Nevada Daycare Licensing Orientation

What the LAP Orientation Is

Before you can submit a child care license application in Nevada, you must complete the Licensing Application Process (LAP) orientation. This is a mandatory online training administered by the state — not an optional webinar, and not something you can skip with prior child care experience. DWSS Child Care Licensing will not accept your application without a LAP completion certificate.

The orientation covers the regulatory framework for child care facilities in Nevada, the application timeline, background check requirements, and what to expect from the state licensing survey. It's designed to give prospective providers a realistic picture of what they're committing to before they start spending money on fees and home modifications.

How to Access the LAP Training

The LAP orientation is delivered through Nevada's NEATS (Nevada Employee Action and Timekeeping System) e-learning platform. Here's the process:

Step 1: Create a NEATS account. Go to the NEATS portal and register as a new user. You'll need a valid email address. This is the same system the state uses to track employee training records for child care facilities, so you'll use this account throughout your licensing journey.

Step 2: Locate the LAP course. Once logged in, navigate to the e-learning section and find the Licensing Application Process orientation. The course is free.

Step 3: Complete the training and assessment. The orientation includes video content followed by a knowledge check. You must pass the assessment to receive your certificate. The material covers NRS Chapter 432A requirements, the types of child care licenses available, staff-to-child capacity rules, and the physical inspection standards your home will need to meet.

Step 4: Download your certificate. After passing, the system generates a completion certificate. Save this — you'll need it when you submit your initial application through the ALiS licensing portal.

Timing the Orientation

The LAP orientation is a prerequisite for the application, not a prerequisite for everything else. You can and should work on other startup tasks while completing it — securing landlord or HOA approval, registering your business through SilverFlume, and scheduling TB tests for household adults.

Most providers complete the orientation in week two or three of their startup timeline, before submitting their ALiS application in week four. The point is to have the certificate in hand before you log into the ALiS portal for the first time.

What the Orientation Won't Cover

The LAP gives you a solid overview of Nevada's licensing standards, but it won't walk you through the municipal layer — your local business license, zoning verification, home occupation permits, or county-specific health and fire inspections. Those are separate systems controlled by your city or county, not by DWSS.

It also won't cover subsidy enrollment. If you plan to accept families receiving child care assistance through the CCDF program, that's a separate registration process you'll pursue after receiving your state license.

After the Orientation

With your LAP certificate in hand, you're ready to submit your initial application through the ALiS online portal. The application fee is $20 for a Family Care Home (5–6 children) or $60 for a Group Care Home (7–12 children). Once DWSS receives your application, they assign a surveyor to your case and the 90-day licensing window begins.

For a complete walkthrough of what comes after the orientation — the application, background checks, inspections, and final survey — the Nevada Home Daycare Licensing Guide covers every step in sequence.

See more Nevada guides →