Colorado Childcare Background Check Requirements (2026)

Colorado childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Fingerprint-based criminal history record check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), submitted via a CBI-approved fingerprint vendor (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121 - Criminal Record Check).

Colorado childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Child abuse/neglect background inquiry through the CDEC automated system (Trails), on the state-prescribed form, for operators, applicants, and employees; renewed every 5 years (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.120 - Child Abuse or Neglect for Background and Employment Inquiries).

Colorado childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Checks must be completed before an individual cares for children or has unsupervised access; for residents of a licensed facility, a criminal record check at annual declaration applies to those who have not previously obtained one (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121(C)).

Colorado childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Notification of Name Removal form must be submitted when an individual leaves employment, to remove their name from the facility license number in the CBI database (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121(D)(1)).

What background checks does Colorado require for childcare staff?

Colorado requires the following screenings: Fingerprint-based criminal history record check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), submitted via a CBI-approved fingerprint vendor (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121 - Criminal Record Check); Child abuse/neglect background inquiry through the CDEC automated system (Trails), on the state-prescribed form, for operators, applicants, and employees; renewed every 5 years (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.120 - Child Abuse or Neglect for Background and Employment Inquiries); Checks must be completed before an individual cares for children or has unsupervised access; for residents of a licensed facility, a criminal record check at annual declaration applies to those who have not previously obtained one (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121(C)); Notification of Name Removal form must be submitted when an individual leaves employment, to remove their name from the facility license number in the CBI database (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121(D)(1)).

Do background checks need to be repeated in Colorado?

Many states require periodic re-screening (often every 5 years) in addition to the initial check. Confirm the current Colorado re-screening interval with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA).

Who must be screened at a Colorado center?

Any staff member, substitute, or volunteer with unsupervised access to children must clear the required Colorado screenings before working with children.