Some child care programs do not need a license. If you want to care for children from only one family in addition to your own, you do not need a license. Some programs that serve groups of children, such as after-school programs, also do not need a license. However, these programs must follow certain rules.

Types of license-exempt child care centers:

• Public recreation programs for school-age children for under 16 hours per week, and for a total of 12 weeks for less;
• Public recreation programs for younger children for 12 hours per week or less and 12 weeks or less in duration;
• Public and private schools that operate a program before and/or after school for school-age children that is offered and operated by the school and run by qualified school staff;
• School parenting programs operated by a public school district or an organization under contract with a public school district;
• Programs offering temporary child care services to parents and guardians on the same premises as the child care program and the child care program is not a ski facility, shopping mall, or department store;
• Programs that provide instructional activities in a classroom setting for school-age children when school is not in session and for less than 15 days for younger children;
• Program that operates only one day per week for no more than four hours on that day;
• Program administered by the Department of Corrections meeting the requirements in Title 22;
• Centers on tribal, military, or school sites that offer child care services but are not licensed through Community Care Licensing.

The most common license-exempt school-age programs include:

• 21st Century Community Learning Centers
• After-School Education and Safety Programs (ASES)
• License-exempt Latch-key programs contracting with the California Department of Education on school sites
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• License-exempt YMCA programs
• License-exempt Park and Recreation programs
• License-exempt programs runs through the city/town
• Other license-exempt private, for- and non-profit fee based programs