Types of child care in Nevada, explained

Short answer: in Nevada, the care types that are licensed and inspected by the state are centers, family care homes, group care homes and a few special types. Nannies, babysitters, relatives and friends are outside the license system, so checking them is up to you.

The licensed types

The Nevada Division of Social Services licenses these kinds of child care. Each one shows up in the state’s licensee search with its inspection and complaint record.

Family and group care providers must live in the home where they provide care. Nevada law also requires every licensed facility to be inspected at least once a year.

Daycare vs. preschool

The words overlap, and many Las Vegas centers use both. In general:

• Daycare usually means full-day, year-round care. It can start in infancy and is built around parents’ work hours. Childcare.gov describes centers as group care, often in classrooms by age, managed by a director.
• Preschool or pre-K serves children roughly 3 to 5, focuses on kindergarten readiness, and is often part-day and school-year only, according to Childcare.gov. It can be run by public schools, places of worship, nonprofits or child care centers.

For a 2-year-old, most options will be daycare-style care in a center or home. Public pre-K programs in Clark County start at age 3 or 4. See our pre-K guide for CCSD Pre-K, Nevada Ready! State Pre-K and Head Start.

One thing to ask: whether a preschool holds a state child care license or is run by a school district or another agency. Childcare.gov notes that programs run by public schools can be regulated by a different agency and exempt from child care licensing.

Nanny vs. daycare

A nanny cares for your children in your home. Nevada’s child care law excludes the home of a child’s parent or guardian from the definition of a child care facility, so a nanny isn’t licensed or inspected by the state.

If you hire a nanny directly, you may also become a household employer with tax duties. The IRS explains the rules in Publication 926.

In-home daycare vs. daycare center

“In-home daycare” usually means a family or group care home: licensed care in the provider’s own home with a small group of mixed ages. Childcare.gov notes families choose home care for the home-like setting, small groups and sometimes more flexible hours. Centers offer classrooms by age, more staff on site and often more equipment. Both are licensed and inspected by Nevada, so the state record is the place to start for either one.

Informal care: relatives, friends and babysitters

Childcare.gov calls this informal in-home care, or family, friend and neighbor care. Nevada lets friends, family and neighbors watch up to four children without a license. The state requires a license for care of more than four children who aren’t related to the caregiver or for whom the caregiver is paid.

Childcare.gov’s warning applies here: when a provider isn’t licensed, no one monitors health and safety, checks criminal backgrounds or confirms CPR and first aid training. Ask about those directly.

Next steps

• Find licensed care near you
• Check a provider’s license and inspections
• Questions to ask on a tour