Indiana Childcare Licensing
Indiana Childcare Required Forms & Documents (2026)
Licensed childcare centers in Indiana must collect, complete, and retain specific forms for every enrolled child before care begins. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care requires 8 distinct forms or documents — from enrollment agreements to emergency contacts to immunization records — to remain on file and available for inspection at all times.
Licensing Agency
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamIndiana Required Forms & Documents: The Specifics
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child Care Center license application - submitted online through the FSSA I-LEAD provider portal (no paper State Form number; apply at https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/become-a-child-care-provider/) for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Physical Form for Child - State Form 49969 (R6/01-25), physical examination + age-appropriate immunization record per 470 IAC 3-4.7-86 and IC 12-17.2-4-18.1 for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed State Form 49970 - Physical Form for Adult Caregiver (R7/01-25) (licensed homes and centers) for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed State Form 53323 - Consent to Release Information (for licensed centers, licensed homes, unlicensed registered ministries, and CCDF LLEPs) - submitted as part of background-check requirements for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Signed parental consent forms - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-37 (e.g., transportation, field trips, emergency medical treatment, photographs) for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Children's medication record / medication authorization - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-40 and -88 for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Emergency information file - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-42 for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed National criminal history (FBI) fingerprint background check application via IdentoGO/IDEMIA - required per IC 12-17.2-4-3 for every enrolled child (per Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care).
Indiana Required Forms & Documents at a Glance
| Child Care Center license application - submitted online through the FSSA I-LEAD provider portal (no paper State Form number; apply at https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/become-a-child-care-provider/) | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
|---|---|
| Physical Form for Child - State Form 49969 (R6/01-25), physical examination + age-appropriate immunization record per 470 IAC 3-4.7-86 and IC 12-17.2-4-18.1 | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
| State Form 49970 - Physical Form for Adult Caregiver (R7/01-25) (licensed homes and centers) | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
| State Form 53323 - Consent to Release Information (for licensed centers, licensed homes, unlicensed registered ministries, and CCDF LLEPs) - submitted as part of background-check requirements | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
| Signed parental consent forms - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-37 (e.g., transportation, field trips, emergency medical treatment, photographs) | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
| Children's medication record / medication authorization - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-40 and -88 | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
| Emergency information file - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-42 | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
| National criminal history (FBI) fingerprint background check application via IdentoGO/IDEMIA - required per IC 12-17.2-4-3 | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care |
Go Deeper
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Indiana Required Forms & Documents: Frequently Asked Questions
What forms are required for childcare enrollment in Indiana?
Indiana requires the following forms for each enrolled child: Child Care Center license application - submitted online through the FSSA I-LEAD provider portal (no paper State Form number; apply at https://www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/become-a-child-care-provider/); Physical Form for Child - State Form 49969 (R6/01-25), physical examination + age-appropriate immunization record per 470 IAC 3-4.7-86 and IC 12-17.2-4-18.1; State Form 49970 - Physical Form for Adult Caregiver (R7/01-25) (licensed homes and centers); State Form 53323 - Consent to Release Information (for licensed centers, licensed homes, unlicensed registered ministries, and CCDF LLEPs) - submitted as part of background-check requirements; Signed parental consent forms - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-37 (e.g., transportation, field trips, emergency medical treatment, photographs); Children's medication record / medication authorization - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-40 and -88; Emergency information file - required per 470 IAC 3-4.7-42; National criminal history (FBI) fingerprint background check application via IdentoGO/IDEMIA - required per IC 12-17.2-4-3.
How long must Indiana childcare centers keep enrollment forms on file?
Indiana childcare licensing rules require that child records, including all required enrollment forms, be kept on file for the duration of enrollment and for a retention period after the child leaves. Contact the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care to confirm the exact retention schedule.
What happens if a Indiana center is missing required child forms during an inspection?
Missing or incomplete required forms are a citable deficiency in a Indiana childcare licensing inspection. General civil penalty: in addition to other penalties under the chapter, the division may impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for a violation of the article (IC 12-17.2-4-34); civil penalties are deposited in the division of family resources child care fund (IC 12-17.2-2-3). Safe-sleep escalating per-violation schedule (IC 12-17.2-4-4.1, applied per inspection within a licensure period): 1st inspection = formal warning letter + intent to take action + civil penalty; 2nd = $50 per violation; 3rd = $75 per violation; 4th = license probation up to 6 months + $100 per violation; 5th = license suspended or revoked for 1 year + $250 per violation; failure to pay may result in license revocation for up to 2 years (IC 12-17.2-4-4.1(c)). Operating without a license: civil penalty not to exceed $100 per day in a civil action, plus injunctive relief (IC 12-17.2-4-29); a knowing or intentional violation of the chapter is a Class B misdemeanor (IC 12-17.2-4-35). Additional sanctions: license suspension up to 6 months or revocation (IC 12-17.2-4-33), denial of license (IC 12-17.2-4-10), and emergency/temporary cease-operation order for violations posing an immediate threat to a child's life or well-being (IC 12-17.2-4-18.7).
Does TotReady provide templates for Indiana required forms?
TotReady's enrollment form tool and incident report tool generate Indiana-ready documents pre-filled with the required fields. Visit /tools/enrollment-form and /tools/incident-report to get started.
Indiana childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Indiana administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.