North Dakota Childcare Licensing
North Dakota Childcare Required Forms & Documents (2026)
Licensed childcare centers in North Dakota must collect, complete, and retain specific forms for every enrolled child before care begins. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) requires 7 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
North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamNorth Dakota Required Forms & Documents: The Specifics
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Personal Authorization for Criminal History Record Information Inquiry (SFN 829) — verified at nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn00829.pdf for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Criminal History Record Check Request Pursuant to N.D.C.C. 12-60-24 (SFN 60688) — verified at attorneygeneral.nd.gov SFN60688 for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Fingerprint Identity Verification (SFN 836) — completed by law enforcement; listed on the HHS child care provider background-check page for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry (SFN 433) — required for household members ages 12-17 when care is provided in a residence; verified at nd.gov/eforms/doc/sfn00433.pdf for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Department-approved authorization for background check form — required no later than the first day of employment per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-28(2) for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child care center license application (submitted via the online Child Care Licensing (CCL) System, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-07; license fees per N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-03(7)) for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Written parental authorization for emergency medical care and written permission to dispense medication (record-keeping requirements under N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-22(2)(d) and 75-03-10-26(7); no single mandated SFN-numbered statewide form) for every enrolled child (per North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit)).
North Dakota Required Forms & Documents at a Glance
| Personal Authorization for Criminal History Record Information Inquiry (SFN 829) — verified at nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn00829.pdf | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
|---|---|
| Criminal History Record Check Request Pursuant to N.D.C.C. 12-60-24 (SFN 60688) — verified at attorneygeneral.nd.gov SFN60688 | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
| Fingerprint Identity Verification (SFN 836) — completed by law enforcement; listed on the HHS child care provider background-check page | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry (SFN 433) — required for household members ages 12-17 when care is provided in a residence; verified at nd.gov/eforms/doc/sfn00433.pdf | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
| Department-approved authorization for background check form — required no later than the first day of employment per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-28(2) | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
| Child care center license application (submitted via the online Child Care Licensing (CCL) System, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-07; license fees per N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-03(7)) | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
| Written parental authorization for emergency medical care and written permission to dispense medication (record-keeping requirements under N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-22(2)(d) and 75-03-10-26(7); no single mandated SFN-numbered statewide form) | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) |
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North Dakota Required Forms & Documents: Frequently Asked Questions
What forms are required for childcare enrollment in North Dakota?
North Dakota requires the following forms for each enrolled child: Personal Authorization for Criminal History Record Information Inquiry (SFN 829) — verified at nd.gov/eforms/Doc/sfn00829.pdf; Criminal History Record Check Request Pursuant to N.D.C.C. 12-60-24 (SFN 60688) — verified at attorneygeneral.nd.gov SFN60688; Fingerprint Identity Verification (SFN 836) — completed by law enforcement; listed on the HHS child care provider background-check page; Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry (SFN 433) — required for household members ages 12-17 when care is provided in a residence; verified at nd.gov/eforms/doc/sfn00433.pdf; Department-approved authorization for background check form — required no later than the first day of employment per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-28(2); Child care center license application (submitted via the online Child Care Licensing (CCL) System, in the form and manner prescribed by the Department per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-07; license fees per N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-03(7)); Written parental authorization for emergency medical care and written permission to dispense medication (record-keeping requirements under N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-22(2)(d) and 75-03-10-26(7); no single mandated SFN-numbered statewide form).
How long must North Dakota childcare centers keep enrollment forms on file?
North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) to confirm the exact retention schedule.
What happens if a North Dakota center is missing required child forms during an inspection?
Missing or incomplete required forms are a citable deficiency in a North Dakota childcare licensing inspection. Criminal: Any person or entity that violates any provision of N.D.C.C. ch. 50-11.1 (including operating without a required license) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor (N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-13). Civil: an owner who continues to provide services without a required license after written notice is subject to a civil penalty of $50/day per day of operation without a license (N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-03(9)). Administrative fiscal sanctions for uncorrected violations after the correction deadline, per N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-30: $25/day for the most serious tier (violations of N.D.C.C. ch. 50-11.1; staffing/ratios 75-03-10-08(2); substitute staffing 75-03-10-09(12); fire inspections 75-03-10-17; sanitation/safety items 75-03-10-18(6),(9),(13); space/lighting 75-03-10-19; discipline 75-03-10-23; conviction/background 75-03-10-27; abuse/neglect 75-03-10-28); $15/day for a second tier (director/staff qualifications 75-03-10-10 and -12, transportation 75-03-10-15, listed sanitation items 75-03-10-18(2),(3),(4),(7),(8),(11),(19), program items 75-03-10-20(3),(8),(19), and infant care 75-03-10-24(1)(a)); and $5/day for any other violation of the chapter. By statute, the fiscal sanction for any specific violation may not exceed $100 per day of noncompliance (N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.4); sanctions accrue/accumulate per N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.5 and are recovered per 50-11.1-07.6 until the Department receives notice the violation is corrected. The Department may also suspend, deny, or revoke the license (N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-10-05; N.D.C.C. 50-11.1-07.8, 50-11.1-09, 50-11.1-10).
Does TotReady provide templates for North Dakota required forms?
TotReady's enrollment form tool and incident report tool generate North Dakota-ready documents pre-filled with the required fields. Visit /tools/enrollment-form and /tools/incident-report to get started.
North Dakota childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published North Dakota administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Early Childhood Services (Early Childhood Licensing unit) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.