Become a Child Care Provider

Registered Non-Licensed Family Child Care Home

Registered homes provide child care to less than four (4) non-residential children and are not required to become licensed. By becoming registered, one may participate and be reimbursed for providing healthy meals by  the Federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), as well as be paid by the State of New Mexico for providing child care to children who receive child care assistance.

A registered home may also fall under one of the following categories:

  • Food Only:  Only participates in the CACFP to be reimbursed food.
  • Exempt: Provider is exempt from participating in the CACFP because he or she is caring only for residential children or does not provide child care during the hours when a meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) is served. May still participate in the child care assistance program.

Licensed Child Care Home

The State of New Mexico requires a person to become licensed in their home when you provide care, services, and supervision to more than four (4) non-residential children in a private dwelling. A home may be licensed as follows:

  • Licensed Family Child Care Home - A private dwelling which provides care, services, and supervision to at least five but no more than six children for a period of less than 24 hours of any day.  The licensee will reside in the home and be the primary educator.
  • Group Child Care Home - A private dwelling or other building on the residential premises which provides care, services, and supervision for at least seven but not more than 12 children for a period of less than 24 hours of any day.  The licensee will reside in the home and be the primary educator. 

Licensed Homes are eligible to receive payment from the State of New Mexico for caring for children who receive child care assistance, and reimbursement for serving nutritious food.

Child Care Center

A child care center provides children with care, education, services and supervision for less than 24 hours per day in a non-residential setting. These programs must be licensed by the State of New Mexico. The centers must create and follow a curriculum of everyday activities in both classrooms and playgrounds.

Licensed Child Care Centers are eligible to receive payment from the State of New Mexico for caring for children who receive child care assistance, and reimbursement for serving nutritious food.

Out of School Time Programs

Out of school time programs provide afterschool care for school age children ages five (5) to 18 years old.  These programs can have an academic focus or be recreationally based, some programs do a combination of the two.  Services are provided to children on a regular basis before or after school or when school is not in regular session. These programs are at specific sites, usually a school.

Licensed Out of School Time Programs are eligible to receive payment from the State of New Mexico for caring for children who receive child care assistance, and reimbursement for serving nutritious food.

To get more information on becoming a Child Care Provider please visit New Mexico Kids or contact your nearest Child Care Licensing Office:–

Northern Region
Diana Martinez, Supervisor
1920 5th Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone (505) 827-3814
Fax (505) 827‐4250
diana.martinez2@state.nm.us
Includes Cibola, McKinley, San Juan, San Miguel, Mora, Colfax, Harding, Union, Santa Fe, Taos, Rio Arriba, and Los Alamos Counties
Child Care Licensing

Central Region
Peggy Martin, Supervisor
3401 Pan American Freeway NE
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Phone (505) 841‐4825
Fax (505) 841‐4826
peggy.martin@state.nm.us
Includes Bernalillo, Torrance, Sandoval, Valencia and Socorro Counties
Child Care Licensing

Southeast Region
Allen Anderson, Supervisor
#4 Grande Avenue Plaza, Suite A
Roswell, NM 88202
Phone (575) 625‐1078
Fax (575) 625‐6748
allenj.anderson@state.nm.us
Includes Quay, Guadalupe, Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lea, and Eddy Counties
Child Care Licensing

Southwest Region
Mary Arrey, Supervisor
2805 Roadrunner Parkway
Las Cruces, NM 88007
Phone (575) 373‐6609
Fax (575) 373‐6648
mary.arrey@state.nm.us
Includes Dona Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Catron, Luna, Sierra, Otero and Lincoln Counties

Child Care