Minnesota Childcare Licensing

Minnesota Childcare Background Check Requirements (2026)

Every adult with unsupervised access to children at a licensed Minnesota childcare center must clear a multi-part background check before being counted in ratio. Minnesota requires 5 distinct screening components.

Licensing Agency

Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Child Care Centers Licensing. Note: child care center licensing transferred from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to DCYF effective June 18, 2025. Existing DHS-issued licenses remain valid and license holders need not reapply; the governing rules (Minn. Rules ch. 9503) remain in force, and the licensing statutes formerly in Minn. Stat. ch. 245A have been recodified into Minn. Stat. ch. 142B (licensing) and ch. 142C (certification). →

Last updated: April 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Minnesota Background Check Requirements: The Specifics

Minnesota childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Background study required for every person required to be studied under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C, conducted through the commissioner via the NETStudy 2.0 system (Minn. Stat. 245C.05).

Minnesota childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Each subject must provide a set of classifiable fingerprints and a photograph (Minn. Stat. 245C.05, subd. 5).

Minnesota childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Fingerprints submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for state criminal history and, when required, to the FBI for a national criminal history record check.

Minnesota childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Review includes Minnesota court records and national crime information databases, plus maltreatment (child abuse/neglect) records.

Minnesota childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Studies conducted by the licensing-agency commissioner (DCYF; predecessor DHS); recurring/continuous monitoring under NETStudy 2.0.

Minnesota Background Check Requirements Checklist

  • Background study required for every person required to be studied under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C, conducted through the commissioner via the NETStudy 2.0 system (Minn. Stat. 245C.05)
  • Each subject must provide a set of classifiable fingerprints and a photograph (Minn. Stat. 245C.05, subd. 5)
  • Fingerprints submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for state criminal history and, when required, to the FBI for a national criminal history record check
  • Review includes Minnesota court records and national crime information databases, plus maltreatment (child abuse/neglect) records
  • Studies conducted by the licensing-agency commissioner (DCYF; predecessor DHS); recurring/continuous monitoring under NETStudy 2.0

Go Deeper

All Minnesota requirementsThe full Minnesota licensing overview.Compare all 50 statesSee background check requirements side by side.Read the guidePractical how-to for this topic.

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Minnesota Background Check Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions

What background checks does Minnesota require for childcare staff?

Minnesota requires the following screenings: Background study required for every person required to be studied under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245C, conducted through the commissioner via the NETStudy 2.0 system (Minn. Stat. 245C.05); Each subject must provide a set of classifiable fingerprints and a photograph (Minn. Stat. 245C.05, subd. 5); Fingerprints submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for state criminal history and, when required, to the FBI for a national criminal history record check; Review includes Minnesota court records and national crime information databases, plus maltreatment (child abuse/neglect) records; Studies conducted by the licensing-agency commissioner (DCYF; predecessor DHS); recurring/continuous monitoring under NETStudy 2.0.

Do background checks need to be repeated in Minnesota?

Many states require periodic re-screening (often every 5 years) in addition to the initial check. Confirm the current Minnesota re-screening interval with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Child Care Centers Licensing. Note: child care center licensing transferred from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to DCYF effective June 18, 2025. Existing DHS-issued licenses remain valid and license holders need not reapply; the governing rules (Minn. Rules ch. 9503) remain in force, and the licensing statutes formerly in Minn. Stat. ch. 245A have been recodified into Minn. Stat. ch. 142B (licensing) and ch. 142C (certification)..

Who must be screened at a Minnesota center?

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

Minnesota childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Minnesota administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Child Care Centers Licensing. Note: child care center licensing transferred from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to DCYF effective June 18, 2025. Existing DHS-issued licenses remain valid and license holders need not reapply; the governing rules (Minn. Rules ch. 9503) remain in force, and the licensing statutes formerly in Minn. Stat. ch. 245A have been recodified into Minn. Stat. ch. 142B (licensing) and ch. 142C (certification). before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.