What's New."
  • Data Dashboards — including NC Pre-K data and "Behind the Dashboard" context.
  • Child Care Rules, Law and Public Information — the legal and regulatory source material, including the Child Care Commission's minutes, powers, and rule changes.

A quick way to decide where to start

  • You're a parent checking a provider or applying for help → Subsidy Services (Do I Qualify? → How to Apply).
  • You're a provider or want to open a facility → Licensing (Child Care License Overview → Licensing Requirements).
  • You need a background check → Criminal Background Check Unit, then pick the category matching your role.
  • You want the rules or legal basis → Child Care Rules, Law and Public Information.

Because the site carries a "has moved" notice, confirm you're on the current DCDEE location before relying on any single page — and use the section names above as your search terms if a direct link doesn't resolve.