Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Rhode Island

Find the right daycare in Rhode Island in under 5 minutes. 650 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Rhode Island DHS — Office of Child Care. Free, no signup.

650
Licensed Centers
$1,380/mo
Avg Infant Care
$1,080/mo
Avg Preschool
1:4
Infant Ratio
Search 650 Rhode Island centers Estimate your monthly cost

Rhode Island Childcare Licensing

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

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:4 for infants under 12 months, 1:6 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 Rhode Island DHS — Office of Child Care

What's distinctive about Rhode Island: Rhode Island's small geography means most families have multiple licensed providers within 10 minutes. CCAP serves families up to 180% federal poverty.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Rhode Island DHS — Office of Child Care
Infant ratio
1:4
Toddler ratio
1:6
Preschool ratio
1:10
Avg infant cost
$1,380/mo
Avg preschool cost
$1,080/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Rhode Island

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Cranston
69 centers
Richmond
54 centers
Middletown
51 centers
Providence
35 centers
Warwick
34 centers
Pawtucket
20 centers
North Smithfield
19 centers
Narragansett
18 centers
Centredale
18 centers
North Kingstown
11 centers
Westerly
10 centers
West Warwick
10 centers
Financial help

Rhode Island Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Rhode Island families can apply for Rhode Island Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) 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: (855) 697-4347

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Rhode Island & Federal Resources

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

License search
Rhode Island DHS — Office of Child Care
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island

Montessori
82 centers
Infant Care
82 centers
Preschool
81 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
81 centers
Family Daycare
81 centers
Child Care Center
81 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 650 →
N Infant Care

Nurturing Hearts East Providence #15

Wood River Junct

Preschool (2-5) Cap 35
E Montessori

East Providence Smart Start Academy #16

North Smithfield

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 15
E Licensed Center

East Providence Little Angels #17

North Smithfield

Infants & Toddlers Cap 119
E Family Daycare

Explorer Kids East Providence #18

Richmond

School Age (5+) Cap 65
E Group Care

East Providence Generations Daycare #19

Zcta 028hh

School Age (5+) Cap 21
E Preschool

East Providence KinderSmile #20

Providence

Preschool (2-5) Cap 77
A Head Start

Active Kids East Providence #21

Centredale

2 years - 12 years Cap 64
E Before/After School

East Providence Playhouse Academy #22

Cranston

School Age (5+) Cap 61
E Infant Care

East Providence Learning Center #23

Providence

Preschool (2-5) Cap 106
E Montessori

East Providence Childcare Academy #24

Cranston

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 35
E Licensed Center

East Providence Little Stars Daycare #25

Providence

Infants & Toddlers Cap 34
E Family Daycare

East Providence Rainbow Learning Center #26

Cranston

School Age (5+) Cap 120

Daycare in Rhode Island — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Rhode Island is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Rhode Island DHS — Office of Child Care database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/child-care/find-licensed-child-care.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Rhode Island?
State minimums in Rhode Island are roughly 1:4 infants, 1:6 toddlers, and 1:10 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Rhode Island?
Full-time infant care averages about $1380/month; preschool runs around $1080/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Rhode Island trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Rhode Island?
Yes. The primary state program is Rhode Island Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), reachable at (855) 697-4347. 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 Rhode Island daycare?
File a complaint with the Rhode Island DHS — Office of Child Care via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 650 Licensed Rhode Island Centers

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

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