Ohio Daycare Background Check Requirements

Background checks are the part of Ohio's daycare licensing process that causes the most anxiety — and the most preventable delays. The rules are strict, the fingerprinting codes are specific, and the requirement extends to people who aren't even working in your daycare.

Who Needs to Be Checked

Every single adult in your household. Not just you — the DCY requires BCI and FBI fingerprint background checks for:

• The provider (you)
• Any child care staff members or substitutes
• Every person age 18 or older who lives in your home

That includes your spouse, adult children, roommates, and anyone else residing at the address where you'll provide care. The requirement is based on household residence, not whether a person is present during operating hours.

The county department of job and family services also runs a SACWIS search (Ohio's child welfare database) to check for any history of child abuse or neglect substantiation.

How the WebCheck Process Works

You initiate background check requests through your Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) dashboard. Once submitted electronically, each person who needs screening must visit an authorized WebCheck location in person for fingerprinting.

Here's where providers run into avoidable problems: the WebCheck operator must enter the correct reason codes, or the results go to the wrong agency and you have to re-fingerprint at your own expense.

The correct codes are:

• BCI Reason Code: 5104.013 ("An Employee, Owner, Licensee, Administrator or Person Residing in a Type A or Type B Home")
• FBI Reason Code: CCDBGA ("Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014")
• Route results to: "Child Care Ctr/Type A-ODJFS"

Print these codes and bring them with you. WebCheck operators handle fingerprints for dozens of different industries and may default to the wrong codes if you don't specify.

What Disqualifies You

Under ORC 5104.013, certain offenses can make a person ineligible to operate or live in a licensed daycare home. The DCY maintains a list of disqualifying offenses that includes crimes against children, violent felonies, sexual offenses, and drug trafficking convictions.

The household member rule is what trips people up. If your adult child or spouse is determined ineligible, that can prevent approval; the DCY makes the final eligibility determination. Household composition is part of the review, so do not assume a temporary change resolves an eligibility issue.

There's also a lesser-known provision under OAC Rule 5180:2-13-05(A)(7): if a minor resident under 18 has been adjudicated delinquent for a violent crime or a registry-eligible offense, that can also trigger application denial.

The Rehabilitation Path

A failed background check isn't always permanent. Ohio has a rehabilitation review process for certain offenses. If someone receives a DCY Form 01177 (Individual Notification of Background Check Review) indicating they're ineligible, they can submit Form DCY 01178 (Request for Review of Background Check Decision for Child Care) within 14 business days of the notification date.

The rehabilitation review considers factors like time elapsed since the offense, evidence of rehabilitation, and the nature of the conviction relative to child safety. This process can add time, so it's critical to get background checks initiated early in your licensing timeline rather than waiting until everything else is ready.

Timeline and Cost

WebCheck fingerprinting typically costs $40–$60 per person, depending on the location. Processing times vary, so initiate checks early in the licensing timeline.

For a household with three adults (you, a spouse, and one adult child), expect to spend $120–$180 on fingerprinting. Factor this into your startup budget alongside the $25 license application fee.

Strategic Sequencing

Get background checks done before you spend money on home modifications. Fencing, safety equipment, and room conversions can be substantial expenses. If a household member's check raises an eligibility issue, that investment may be delayed or wasted.

The recommended order: complete pre-licensing training through OPR first, initiate background checks second, and begin home preparation only after you've received clearance for everyone in the household.

For the complete background check filing procedure with codes, forms, and timelines built into a step-by-step licensing workflow, see our Ohio Home Daycare License guide.

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