What Is the Star Rated License and How Can Providers Increase Their Star Rating in North Carolina?

Updated

North Carolina's Star Rated License is the state's tiered quality rating for licensed child care programs, administered by the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). A program's star rating (from one to five stars) reflects two things: Education Standards (the qualifications and ongoing education of the staff) and Program Standards (how well the program meets quality requirements beyond basic licensing). If you are a provider, your rating is built from points earned across these two components, and DCDEE publishes guidance on how points are earned and how to move up.

The two components behind your star rating

The Star Rated License is not a single checklist. DCDEE evaluates programs along two separate dimensions, and your overall star rating combines them.

Education Standards

This component looks at the formal education and credentials of the people caring for children in your program. Higher staff qualifications translate into more points.

Program Standards

This component goes beyond minimum licensing requirements and rewards programs that meet higher quality benchmarks. The DCDEE site lists Program Standards as a distinct topic under Licensing, alongside Education Standards.

A one-star license generally means the program meets basic licensing requirements. Additional stars are earned by accumulating points in these two areas.

Where to find the rules and point structure

DCDEE's Licensing section organizes the relevant material so you can work through it in order:

  • Star Rated License — the main overview page for the rating system.
  • Education Standards — what counts toward the education side of your points.
  • Program Standards — what counts toward the program-quality side.
  • How Points Are Earned — the mechanics of converting your qualifications and program quality into a star rating.
  • Increasing Your Star Rating — DCDEE's own guidance on steps to raise your rating.
  • Star Rated License FAQs — answers to common questions about the process.

If you are new to the system entirely, start with Child Care License Overview and Licensing Requirements before diving into the star rating specifics, since the star rating builds on top of a valid license.

How providers typically increase their star rating

Because the rating is point-based across two components, the practical path to a higher rating usually involves working both sides:

  1. Review your current point total. Use the "How Points Are Earned" material to see where your program currently stands and which component is holding you back.
  2. Strengthen Education Standards. This generally means staff earning additional credentials or education that DCDEE recognizes. The Education Standards page defines what qualifies.
  3. Strengthen Program Standards. This means meeting quality benchmarks above the licensing floor. The Program Standards page defines the specific criteria.
  4. Check DCDEE's own improvement guidance. The "Increasing Your Star Rating" page is written specifically for providers in your position and should be your primary reference.
  5. Confirm details against the FAQs. Rating rules have specifics that are easy to misread; the Star Rated License FAQs address common points of confusion.

Key things to keep in mind

  • The star rating is separate from your license. You need a valid child care license first; the star rating is a quality tier on top of it.
  • Both components matter. A program with highly educated staff but weak program standards, or strong program standards but under-credentialed staff, will not reach the top of the scale.
  • Use DCDEE as the authoritative source. The point values, recognized credentials, and program criteria are defined by DCDEE, so the pages under Licensing on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov are the reference to follow rather than secondhand summaries.
  • The site has moved. DCDEE notes on its homepage that the division has moved, so if you land on an older link, follow the current navigation to reach the Licensing and Star Rated License pages.

For a provider deciding where to invest time and training dollars, the fastest way to a concrete plan is to read "How Points Are Earned" alongside your program's current standing, then use "Increasing Your Star Rating" to prioritize the gaps.