State guide · Washington
Do you need a license to run a kids program in Washington?
Washington licenses child care through the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and RCW 43.216.010(2) lists what falls outside licensing. The list includes seasonal camps that run three months or less in twelve, schools, government-run programs and certain drop-in programs. It names no general exemption for enrichment classes, so confirm your program with DCYF in writing.
Washington has no middle category like Oregon's recorded programs. A program is a licensed agency, or it fits one of the statute's lettered exemptions, or it is outside the definition of child care to begin with. This guide walks the statute, the DCYF school-age rules, background checks, and what districts and PTAs ask for.
This page is general information. It is not legal advice. We read the statute, the rules and DCYF's pages on September 17, 2026, and rules change. Confirm your own program with DCYF before you open.
The short version
- Regularly scheduled care for school-age kids is licensed by DCYF under chapter 110-301 WAC.
- RCW 43.216.010(2) lists fifteen exemptions, lettered (a) through (o). Each has conditions.
- Seasonal camps are exempt when they run three months or less in twelve and meet two more tests.
- An exempt school-age program submits its exempt status on DCYF's form.
- District contractors run fingerprint record checks on adults with regular unsupervised access to children.
- Get DCYF's answer about your program in writing. Keep it.
Do after-school enrichment programs need a DCYF license in Washington?
It depends on whether the program is child care under Washington's definitions. DCYF licenses a "school-age program," which its rules define as "regularly scheduled care for a group of children" ages five through 12. A program on the exemption list in RCW 43.216.010(2) is not licensed. For a class in between, DCYF decides.
Start with the definitions, because they do the work. State law defines an agency as any person or organization "that provides child care and early learning services outside a child's own home." DCYF's school-age rules define child care as "supervision of children outside the child's home for periods of less than 24 hours a day." A school-age child is five through 12 and attending school or receiving home-based instruction.
DCYF's provider page says school-age providers "offer regularly scheduled care for only school-age children, ages 5 to 13 for less than 24 hours a day," when school is not in session. A program that families rely on every afternoon until pickup reads like that description. A one-hour weekly class reads differently, and the statute does not name it either way. That gap is why the written answer matters.
| What you run | Where Washington's rules point | Where it says so |
|---|---|---|
| Regularly scheduled care for a group of school-age kids when school is out | Licensed school-age program | WAC 110-301-0005; chapter 110-301 WAC |
| A camp that runs three months or less in twelve, primarily recreational or educational, closely supervised | Exempt as a seasonal camp | RCW 43.216.010(2)(g) |
| A program operated by a city, county, school district or other unit of government | Exempt | RCW 43.216.010(2)(k) |
| A drop-in program for school-age kids run by a local affiliate of a national nonprofit | Exempt if it meets all four listed requirements | RCW 43.216.010(2)(i) |
| A weekly class or club run by a business at a school or community site | Not named in the exemption list. Ask DCYF whether it is child care under the definitions. | RCW 43.216.010(1) and (2) |
Sources, checked September 17, 2026: Washington State Legislature, RCW 43.216.010; WAC 110-301-0005; DCYF, School-Age Providers and Become a Licensed Child Care and Early Learning Provider, which lists WAC 110-301 as the school-age chapter.
Which programs does Washington exempt from child care licensing?
RCW 43.216.010(2) lists what "agency" does not include, in fifteen lettered paragraphs. The ones kids program operators use most are (f) schools, (g) seasonal camps, (h) programs where a parent stays on the premises, (i) certain drop-in programs and (k) programs operated by a unit of government. Each has its own conditions.
| Paragraph | What the statute exempts | The conditions to read closely |
|---|---|---|
| (2)(f) Schools | Schools "engaged primarily in education" | They "operate on a definite school year schedule, follow a stated academic curriculum, and accept only school age children." |
| (2)(g) Seasonal camps | A program that operates "for three months or less within a period of twelve consecutive months" | Also "engaged primarily in recreational or educational activities conducted on a closely supervised basis," and owned by a person or organization or operated by a government. |
| (2)(h) Parent on the premises | Care for less than 24 hours while a parent or guardian stays on the premises | The parent is there to take part in activities other than employment, with a narrow two-hour employment exception for some nonprofits. |
| (2)(i) Drop-in programs | Recreational or educational programming "for school age children only" | All four: a drop-in model with no formal reservation, no responsibility assumed in place of the parent, "a local affiliate of a national nonprofit," and compliance with the national agency's standards. |
| (2)(k) Government programs | "A program operated by any unit of local, state, or federal government" | The government unit is the operator. Read "operated by" closely if you rent a city's room. |
Source: Washington State Legislature, RCW 43.216.010(2), checked September 17, 2026. The other paragraphs cover relatives, guardians, informal care by neighbors and friends, parent exchanges, part-day nursery schools, certain school-day preschool programs, tribal and military programs, and parent education programs.
DCYF's public FAQ says the same thing in plain words. Its list of care that does not need a license includes "seasonal programs that operate at certain times of the year and for no more than three months in a year." It has no line for enrichment classes. Read that as a prompt to ask, and send DCYF your facts.
If your program is exempt, there is still a step. WAC 110-301-0025(3) says a school-age program exempt under RCW 43.216.010(2) "must use the department's form to submit their exempt status." Ask DCYF for the current form when you write to them.
Sources, checked September 17, 2026: DCYF, Licensed and Unlicensed Child Care FAQ, publication LIC 0168 (07-2026); WAC 110-301-0025.
How does Washington's seasonal camp exemption work?
A camp is outside DCYF licensing when it meets three tests in RCW 43.216.010(2)(g): it operates three months or less within twelve consecutive months, it is engaged primarily in recreational or educational activities on a closely supervised basis, and it is owned by a person or organization or operated by a government.
A summer camp that opens in late June and closes in August fits the first test on its face. The harder case is the operator who runs summer weeks, then winter break camp, then spring break camp, then no-school-day camps. The statute counts months of operation inside a rolling twelve. Add yours up before you publish a calendar, and ask DCYF how it counts a program like yours.
Running both a school-year program and a summer camp? They can land in different places under these rules. Our after-school and summer camp calendar shows how the two seasons fit together, and how to start a summer camp covers the rest of camp setup.
When does a program cross into licensed school-age care?
When it becomes regularly scheduled care for a group of school-age children and no exemption fits. Licensed school-age programs follow chapter 110-301 WAC, Foundational Quality Standards for School-Age Programs. DCYF's licensing process starts with its pre-licensing team and an online orientation, and ends with an inspection before the license is issued.
The signs you are moving toward care: families book you for coverage every day, kids stay until a parent's workday ends, and you are responsible for them the whole time. Operating unlicensed care is expensive. DCYF's FAQ lists fines of "$250 per day for child care centers, school-age programs, or outdoor nature-based programs."
Sources, checked September 17, 2026: Chapter 110-301 WAC; DCYF, Licensing Process; DCYF publication LIC 0168 (07-2026).
What background checks apply to kids programs in Washington?
Licensed programs use DCYF's background check under chapter 110-06 WAC. For programs working with school districts, RCW 28A.400.303 says districts "and their contractors shall require a record check" through the Washington State Patrol and the FBI for people with "regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children." It must include a fingerprint check.
| Your situation | The check | Where it says so |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed school-age program | DCYF background check. The licensing process includes a portable background check application in DCYF's MERIT registry. | Chapter 110-06 WAC; DCYF Licensing Process page |
| Contractor of a school district | Washington State Patrol and FBI record check with fingerprints, before hiring anyone who will have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children | RCW 28A.400.303(1) |
| Exempt program at a private or community site | Set by your site, your insurer and your own policy. Ask each one what it requires. | Your agreements |
Sources, checked September 17, 2026: Washington State Legislature, RCW 28A.400.303; DCYF, Become a Licensed Child Care and Early Learning Provider and Licensing Process.
Two details in RCW 28A.400.303 save money. A record check from the previous two years can be accepted in place of a new one, at the district's or contractor's choice. And the contractor hiring the person decides who pays for it. Put both in your offer letter so a new instructor knows what to expect.
Whether you count as a district contractor depends on your agreement. A program hired by the district is one thing. A program renting a gym through the facilities office is another. Ask the district which check it requires for your arrangement, and start it the day an instructor accepts. Our post on how to hire kids program instructors covers the rest of the sequence.
What do Washington school districts ask of outside providers?
Expect a certificate of insurance naming the district or the PTA as additional insured, a record check for adults who will be with students, a building use application, and vendor paperwork such as a W-9. Who asks depends on who brought you in: the district, the principal or the PTA.
| Who publishes it | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Evergreen Public Schools, building rentals | "$2,000,000 general liability" with the district named as additionally insured, submitted at least ten days before scheduled use |
| Renton School District, vendor FAQs | A vendor set-up application with your W-9, a certificate of insurance, and a signed contract. "Work can commence only after receiving a District approved purchase order." |
| Washington State PTA, enrichment handbook | An independent contractor carries their own insurance and names the PTA as additional insured. "Two elected board members" sign each contract. |
Sources, checked September 17, 2026: Evergreen Public Schools, Building Rentals; Renton School District, Vendor FAQs and Resources; Washington State PTA, Running an Enrichment Program handbook, 2022-23 (hosted by Seattle Public Schools). These are published examples. Your district writes its own.
From the principal's office and the operator's seat
Our founder, Arielle Hammond, is a former school principal. She founded Journey to STEAM, which runs kids STEM programs at 75+ school sites across Oregon and Southwest Washington. In Washington, the PTA is often the one signing your contract, and the district is the one approving the room. Bring both the same packet: DCYF's written answer, your record check process, your certificate of insurance and your pickup plan. 95% of Journey to STEAM's school partners renew.
How do I confirm what my Washington program needs?
Write down your program's facts, read them against RCW 43.216.010(2), then email them to DCYF at dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov and ask for a written answer. If you are exempt, submit your exempt status on DCYF's form. If you are not, start with DCYF's pre-licensing team. Then handle record checks and your district's list.
General information, not legal advice. DCYF's answer about your program is the one that counts. Rules change, so check the statute and DCYF's pages on the day you file.
1. Write down your facts. Ages. What you teach. Hours per child per week. Months of operation in a rolling twelve. Each site. Who operates the program. Whether kids are signed in for the afternoon or come for one class.
2. Read the statute against them.RCW 43.216.010(2), paragraphs (f), (g), (h), (i) and (k) first.
3. Ask DCYF. Email dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov with your facts and ask whether the program needs a license. Keep the reply. The DCYF contact page has the office locator.
4. If you are exempt, ask for the form WAC 110-301-0025(3) refers to and submit your exempt status.
5. If you need a license, follow DCYF's licensing process: pre-licensing team, orientation, background check application, inspection.
6. Set up record checks. Ask the district which check it requires for your arrangement, and whether it accepts one from the last two years.
7. Get the district's and the PTA's list. Insurance limits and wording, building use application, vendor set-up, contract signers. Decide which legal entity you operate under before you fill out any of it.
8. Open registration. Once the site, dates and price are confirmed in writing, publish one link where families register, sign your waiver and pay. The after-school program startup guide has the full sequence, and the after-school registration form template gives you a starting point.
Where enrops fits
enrops handles the step after the paperwork. You create a program, pick the district and school, and the schedule builds around that school's calendar and no-school days. Families register, sign your waiver and pay on their phone, and your roster fills itself with grade and homeroom teacher. enrops is free for businesses, and the numbers are on pricing. See enrops for after-school programs and enrops for camps.
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Questions Washington operators ask about licensing
Do I need a child care license to teach an after-school class at a Washington school?
Washington's exemption list in RCW 43.216.010(2) does not name enrichment classes. Whether a class needs a license turns on whether it is child care under the state's definitions, which describe regularly scheduled care for a group of children. Email your facts to DCYF at dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov and keep the written answer.
Which WAC chapter covers school-age programs in Washington?
Chapter 110-301 WAC, Foundational Quality Standards for School-Age Programs. DCYF's provider pages list WAC 110-300 for family home and center care, WAC 110-301 for school-age programs, WAC 110-302 for outdoor nature-based programs and WAC 110-06 for background checks.
Are summer camps licensed in Washington?
A seasonal camp is exempt from DCYF child care licensing under RCW 43.216.010(2)(g) when it operates three months or less within twelve consecutive months, is engaged primarily in recreational or educational activities on a closely supervised basis, and is owned by a person or organization or operated by a government.
What if I run summer camp plus winter and spring break camps?
The seasonal camp exemption counts operation within a period of twelve consecutive months. Add up every month you operate across the year, and ask DCYF how it counts a program with your calendar before you publish dates.
Do my instructors need fingerprints to work in a Washington school?
RCW 28A.400.303 says school districts and their contractors shall require a Washington State Patrol and FBI record check, including a fingerprint check, before hiring people who will have regularly scheduled unsupervised access to children. Ask the district which process applies to your arrangement.
Does an exempt program have to file anything with DCYF?
WAC 110-301-0025(3) says a school-age program exempt from licensing under RCW 43.216.010(2) must use the department's form to submit its exempt status. Ask DCYF for the current form when you request your written answer.
What is the penalty for running unlicensed child care in Washington?
DCYF's Licensed and Unlicensed Child Care FAQ (publication LIC 0168, 07-2026) lists fines of $150 per day for a person providing child care in their home and $250 per day for child care centers, school-age programs or outdoor nature-based programs.
I run programs in Washington and Oregon. Are the rules the same?
No. Oregon has a middle category called a Recorded Program under ORS 329A.255, with a $20 application and Central Background Registry enrollment. Washington has licensing and a list of exemptions. Our Oregon guide covers that side of the river.
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