Child care providers in North Carolina are under new criminal record check requirements as of Jan. 1. The new requirements include the following:

Pre-service Requirement

Criminal Record Check qualification must be issued prior to:

• Being hired by a child care facility

• Receiving a license to own or operate a child care facility

• Living in a family child care home or center in a residence

• Moving into a family child care home or center in a residence

More Comprehensive Check

• Federal fingerprint check prior to employment and every three years thereafter (even if staff remain at the same facility)

• Statewide Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) check completed by the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)

• Responsible Individual List Check

• Sex Offender Registry Check

• Volunteers counted in staff/child ratio or who have unsupervised access to children will complete a statewide AOC check prior to assuming care of children.

• Mandatory reporting requirement: Any charge, indictment, or conviction received after qualification must be reported to DHHS by email or by phone.

Procedural Change

• When an applicant is qualified prior to employment, licensure, or residency, the applicant can work/live in any facility in North Carolina while the qualification is valid without having to complete a new fingerprint check.

• If an applicant changes facilities while qualification is valid, the applicant must fill out a “Change of Information” form to notify the DHHS Criminal Record Check Unit of their change of employment/residency. The owner/director is responsible for ensuring the Criminal Record Check Unit receives the form.

• Applicants currently qualified may continue to work or have residency under their qualification letter until it expires.

• Applicants may submit their renewal requests up to six months prior to the expiration date.

• If the qualification letter is expired, applicants must leave the facility immediately.

For more information, including the cost for the criminal record check, please contact the DHHS Criminal Record Check Unit at DHHS.CRC.Unit@dhhs.nc.gov or by phone at 919-773-2856 or 1-800-859-0829 (in state only).

Source of Information: North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education