Every state has different laws regarding the licensure of family child care homes, including how many children may be present, the training and education a provider must have, and more. Some have provisions for programs that are legally license-exempt, where a program must be registered with the state but will not be inspected the same way a licensed program would be. Prior to opening a program, it is important to understand what license you will need, if any, how to obtain it, and what is necessary to remain in compliance.