You must take Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care to become certified by the agency designated by your county of residence.

For more information on the certification process in Dane and Columbia Counties you may contact 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) at (608) 271-9181 or go to www.4-c.org. Providers in other counties may contact the Department of Children and Families at (608) 266-9314 for further information.

You must take Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care to become licensed in the state of Wisconsin. If you want to offer care for children under the age of two, your must also take Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care within six months of being issued a license or amending the license to include care for children under then age of two. 

For more information on becoming licensed, providers should contact the Department of Children and Families at (608) 266-9314 or go to www.dcf.wisconsin.gov/childcare and select "Child Care Licensing."

For information on the difference between certified and licensed providers, please contact 4-C or the Department of Children and Families at the above contact information.

Assistant teachers must complete Introduction to the Child Care Profession within six months of beginning teaching, although individual centers may have additional requirements as well. If you will be working with children under the age of two, you must also complete Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care within six months of working with this age group.

Lead teachers must complete Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher, although individual centers may have additional requirements as well. If you will be working with children under the age of two, you must also complete Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care within six months of working with this age group.

For information on the difference between Assistant Teacher and Lead Teacher, please refer to the definitions and rules in the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families’ Licensing Rules for Group Child Care Centers.