Childcare Center Director / Rhode Island
2026 data Rhode Island board official source

Rhode Island Childcare Center Director License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Manages childcare facilities providing care for young children.

What the Rhode Island data shows for Childcare Center Directors

Rhode Island's path to childcare center director licensure runs through 89 hours of approved instruction with no mandatory state exam, plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Rhode Island folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Education or Training Requirements".

Budget $155 to get started, plus $118 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

On reciprocity, childcare center directors should know: Not typically reciprocal.

Licensing Ease Score

C
Licensing Ease Score
58/100
Childcare Center Director · Rhode Island

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training B
89 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$155
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$59/yr
$118 every 2 years
Continuing Education C-
12.0 hrs/yr
24 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Rhode Island

Education / Training Hours
Education or Training Requirements
89 hours
Exam Requirement
Not Required
Initial License Fee
$155
Renewal Fee
$118
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Childcare Center Director All Rhode Island licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Rhode Island licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Childcare Center Director in Rhode Island? ▼
Rhode Island's requirements cover 89 hours of education or training, and an initial fee of $155. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Childcare Center Director in Rhode Island? ▼
Rhode Island licenses childcare center directors who complete its requirements (89 education hours). Verify the latest details with the Rhode Island licensing board.
Can I transfer my Childcare Center Director license to Rhode Island from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for childcare center directors nationally works like this: Not typically reciprocal. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Rhode Island. Verify the specifics with the Rhode Island licensing board.
Does Rhode Island require a background check for Childcare Center Director licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the childcare center director licensing process in Rhode Island. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Childcare Center Director in Rhode Island? ▼
Licensed childcare center directors in Rhode Island must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $118.

Related Guides

What to do with this childcare center director license

Childcare Center Director in Rhode Island, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a childcare center director-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Rhode Island licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.