Tennessee Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Tennessee (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Tennessee means applying to the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services, clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Tennessee's licensing statutes.

Tennessee Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Tennessee launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
Tennessee's licensing fee schedule (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03, paragraph (14), effective January 1, 2001) sets the annual license/application fee at $100.00 for a family child care home, $125.00 for a group child care home, $200.00 for a child care center serving fewer than 100 children (and a drop-in center), $400.00 for a center serving more than 100 children, and $500.00 for a center serving more than 250 children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03).
Annual renewal fee
Tennessee charges the same fee schedule for renewals as for initial licenses, and providers may pay an annual, biennial (two-year), or triennial (three-year) fee: for a family child care home $100.00 annual / $150.00 biennial / $175.00 triennial; group child care home $125.00 / $175.00 / $200.00; center under 100 children (and drop-in center) $200.00 / $250.00 / $300.00; center over 100 children $400.00 / $450.00 / $500.00; center over 250 children $500.00 / $550.00 / $600.00 (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03, paragraph (14)).
Pre-service training
Before unsupervised contact with children, all new child care employees in Tennessee must complete shaken-baby-syndrome/abusive-head-trauma training and Department-recognized pre-service training covering all federally required components, and a family/group child care home primary educator must complete a child care agency orientation session during the pre-licensure period (along with Small Business Academy and Licensing Rules and Regulations training) before a license is issued (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.06).
Annual training
Annual continuing-education clock hours required by rule are: child care center educators 12 hours; center directors at least 24 hours; family/group child care home primary educators 18 hours; and other family/group home educators 12 hours, with at least 6 of those hours in health and safety and at least 3 hours in pre-literacy/literacy skills each year, plus Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) training every five (5) years (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.06).
License-exempt threshold
In Tennessee a child care license is required only when care is provided for three (3) or more hours per day to five (5) or more children who are not related to the primary educator, so a person may care for up to four (4) unrelated children, or for fewer than three hours per day, without a state child care license (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.02; confirmed on the official TN DHS "How to Become a Licensed Child Care Provider" page, which states it is illegal to provide care to "five (5) or more unrelated children for three (3) or more hours per day" without a license or license-exempt status).
Family child care capacity
A Tennessee family child care home may have no more than seven (7) children present at any one time (up to twelve (12) total if any number above seven are related to the primary educator); one (1) educator may supervise up to seven children when no more than four are under age 2, a second educator is required when five (5) or more children under age 2 are present, and a second educator is also required for more than seven children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.20).
Indoor square footage
Tennessee requires a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor play space per child in each classroom, and each nap room must contain a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of floor space per child; no minimum outdoor square footage per child is specified in the licensing rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).
Inspection schedule
Minimum of four (4) monitoring visits per year per licensed agency using a standardized observation tool (typically two announced and two unannounced); additional complaint-based investigations occur as needed.

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Tennessee

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Tennessee's childcare licensing rules.

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Tennessee. In Tennessee a child care license is required only when care is provided for three (3) or more hours per day to five (5) or more children who are not related to the primary educator, so a person may care for up to four (4) unrelated children, or for fewer than three hours per day, without a state child care license (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.02; confirmed on the official TN DHS "How to Become a Licensed Child Care Provider" page, which states it is illegal to provide care to "five (5) or more unrelated children for three (3) or more hours per day" without a license or license-exempt status).

    Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

  2. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. Before unsupervised contact with children, all new child care employees in Tennessee must complete shaken-baby-syndrome/abusive-head-trauma training and Department-recognized pre-service training covering all federally required components, and a family/group child care home primary educator must complete a child care agency orientation session during the pre-licensure period (along with Small Business Academy and Licensing Rules and Regulations training) before a license is issued (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.06).

    Plan for ongoing training too: Annual continuing-education clock hours required by rule are: child care center educators 12 hours; center directors at least 24 hours; family/group child care home primary educators 18 hours; and other family/group home educators 12 hours, with at least 6 of those hours in health and safety and at least 3 hours in pre-literacy/literacy skills each year, plus Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) training every five (5) years (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.06).

  3. Pass background checks

    Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

    Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

  4. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Tennessee's facility standards. Tennessee requires a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of usable indoor play space per child in each classroom, and each nap room must contain a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of floor space per child; no minimum outdoor square footage per child is specified in the licensing rules (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A Tennessee family child care home may have no more than seven (7) children present at any one time (up to twelve (12) total if any number above seven are related to the primary educator); one (1) educator may supervise up to seven children when no more than four are under age 2, a second educator is required when five (5) or more children under age 2 are present, and a second educator is also required for more than seven children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.20).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services and pay the licensing fee. Tennessee's licensing fee schedule (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03, paragraph (14), effective January 1, 2001) sets the annual license/application fee at $100.00 for a family child care home, $125.00 for a group child care home, $200.00 for a child care center serving fewer than 100 children (and a drop-in center), $400.00 for a center serving more than 100 children, and $500.00 for a center serving more than 250 children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03).

    Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Minimum of four (4) monitoring visits per year per licensed agency using a standardized observation tool (typically two announced and two unannounced); additional complaint-based investigations occur as needed.

    The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Tennessee rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: 6 weeks - 15 months (infants) 1:4 (max group size 8), 12 - 30 months 1:6 (max group size 12), 24 - 35 months (2 years) 1:7 (max group size 14), 3 years 1:9 (max group size 18), 4 years 1:13 (max group size 20), 5 years 1:16 (max group size 20), School-age 1:20 (no maximum group size)

    Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Tennessee-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

    Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

What You Need to Apply in Tennessee

Tennessee licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • Child Care License Application (completed via TDHS eLicensing Provider Portal / TN Login)
  • HS-2779 Child Care Criminal/Juvenile History & State Registry Review Disclosure Form
  • HS-3275 / HS-3554 Child Care Emergency Preparedness Plan Checklist and Template
  • HS-30051 Child Care Observation Documentation Form
  • HS-3005 Center TN-ELDS Documentation Form / HS-3006 Home TN-ELDS Documentation Form
  • HS-2984 Personal Safety Curriculum Notification Form (HS-2994 for Drop-In Centers)
  • HS-2583 Kindergarten Parent Acknowledgement Form
  • Child Care Provider Medical Report
  • Tennessee Department of Health Official Certificate of Immunization (TennIIS)
  • Vehicle Inspection Sheet (and Vehicle Inspection Sheet - Bus)
  • First Aid Kit Checklist
  • Serious Injury/Incident Report (submitted through eLicensing Provider Portal)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Tennessee requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services: 6 weeks - 15 months (infants) 1:4 (max group size 8), 12 - 30 months 1:6 (max group size 12), 24 - 35 months (2 years) 1:7 (max group size 14), 3 years 1:9 (max group size 18), 4 years 1:13 (max group size 20), 5 years 1:16 (max group size 20), School-age 1:20 (no maximum group size).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Tennessee licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Tennessee-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Tennessee-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Tennessee: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Tennessee?
In Tennessee a child care license is required only when care is provided for three (3) or more hours per day to five (5) or more children who are not related to the primary educator, so a person may care for up to four (4) unrelated children, or for fewer than three hours per day, without a state child care license (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.02; confirmed on the official TN DHS "How to Become a Licensed Child Care Provider" page, which states it is illegal to provide care to "five (5) or more unrelated children for three (3) or more hours per day" without a license or license-exempt status).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Tennessee?
Tennessee's licensing fee schedule (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03, paragraph (14), effective January 1, 2001) sets the annual license/application fee at $100.00 for a family child care home, $125.00 for a group child care home, $200.00 for a child care center serving fewer than 100 children (and a drop-in center), $400.00 for a center serving more than 100 children, and $500.00 for a center serving more than 250 children (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03). Renewal: Tennessee charges the same fee schedule for renewals as for initial licenses, and providers may pay an annual, biennial (two-year), or triennial (three-year) fee: for a family child care home $100.00 annual / $150.00 biennial / $175.00 triennial; group child care home $125.00 / $175.00 / $200.00; center under 100 children (and drop-in center) $200.00 / $250.00 / $300.00; center over 100 children $400.00 / $450.00 / $500.00; center over 250 children $500.00 / $550.00 / $600.00 (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-05-.03, paragraph (14)).
Who issues daycare licenses in Tennessee?
Childcare licensing in Tennessee is handled by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Tennessee?
Before unsupervised contact with children, all new child care employees in Tennessee must complete shaken-baby-syndrome/abusive-head-trauma training and Department-recognized pre-service training covering all federally required components, and a family/group child care home primary educator must complete a child care agency orientation session during the pre-licensure period (along with Small Business Academy and Licensing Rules and Regulations training) before a license is issued (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.06).

Keep researching Tennessee

Tennessee Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Tennessee.

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How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

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License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

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Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Tennessee statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Child Care Services before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.