Rhode Island Childcare Background Check Requirements (2026)

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Required for all individuals working or engaging directly with children (employees and volunteers), prior to assignment of child care duties and every five (5) years thereafter (218-RICR-70-00-1.12(A)).

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Statewide criminal records check (BCI) and nationwide FBI fingerprint-based criminal history check processed through the RI Attorney General / Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI).

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check through the RI Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: State Sex Offender Registry (RISOR) and National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) checks.

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Interstate criminal, sex-offender registry, and child-abuse/neglect registry checks for any individual who lived outside Rhode Island in the previous five years.

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Employer must submit a signed affidavit to the RI Attorney General's office validating employment before BCI processing; comprehensive fingerprint fees at the RIAG Cranston office are waived (effective May 5, 2021 through June 30, 2026) for child care staff.

Rhode Island childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Applicant/staff may appeal disqualifying findings within 30 days of written notification (218-RICR-70-00-1.12(A)).

What background checks does Rhode Island require for childcare staff?

Rhode Island requires the following screenings: Required for all individuals working or engaging directly with children (employees and volunteers), prior to assignment of child care duties and every five (5) years thereafter (218-RICR-70-00-1.12(A)); Statewide criminal records check (BCI) and nationwide FBI fingerprint-based criminal history check processed through the RI Attorney General / Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI); Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check through the RI Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF); State Sex Offender Registry (RISOR) and National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) checks; Interstate criminal, sex-offender registry, and child-abuse/neglect registry checks for any individual who lived outside Rhode Island in the previous five years; Employer must submit a signed affidavit to the RI Attorney General's office validating employment before BCI processing; comprehensive fingerprint fees at the RIAG Cranston office are waived (effective May 5, 2021 through June 30, 2026) for child care staff; Applicant/staff may appeal disqualifying findings within 30 days of written notification (218-RICR-70-00-1.12(A)).

Do background checks need to be repeated in Rhode Island?

Many states require periodic re-screening (often every 5 years) in addition to the initial check. Confirm the current Rhode Island re-screening interval with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit.

Who must be screened at a Rhode Island center?

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