OCDEL Clarifies Requirements Regarding Program Licensure

The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has made a clarification regarding program licensure requirements.

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OCDEL’s Bureau of Policy and Professional Development and Bureau of Certification Services (BCS) have released an announcement to clarify the applicability of program licensure requirements. 

BCS is responsible for receiving applications, conducting inspections, and issuing a certificate of compliance to certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania. The certificate is a document issued by the state to a legal entity permitting it to operate a specific type of facility at a specific location for a specific period of time according to department regulations. 

Under the state code, certified child care facilities in Pennsylvania fall under one of the three categories - child care center, group child care home, or family child care home. 

The state code requires that legal entities must obtain a valid certificate of compliance to operate at a specific location. Upon meeting the requirements, the certificate of compliance will be issued by the state to a legal entity prior to commencement of operation at a specific location. 

For more information and to find details on programs subject to the requirements, read OCDEL’s announcement.