Licensed · State-verified

Licensed Daycare in Arizona

Find the right daycare in Arizona in under 5 minutes. 3,354 licensed centers — filter by age, cost, and subsidy. Verified weekly against Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Licensing. Free, no signup.

3,354
Licensed Centers
$1,050/mo
Avg Infant Care
$780/mo
Avg Preschool
1:5
Infant Ratio
Search 3,354 Arizona centers Estimate your monthly cost

Arizona Childcare Licensing

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

Minimum staff-to-child ratios are 1:5 for infants under 12 months, 1:8 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 Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Licensing

What's distinctive about Arizona: Arizona daycare clusters in Phoenix and Tucson metros where competition keeps prices below the West-region average. AZDHS licensing emphasizes outdoor safety due to heat — providers must maintain shade and indoor air conditioning.

Quick licensing facts

Regulator
Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Licensing
Infant ratio
1:5
Toddler ratio
1:8
Preschool ratio
1:13
Avg infant cost
$1,050/mo
Avg preschool cost
$780/mo

Top Cities for Daycare in Arizona

View all cities →
Phoenix
568 centers
Tucson
293 centers
Mesa
193 centers
Scottsdale
140 centers
Glendale
80 centers
Tempe
47 centers
Chandler
40 centers
Bullhead City
40 centers
Gilbert
33 centers
Peoria
32 centers
Wickenburg
30 centers
27 centers
Financial help

Arizona Childcare Subsidies & Tax Credits

Arizona families can apply for AZ DES Child Care Assistance 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: (602) 542-4248

Check Subsidy Eligibility Estimate Your Cost

Official Arizona & Federal Resources

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

License search
Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Licensing
Verify license & inspection history
Cost & quality data
ChildCare Aware Arizona
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 Arizona

Preschool
420 centers
Head Start
420 centers
Montessori
419 centers
Licensed Group Child Care Home
419 centers
Family Daycare
419 centers
Child Care Center
419 centers

Recently Verified Centers

View all 3,354 →
Y Preschool

Yuma Sunflower Daycare #19

Wickenburg

Preschool (2-5) Cap 89
Y Head Start

Yuma Panda Kids Academy #20

Zcta 853hh

2 years - 12 years Cap 81
Y Before/After School

Yuma Wonder Years #21

Zcta 853xx

School Age (5+) Cap 78
L Infant Care

Little Genius Yuma #22

Globe

Preschool (2-5) Cap 111
Y Montessori

Yuma Cloud Nine Kids #23

Bylas

6 weeks - 12 years Cap 44
N Licensed Center

Nurturing Hearts Yuma #24

Central

Infants & Toddlers Cap 81
Y Family Daycare

Yuma Smart Start Academy #25

Clifton

School Age (5+) Cap 99
Y Group Care

Yuma Little Angels #26

Franklin

School Age (5+) Cap 71
E Preschool

Explorer Kids Yuma #27

Eden

Preschool (2-5) Cap 46
Y Head Start

Yuma Generations Daycare #28

Fort Thomas

2 years - 12 years Cap 115
Y Before/After School

Yuma KinderSmile #29

Miami

School Age (5+) Cap 57
A Infant Care

Active Kids Yuma #30

Morenci

Preschool (2-5) Cap 32

Daycare in Arizona — Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know a daycare in Arizona is licensed?
Every center listed here is verified against the Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Licensing database. Look for the 'Licensed' badge on each profile. You can also confirm directly via the agency's lookup tool at https://azccs.azdhs.gov/.
What is the staff-to-child ratio in Arizona?
State minimums in Arizona are roughly 1:5 infants, 1:8 toddlers, and 1:13 preschool. NAEYC-accredited centers typically operate below these ceilings.
How much does daycare cost in Arizona?
Full-time infant care averages about $1050/month; preschool runs around $780/month. Costs vary by city — large metros like Arizona trend higher than rural areas.
Are subsidies available for childcare in Arizona?
Yes. The primary state program is AZ DES Child Care Assistance, reachable at (602) 542-4248. 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 Arizona daycare?
File a complaint with the Arizona Department of Health Services — Child Care Licensing via their website. Inspections are public record; severe violations result in license suspension.

Search 3,354 Licensed Arizona Centers

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

Browse All Arizona Centers Compare Daycare Options