Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Alabama

Find the right daycare in Alabama in under 5 minutes. 2,158 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division. Free, no signup.

2,158
Licensed Centers
$820/mo
Avg Infant Care
$660/mo
Avg Preschool
1:5
Infant Ratio
Search 2,158 Alabama centers Estimate your monthly cost

Alabama Childcare Licensing

In Alabama, all child care centers serving children outside the family home are required to be licensed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division. Licensed centers undergo background checks, capacity inspections, and routine compliance reviews.

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:5 for infants under 12 months, 1:7 for toddlers (12–35 months), and 1:13 for preschool (3–5 years). NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below the state minimum.

Verify a license at Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division

What's distinctive about Alabama: Alabama daycare costs sit among the lowest in the South (about $820/mo infant care, 33% below the national median). DHR licensing is solid but ratio caps of 1:5 infants and 1:13 preschool are looser than NAEYC recommendations — accreditation matters more here than in tighter-ratio states.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division
Infant ratio
1:5
Toddler ratio
1:7
Preschool ratio
1:13
Avg infant cost
$820/mo
Avg preschool cost
$660/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Alabama

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Birmingham
109 centers
Mobile
62 centers
Huntsville
37 centers
Montgomery
34 centers
Jasper
28 centers
Tuscaloosa
21 centers
Decatur
14 centers
Auburn
12 centers
Gadsden
10 centers
Demopolis
10 centers
Phenix City
9 centers
Selma
8 centers
Financial help

Alabama Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Alabama families can apply for Alabama 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) 528-1694

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Alabama & Federal Resources

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

License search
Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Alabama
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 Alabama

Preschool
270 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
270 centers
Family Daycare
270 centers
Child Care Center
270 centers
Head Start
270 centers
Before & After School Care
270 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 2,158 →
B Head Start

Birmingham Panda Kids Academy #205

Zcta 369xx

2 years - 12 years Cap 27
B Before/After School

Birmingham Wonder Years #206

School Age (5+) Cap 25
L Infant Care

Little Genius Birmingham #207

Acmar

Preschool (2-5) Cap 97
B Montessori

Birmingham Cloud Nine Kids #208

Adamsville

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 93
N Licensed Center

Nurturing Hearts Birmingham #209

Adger

Infants & Toddlers Cap 120
B Family Daycare

Birmingham Smart Start Academy #210

Keystone

School Age (5+) Cap 118
B Group Care

Birmingham Little Angels #211

New Site

School Age (5+) Cap 81
E Preschool

Explorer Kids Birmingham #212

Alpine

Preschool (2-5) Cap 73
B Head Start

Birmingham Generations Daycare #213

Arab

2 years - 12 years Cap 56
B Before/After School

Birmingham KinderSmile #214

Baileyton

School Age (5+) Cap 77
A Infant Care

Active Kids Birmingham #215

Bessemer

Preschool (2-5) Cap 67
B Montessori

Birmingham Playhouse Academy #216

Zcta 35022

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 66

Daycare in Alabama — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Alabama is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-care-search/.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Alabama?
State minimums in Alabama are roughly 1:5 infants, 1:7 toddlers, and 1:13 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Alabama?
Full-time infant care averages about $820/month; preschool runs around $660/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Alabama trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Alabama?
Yes. The primary state program is Alabama Child Care Subsidy Program, reachable at (866) 528-1694. 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 Alabama daycare?
File a complaint with the Alabama Department of Human Resources — Child Care Services Division via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 2,158 Licensed Alabama Centers

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