Pinellas County licenses and regulates over 400 children’s centers. Children two months of age through school age children attend centers providing early care and education and school age activities. Children may be in attendance each day for up to 12 hours. Although overnight care is not permitted in Pinellas County children’s centers, a Family Child Care Home can provide that service. Unique to Pinellas County, children’s centers are regulated by category which includes:
- A day nursery or a day nursery that may be licensed as:
- A drop in care center
- An indoor recreational facility
- A teenage parenting program
- Nursery school
- School age center
- Religiously exempt from licensure
- Non-public pre-kindergarten program
How to Open a Children’s Center
Technical assistance and consultation are provided in the form of individual conferences, on site inspections, and written material. To open a children’s center, call 727-507-4857.
Child Care Resource and Referral Services
Child Care Resource and Referral Services are provided by the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County. To access these services, call 727-400-4411 or they can access services online.
The public can review a children’s center licensing history (file review) by appointment at the PCLB office or by accessing Inspection Reports for Centers and Homes.
Training for Early Childhood Professionals
The Early Learning Coalition offers a wide variety of training opportunities.
Access the 40-Hour Introductory Child Care Training for schedule and registration information.