Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in North Carolina

Find the right daycare in North Carolina in under 5 minutes. 4,108 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against NC Division of Child Development and Early Education. Free, no signup.

4,108
Licensed Centers
$980/mo
Avg Infant Care
$750/mo
Avg Preschool
1:5
Infant Ratio
Search 4,108 North Carolina centers Estimate your monthly cost

North Carolina Childcare Licensing

In North Carolina, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:5 for infants under 12 months, 1:6 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:15 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at NC Division of Child Development and Early Education

What's distinctive about North Carolina: North Carolina's 5-Star Rated License system is mandatory — every licensed provider must display a 1–5 star rating. Insist on 4-star or higher; 1–2 star programs operate at state minimum without enhancement.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
NC Division of Child Development and Early Education
Infant ratio
1:5
Toddler ratio
1:6
Preschool ratio
1:15
Avg infant cost
$980/mo
Avg preschool cost
$750/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in North Carolina

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Charlotte
189 centers
Raleigh
99 centers
Greensboro
90 centers
Durham
53 centers
Winston Salem
51 centers
Asheville
40 centers
Statesville
39 centers
Reidsville
37 centers
Fayetteville
35 centers
Wilmington
29 centers
Greenville
24 centers
Gastonia
23 centers
Financial help

North Carolina Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

North Carolina families can apply for NC 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: (919) 814-6300

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official North Carolina & Federal Resources

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

License search
NC Division of Child Development and Early Education
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware North Carolina
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 North Carolina

Preschool
514 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
514 centers
Head Start
514 centers
Before & After School Care
514 centers
Montessori
513 centers
Family Daycare
513 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 4,108 →
R Infant Care

Raleigh Little Stars Daycare #269

Fayetteville

Preschool (2-5) Cap 112
R Montessori

Raleigh Rainbow Learning Center #270

Fayetteville

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 82
R Licensed Center

Raleigh Bright Futures Daycare #271

Fayetteville

Infants & Toddlers Cap 19
L Family Daycare

Little Hearts Raleigh #272

Fort Bragg

School Age (5+) Cap 28
R Group Care

Raleigh Kids First Academy #273

Fayetteville

School Age (5+) Cap 49
R Preschool

Raleigh Sunshine Daycare #274

Fayetteville

Preschool (2-5) Cap 92
T Head Start

Tiny Tots of Raleigh #275

Aberdeen

2 years - 12 years Cap 89
R Before/After School

Raleigh Early Learning Center #276

Autryville

School Age (5+) Cap 17
R Infant Care

Raleigh ABC Childcare #277

Bladenboro

Preschool (2-5) Cap 76
R Montessori

Raleigh Bright Beginnings #278

Bunnlevel

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 79
G Licensed Center

Growing Minds Raleigh #279

Calypso

Infants & Toddlers Cap 40
R Family Daycare

Raleigh Children's Place #280

Johnsonville

School Age (5+) Cap 27

Daycare in North Carolina — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in North Carolina is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://ncchildcaresearch.dhhs.state.nc.us/search.asp.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in North Carolina?
State minimums in North Carolina are roughly 1:5 infants, 1:6 toddlers, and 1:15 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in North Carolina?
Full-time infant care averages about $980/month; preschool runs around $750/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like North Carolina trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in North Carolina?
Yes. The primary state program is NC Child Care Subsidy Program, reachable at (919) 814-6300. 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 North Carolina daycare?
File a complaint with the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 4,108 Licensed North Carolina Centers

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

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