Delaware Childcare Licensing

Delaware Childcare Background Check Requirements (2026)

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

Licensing Agency

Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) →

Last updated: April 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Delaware Background Check Requirements: The Specifics

Delaware childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Delaware State Police fingerprint-based State Bureau of Identification (SBI) criminal history check before the start of employment (14 DE Admin. Code 933 §28.3).

Delaware childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: FBI fingerprint-based national criminal history check; comprehensive background check reviewed by the Criminal History Unit (CHU) - staff may not be alone with children until CHU reviews the results (§28.3.6).

Delaware childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Out-of-state fingerprinted state criminal history search and name-based child abuse/neglect registry search for staff who reside outside Delaware or resided out of state during the past 5 years (§28.3.2; comprehensive background check definition, §3.0).

Delaware childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Adult Abuse Registry check through the Department of Health and Social Services (§28.4).

Delaware childcare licensing requires the following pre-employment screening for staff: Disqualification screening, including Child Protection Registry Level III/IV and offenses under 11 Del.C. §8550 (§28); consistent with federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act requirements.

Delaware Background Check Requirements Checklist

  • Delaware State Police fingerprint-based State Bureau of Identification (SBI) criminal history check before the start of employment (14 DE Admin. Code 933 §28.3)
  • FBI fingerprint-based national criminal history check; comprehensive background check reviewed by the Criminal History Unit (CHU) - staff may not be alone with children until CHU reviews the results (§28.3.6)
  • Out-of-state fingerprinted state criminal history search and name-based child abuse/neglect registry search for staff who reside outside Delaware or resided out of state during the past 5 years (§28.3.2; comprehensive background check definition, §3.0)
  • Adult Abuse Registry check through the Department of Health and Social Services (§28.4)
  • Disqualification screening, including Child Protection Registry Level III/IV and offenses under 11 Del.C. §8550 (§28); consistent with federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act requirements

Go Deeper

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

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Delaware Background Check Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions

What background checks does Delaware require for childcare staff?

Delaware requires the following screenings: Delaware State Police fingerprint-based State Bureau of Identification (SBI) criminal history check before the start of employment (14 DE Admin. Code 933 §28.3); FBI fingerprint-based national criminal history check; comprehensive background check reviewed by the Criminal History Unit (CHU) - staff may not be alone with children until CHU reviews the results (§28.3.6); Out-of-state fingerprinted state criminal history search and name-based child abuse/neglect registry search for staff who reside outside Delaware or resided out of state during the past 5 years (§28.3.2; comprehensive background check definition, §3.0); Adult Abuse Registry check through the Department of Health and Social Services (§28.4); Disqualification screening, including Child Protection Registry Level III/IV and offenses under 11 Del.C. §8550 (§28); consistent with federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act requirements.

Do background checks need to be repeated in Delaware?

Many states require periodic re-screening (often every 5 years) in addition to the initial check. Confirm the current Delaware re-screening interval with the Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL).

Who must be screened at a Delaware center?

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

Delaware childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Delaware administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.