Colorado Childcare Required Forms & Documents (2026)

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Pre-Licensing Orientation registration (completed through CDEC before applying) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Application for a License to Operate a Child Care Center (submitted via the CDEC Provider Hub; original application fee per 8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.111 (Fees)) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Annual declaration of compliance / continuation declaration with annual continuation fee (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.107(B) and Rule 2.111) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)/FBI fingerprint-based criminal record check request, submitted through a CBI-approved fingerprint vendor (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121 - Criminal Record Check) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Trails child abuse/neglect background inquiry request - state-prescribed form (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.120 - Child Abuse or Neglect for Background and Employment Inquiries) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Notification of Name Removal form - to remove a departed employee from the facility license number in the CBI database (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121(D)(1)) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed CDPHE Certificate of Immunization, or Certificate of Medical Exemption, or Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption (6 CCR 1009-2) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Statement of the child's current health status signed by a health care provider (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.219(B)(2) - Statements of Health Status) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Department-approved health care plan for a child with an identified health/developmental condition (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.218(B)(3) - Admission) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

Colorado childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Written medication order/authorization with parental consent, and written medication log (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.220(B) and (L)) for every enrolled child (per Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA)).

What forms are required for childcare enrollment in Colorado?

Colorado requires the following forms for each enrolled child: Pre-Licensing Orientation registration (completed through CDEC before applying); Application for a License to Operate a Child Care Center (submitted via the CDEC Provider Hub; original application fee per 8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.111 (Fees)); Annual declaration of compliance / continuation declaration with annual continuation fee (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.107(B) and Rule 2.111); Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)/FBI fingerprint-based criminal record check request, submitted through a CBI-approved fingerprint vendor (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121 - Criminal Record Check); Trails child abuse/neglect background inquiry request - state-prescribed form (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.120 - Child Abuse or Neglect for Background and Employment Inquiries); Notification of Name Removal form - to remove a departed employee from the facility license number in the CBI database (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.121(D)(1)); CDPHE Certificate of Immunization, or Certificate of Medical Exemption, or Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption (6 CCR 1009-2); Statement of the child's current health status signed by a health care provider (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.219(B)(2) - Statements of Health Status); Department-approved health care plan for a child with an identified health/developmental condition (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.218(B)(3) - Admission); Written medication order/authorization with parental consent, and written medication log (8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.220(B) and (L)).

How long must Colorado childcare centers keep enrollment forms on file?

Colorado childcare licensing rules require that child records, including all required enrollment forms, be kept on file for the duration of enrollment and for a retention period after the child leaves. Contact the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) to confirm the exact retention schedule.

What happens if a Colorado center is missing required child forms during an inspection?

Missing or incomplete required forms are a citable deficiency in a Colorado childcare licensing inspection. Civil penalties under 8 CCR 1402-1, Rule 2.113 (Civil Penalties and Injunctions), implementing the Child Care Licensing Act at C.R.S. 26.5-5-317: for each violation, fines up to $250 the first day, $500 the second day, and $1,000 per day for the third and subsequent days, to a maximum of $10,000. The same schedule applies to unlicensed operation and to intentionally false statements/reports. Operating after a cease-and-desist order can result in a fine up to $500, up to 10 days in jail, or both. Penalties are imposed only after a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge under Article 4 of Title 24, C.R.S., and do not preclude denial, suspension, revocation, probation, or non-renewal of the license, or injunctive proceedings under C.R.S. 26.5-5-320.

Does TotReady provide templates for Colorado required forms?

TotReady's enrollment form tool and incident report tool generate Colorado-ready documents pre-filled with the required fields. Visit /tools/enrollment-form and /tools/incident-report to get started.