Last updated: May 4, 2026

How to Start a Daycare in West Virginia (2026)

Child care licensing in West Virginia went through a significant structural change on January 1, 2024. The former Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) was split into three separate agencies by HB 2006 (2023 legislative session): the Department of Health (DH), the Department of Human Services (DoHS), and the Department of Health Facilities (DHF). Child care center licensing now resides under the Department of Human Services (DoHS), specifically through the Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) at bfa.wv.gov. Previous references you may find to “DHHR Bureau for Children and Families” reflect the pre-2024 structure; the current licensing authority is the BFA’s Division of Early Care and Education under DoHS. West Virginia retains one distinctive advantage: no application fee for most child care license types, which reduces the initial cost burden compared to states that charge $50-$300 for licensing applications.

West Virginia’s child care market is shaped by the same geographic split as the rest of its economy. The Eastern Panhandle — Berkeley and Jefferson counties — is part of the Washington DC metro commuter belt, where demand for infant and toddler care is high and provider capacity is stretched. Morgantown (WVU) has strong demand from university staff and students with young families. Charleston and Huntington have established child care markets with both center-based and home-based providers. In rural southern WV, child care deserts persist in many counties where the combination of low reimbursement rates and sparse population makes operating a licensed facility financially challenging. The state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) subsidy is the financial lifeline for many WV providers, covering approximately 85% of care costs for eligible families.

Daycare Requirements in West Virginia at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
Child Care License (Family Home, Facility, or Center)	WV DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance	Free (no application fee)	60-120 days
WV State Fire Marshal Preliminary Inspection (facility only)	WV State Fire Marshal	$25 (Family Child Care Facility — 7-12 children only)	Scheduled during application
State and Federal Background Checks (all staff and household members 18+)	WV State Police / FBI via IdentoGO	~$30-$75 per person	2-6 weeks
WV STARS Registration (required for all staff)	WV STARS Professional Development Registry	Free	Before supervising children
Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certification	American Heart Association / Red Cross	$50-$100 per person	Before license issuance
Business Registration Certificate	WV State Tax Department	$30 one-time	Same day online
LLC Formation	WV Secretary of State (One Stop Portal)	$25 + $1 portal fee	2-5 business days
Workers’ Compensation Insurance	Private carrier (required at 3+ employees)	Varies by payroll (NCCI code 9059)	Before 3rd employee starts

How to Start a Daycare in West Virginia (Step by Step)

Step 1: Understand the Post-2024 Licensing Authority Structure

The licensing authority for child care in West Virginia changed on January 1, 2024, when the former DHHR was restructured. The current licensing authority is:

West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS)
Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA), Division of Early Care and Education

• Website: bfa.wv.gov/child-care-centers
• Mailing address: 350 Capitol Street, Room 730, Charleston, WV 25301
• Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRC) agencies: Six regional CCRC agencies provide technical assistance statewide. Contact BFA to be connected to your regional CCRC.

If you encounter older information referring to “DHHR Bureau for Children and Families” or the address at “350 Capitol Street, Room B-18” (the pre-2024 address), those are outdated references to the former structure. The current BFA is on the 7th floor (Room 730) of the same building.

Step 2: Choose Your License Type

West Virginia issues four distinct license categories:

License Type	Setting	Capacity
Family Child Care Home	Provider’s own home	4-6 children (not counting provider’s own children)
Family Child Care Facility	Provider’s own home	7-12 children (not counting provider’s own children)
Child Care Center	Non-residential building	13 or more children
Informal / Relative Family Child Care Home	Provider’s home	Up to 3 unrelated children under age 13 (simplified registration)

The distinction between Family Child Care Home (up to 6) and Family Child Care Facility (7-12) matters financially: only facilities (7-12 children) must pay the $25 State Fire Marshal inspection fee. Most full-time home providers serving more than 6 children apply for the Facility license to maximize revenue while remaining in their home.

Step 3: Staff-to-Child Ratios for Child Care Centers

West Virginia mandates the following minimum ratios for licensed child care centers:

Age Group	Minimum Ratio	Maximum Group Size
6 weeks – 12 months	1 adult : 4 infants	8
13-24 months	1 adult : 4 toddlers	12
25-35 months	1 adult : 8 children	16
36-47 months	1 adult : 10 children	20
48-59 months	1 adult : 12 children	24
60+ months / school age	1 adult : 12 children	24

These ratios must be maintained at all times during operating hours, not just on average. Ratios represent the minimum staffing floor; BFA inspectors will cite violations if ratios are not met during any portion of an inspection visit.

Step 4: Background Check Requirements

West Virginia requires comprehensive background checks for all adults associated with the child care operation before care begins:

Who must be checked:

• All staff members (paid and volunteer)
• All household members age 18+ (for home-based care — Family Home and Facility license types)
• Any individual age 18+ who has regular access to children in care

Required checks:

• WV State Police criminal records check
• FBI federal fingerprint-based criminal background check (via IdentoGO by IDEMIA — schedule at identogo.com)
• WV child abuse and neglect registry check
• National Sex Offender Public Registry check

Convictions for crimes against children, substantiated child abuse or neglect findings, and certain other specified felony convictions are disqualifying under WV Code. Background check costs are paid by the applicant; fees range from approximately $30-$75 per person depending on the specific checks required.

Step 5: WV STARS and Training Requirements

West Virginia operates the WV State Training and Registry System (WV STARS), a professional development registry that all child care staff must enroll in before supervising children. STARS enrollment is free and serves as the foundation for tracking training credentials and professional development progress.

Pre-opening training requirements (all license types):

• Pediatric CPR certification (American Heart Association or equivalent) — must remain current
• Standard First Aid certification — must remain current
• Child abuse and neglect recognition and reporting training
• Health assessment and tuberculin (TB) risk assessment (updated every 2 years)
• WV STARS registration — all staff must enroll before supervising children

Annual training requirements:

• Family Child Care Home providers: 8 clock hours of training per year
• Family Child Care Facility providers: 15 clock hours of training per year
• Child Care Center directors and staff: specific hour requirements by role
• Training must cover areas within the WV Core Knowledge and Core Competency Framework

Step 6: Quality Tiered Reimbursement and CCAP Subsidy

West Virginia does not operate a formal numbered QRIS (quality rating and improvement system) like some states. Instead, the state uses a Quality Tiered Reimbursement system that links payment bonuses to quality standards:

• Tier I: Licensed or registered programs — base CCAP reimbursement rate
• Tier II: Programs meeting WV-specific quality standards aligned with WV Core Knowledge and Competencies — additional $3.00 per child per day above base rate
• Tier III: Programs holding national accreditation (NAEYC, COA, or NAFCC) — additional $6.00 per child per day above base rate

The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is the primary child care subsidy in West Virginia. Initial eligibility is at 150% of the federal poverty level; families already receiving CCAP can continue at up to 185% FPL. The state covers approximately 85% of eligible child care costs, with families paying a sliding-scale copayment. Six regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRC) agencies administer CCAP and provide technical assistance to providers. Providers must be licensed to accept CCAP payments; Tier II and III providers receive the additional daily bonuses on top of base reimbursement rates.

In a state where household incomes are below national averages, CCAP-eligible families represent a large share of potential clientele. Building toward Tier II or III can meaningfully increase per-child reimbursement rates — the $3/day Tier II bonus translates to roughly $60/month per enrolled CCAP child above base rates.

Step 7: Prepare Your Facility and Pass Pre-Licensing Inspection

Your facility must meet physical environment standards before BFA will issue a license:

Indoor space:

• Minimum 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child (child care centers)
• Safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment
• Separate sleeping and activity areas for infants and toddlers
• Adequate lighting, ventilation, and temperature control
• Sanitary food preparation and handwashing facilities

Outdoor space:

• Accessible outdoor play space required (licensed centers)
• Age-appropriate playground equipment in good repair
• Fenced and secure perimeter

Fire safety:

• Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers required
• State Fire Marshal inspects Family Child Care Facilities (7-12 children) before license issuance ($25 fee)
• Fire evacuation plans and practice drills required; document each drill

Step 8: Submit the Application and Receive Your License

Application fee: None (free for most license types). The only direct licensing cost is the $25 State Fire Marshal preliminary inspection fee for Family Child Care Facility applicants (7-12 children).

After BFA receives your complete application, they will:

1. Review application for completeness
2. Schedule a pre-licensing inspection
3. Review background check results for all required individuals
4. Verify training certifications and STARS enrollment
5. Issue a provisional license (often 6 months) followed by a full 2-year license once all standards are confirmed

License duration: WV child care licenses are valid for 2 years. Renewal applications should be submitted 30-60 days before expiration. BFA conducts unannounced monitoring visits throughout the license period.

Step 9: Register Your Business and Set Up Payroll

• LLC formation: $26 through the WV One Stop Business Portal
• Business Registration Certificate: $30 from the WV State Tax Department
• EIN: Free from the IRS (needed for payroll, banking, and CCAP provider enrollment)
• Workers’ compensation: Required once you have 3 or more employees. Child care falls under NCCI code 9059. Obtain from a private WV carrier through the WV Insurance Commissioner.
• Minimum wage: Pay at least $8.75/hour (WV state minimum, higher than federal $7.25)
• UI registration: WorkForce West Virginia; 2026 wage base $9,500; new employer rate 2.7%

Cost to Start a Daycare in West Virginia

Item	Cost	Notes
BFA Child Care License application	Free	No application fee for most license types
Fire Marshal Inspection (Family Facility — 7-12 children only)	$25	Only required for the 7-12 capacity Facility license type
Background checks (per person)	$30-$75 per person	State + federal; all staff and household members 18+
Pediatric CPR and First Aid (per person)	$50-$100 per person	Must remain current; renewal every 2 years
WV STARS registration	Free	Required for all staff before supervising children
LLC formation	$26	WV SOS + $1 portal fee
Business Registration Certificate	$30	WV State Tax Department; one-time
Facility lease or mortgage (monthly)	$800-$4,000+/month	Varies by location and size; Eastern Panhandle highest
Facility renovation/build-out	$5,000-$50,000	Bathrooms, safety gates, playground, sleeping areas
Furniture, equipment, and supplies	$5,000-$20,000	Cribs, high chairs, tables, toys, educational materials
General liability insurance	$1,000-$3,000/year	Child care-specific liability; NCCI code 9059
Workers’ compensation (at 3+ employees)	Varies by payroll	Private market; obtain before 3rd employee

Estimated total startup cost: $15,000-$100,000+ (family home license on the low end; commercial child care center on the high end)

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← Back to all West Virginia business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Which agency licenses child care in West Virginia after the 2024 DHHR reorganization?

As of January 1, 2024, child care licensing is under the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), specifically the Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA), Division of Early Care and Education. The old “DHHR Bureau for Children and Families” no longer exists as such. Contact the BFA at bfa.wv.gov/child-care-centers or 350 Capitol Street, Room 730, Charleston, WV 25301. If you find information referencing the old Room B-18 address, that is outdated.

How much does a West Virginia daycare license cost?

West Virginia child care licensing has no application fee for most license types — one of the more accessible states on this metric. The only direct licensing cost is a $25 State Fire Marshal inspection fee for Family Child Care Facility applicants (7-12 children). Background checks ($30-$75 per person) and CPR/first aid training ($50-$100 per person) are the main upfront costs beyond facility preparation.

What are the staff-to-child ratios for West Virginia daycares?

Child care centers must maintain: 1:4 for infants (6 weeks-24 months, max group 8-12); 1:8 for 25-35 months (max group 16); 1:10 for 36-47 months (max group 20); 1:12 for 48+ months (max group 24). These ratios must be maintained at all times. Home-based licenses (Family Home and Facility) have their own staffing requirements based on the ages and needs of children in care.

Does West Virginia have a QRIS for child care quality?

West Virginia uses a Quality Tiered Reimbursement system rather than a formally numbered QRIS. Tier I is the base licensing level; Tier II programs meeting WV quality standards receive $3.00 per child per day additional reimbursement; Tier III programs with NAEYC, COA, or NAFCC national accreditation receive $6.00 per child per day. These bonuses apply to CCAP-subsidized children. Six regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRC) agencies provide technical assistance to help providers advance tiers.

What is the West Virginia Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)?

CCAP is West Virginia’s child care subsidy program. Initial income eligibility is at 150% of the federal poverty level; families already enrolled can continue up to 185% FPL. The state covers approximately 85% of eligible child care costs, with families paying a sliding-scale copayment. Licensed providers must enroll as CCAP providers through the BFA. Serving CCAP families is critical for financial sustainability in a state with below-average household incomes.

How many children can I care for without a daycare license in West Virginia?

The Informal/Relative Family Child Care Home registration covers up to 3 unrelated children under age 13 (not counting your own children). This is a simplified registration, not a full license. If you care for 4 or more unrelated children in your home, you need a full Family Child Care Home license (4-6 children) from the Bureau for Family Assistance. Operating above your licensed capacity is a violation subject to enforcement action.