Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Virginia

Find the right daycare in Virginia in under 5 minutes. 3,458 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety. Free, no signup.

3,458
Licensed Centers
$1,180/mo
Avg Infant Care
$880/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 3,458 Virginia centers Estimate your monthly cost

Virginia Childcare Licensing

In Virginia, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:5 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:10 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety

What's distinctive about Virginia: Virginia transitioned child-care licensing from Social Services to Education in 2021 — emphasis shifted toward school-readiness outcomes. CCSP serves families up to 85% state median.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:5
Preschool ratio
1:10
Avg infant cost
$1,180/mo
Avg preschool cost
$880/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Virginia

View all cities →
Alexandria
240 centers
Richmond
76 centers
Arlington
57 centers
Norfolk
42 centers
Virginia Beach
41 centers
Newport News
29 centers
Suffolk
25 centers
Roanoke
25 centers
Hampton
23 centers
Fredericksburg
21 centers
Winchester
20 centers
Portsmouth
19 centers
Financial help

Virginia Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Virginia families can apply for Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program based on income and work/school status. Federal programs — the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 cap), and Head Start — stack on top of state assistance.

Local intake line: (866) 873-6515

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Virginia & Federal Resources

Independently verify any provider, check subsidy eligibility, and access national child-care databases — all official .gov sources.

License search
Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Virginia
Annual cost report & advocacy
Federal · HHS.gov
Head Start Locator
Free programs for eligible families
Federal · ACF.gov
childcare.gov
National subsidy & CCDF info

Program Types in Virginia

Licensed Group Child Care Home
433 centers
Family Daycare
433 centers
Preschool
432 centers
Montessori
432 centers
Child Care Center
432 centers
Infant Care
432 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 3,458 →
N Family Daycare

Newport News Rainbow Learning Center #255

Bellevue

School Age (5+) Cap 34
N Group Care

Newport News Bright Futures Daycare #256

Lakeside

School Age (5+) Cap 89
L Preschool

Little Hearts Newport News #257

Regency

Preschool (2-5) Cap 100
N Head Start

Newport News Kids First Academy #258

West End

2 years - 12 years Cap 70
N Before/After School

Newport News Sunshine Daycare #259

Richmond

School Age (5+) Cap 63
T Infant Care

Tiny Tots of Newport News #260

Ridge

Preschool (2-5) Cap 65
N Montessori

Newport News Early Learning Center #261

Ampthill

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 85
N Licensed Center

Newport News ABC Childcare #262

Bon Air

Infants & Toddlers Cap 58
N Family Daycare

Newport News Bright Beginnings #263

Richmond

School Age (5+) Cap 85
G Group Care

Growing Minds Newport News #264

Richmond

School Age (5+) Cap 17
N Preschool

Newport News Children's Place #265

Richmond

Preschool (2-5) Cap 79
H Head Start

Happy Days Newport News Daycare #266

Richmond

2 years - 12 years Cap 88

Daycare in Virginia — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Virginia is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Virginia?
State minimums in Virginia are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:5 toddlers, and 1:10 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Virginia?
Full-time infant care averages about $1180/month; preschool runs around $880/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Virginia trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Virginia?
Yes. The primary state program is Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program, reachable at (866) 873-6515. Federal options like Head Start, the Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, and Dependent Care FSA also apply. See our subsidies guide for eligibility rules.
How do I report unsafe conditions at a Virginia daycare?
File a complaint with the Virginia Department of Education — Office of Child Care Health and Safety via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 3,458 Licensed Virginia Centers

Free, no signup, filter by age and subsidy acceptance.

Browse All Virginia Centers Compare Daycare Options