RNRF DCF EXAMS SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025/2026
✔✔specialized child care facilities - ✔✔are licensed programs that provide child care for
more than five mildly ill children unrelated to the operator, which receive a payment, fee,
or grant for any of the children receiving care, wherever operated, and whether or not
operated for profit. These programs were created by the Legislature in order to
implement standards, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health, specific to
caring for mildly ill children, such as those with the flu
✔✔drop in child care - ✔✔a child care arrangement where families occasionally leave
their child for no more than four hours but remain on the premises, such as child care at
a shopping mall. A communication system must be provided to the family to ensure they
can return immediately to the child if necessary.
✔✔evening child care - ✔✔child care provided during the evening hours, which are
defined as 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. During evening child care, personnel must remain
awake at all times. When children are awake, child care personnel must provide direct
supervision. When children are sleeping, staff must be within sight and hearing of all
children. While children are sleeping, there must be enough staff to meet the staff-to-
child ratios within the building, on the same floor; and they must be available to
respond, if needed. If a program only provides evening child care, they are not required
to provide outdoor space. The program director is not required to have a Director
Credential, nor do staff need to have staff credentials.
✔✔access - ✔✔During the child care program's operational hours and the times the
children are in care, the program must allow parents, guardians, and the licensing
authority access to the program. A parent or guardian must have access to the child
care program in person and by telephone.
✔✔programs exempt from licensure - ✔✔Public and Non-Public Schools—School Day
Programs for Children Grades Six and Above
School-Age Programs That Meet Certain Criteria
Instructional/Tutorial Programs
Open Access Programs
National Membership Organizations That Meet Certain Criteria
Summer Day Camps and 24-hour Camps
Vacation Bible Schools
Transient Establishments (hotels, resorts, and similar establishments)
Non-Custodial In Home Care
Religious Exemption Pursuant To s. 402.316, F.S.
✔✔public and non public schools- school day - ✔✔school programs for preschool-age
children that are operated and staffed directly by the school and that meet age-
appropriate standards as adopted by the State Board of Education are exempt from
,licensure. Also exempt are the integral programs offered by public schools for children
under three years of age who are eligible for participation in the program under
provisions of Public Law No. 94-142 or Public Law No. 99-457. These programs may
only provide child care before or afterschool and during school holidays, such as a
teacher planning day.
✔✔programs fro children grades 6 and up - ✔✔These programs are not designated as
Gold Seal Quality Care providers, and they provide child care exclusively for children in
grades six and above
✔✔school age programs that meet certain criteria - ✔✔If the program is located on a
public or non-public school site, is operated directly by that school, and serves only
school-age children who attend the school during the day, then it is exempt from
licensure. The program may provide services during any out-of-school times, including
before school, after school, on teacher planning days, holidays, and intercessions that
occur during the school district's academic calendar year. They must follow standards
set by the Florida Building Code State Requirements for Public Educational Facilities.
✔✔instructional/tutorial programs - ✔✔Have a single instructional/tutorial purpose
Is the only service they provide
Cannot cater, serve, or prepare meals
Instructional/tutorial session may not exceed two hours for one session or three hours
for a session with multiple academic areas
Instructional and tutorial programs cannot be designated as Gold Seal and cannot
contract to deliver a School Readiness program.
✔✔open access programs - ✔✔Operate for less than four hours per day,
Including any out-of-school times, such as before school, after school, on teacher
planning days, holidays, and intercessions that occur during the school district's official
academic calendar year
Do not
Assume responsibility for supervision
Provide transportation for field trips
Serve or prepare any meals
`
✔✔national membership organizations that meet certain criteria - ✔✔Recognized in at
least ten states,
Which are created for the purpose of providing activities that contribute to the
development of good character/good sportsmanship
Must comply with the association's purposes and procedures;
Meet minimum standards; and
Be in good standing for all of their before school, after school, and out-of-school
programs
, ✔✔Nonprofit membership organizations that are associated with national organizations
- ✔✔must submit an annual attestation to the Department and comply with background
screening requirements.
✔✔summer day camps and 24 hour camps - ✔✔Recreational, educational, and other
enrichment programs operated during summer vacations for children who are five years
of age or older on or before September 1.
Not inspected or regulated by the department,
Are required to have all personnel screened through the background screening
clearinghouse with a level 2 background screening and a signed child care attestation of
good moral character
exempt from licensure
✔✔Other Exempt Child Care Programs - ✔✔Vacation Bible Schools
Transient Programs
Club/Recreational Facility
Non-Custodial In-Home Care
✔✔religious exemption - ✔✔For example, if a program is an integral part of a church or
parochial school, religious exemption may be an option.
To be considered an "integral" part of a church or parochial school, a child care program
must submit a notarized statement from the pastor of the church that describes how the
program is integral to the church/parochial school.
✔✔Religious Exempt Accreditation - ✔✔Faith-based child care programs must be
accredited by or members of organizations that have adopted and published accrediting
standards for health, safety, and sanitation and
Require their child care programs to comply with these and local standards.
Must be required to meet the requirements in ss. 402.305 and 402.3055, F.S., Relating
to background screening.
✔✔faith based voluntary and mandatory licensure - ✔✔Some faith-based child care
programs may choose to pursue voluntary licensure rather than religious exemption.
Once licensed, though, a religious exempt program cannot withdraw from licensure.
In other cases, faith-based child care programs that have been in operation since July
1, 1974 may be in a county or city that has state or local child care licensing
requirements that mandate licensure.
2025/2026
✔✔specialized child care facilities - ✔✔are licensed programs that provide child care for
more than five mildly ill children unrelated to the operator, which receive a payment, fee,
or grant for any of the children receiving care, wherever operated, and whether or not
operated for profit. These programs were created by the Legislature in order to
implement standards, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health, specific to
caring for mildly ill children, such as those with the flu
✔✔drop in child care - ✔✔a child care arrangement where families occasionally leave
their child for no more than four hours but remain on the premises, such as child care at
a shopping mall. A communication system must be provided to the family to ensure they
can return immediately to the child if necessary.
✔✔evening child care - ✔✔child care provided during the evening hours, which are
defined as 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. During evening child care, personnel must remain
awake at all times. When children are awake, child care personnel must provide direct
supervision. When children are sleeping, staff must be within sight and hearing of all
children. While children are sleeping, there must be enough staff to meet the staff-to-
child ratios within the building, on the same floor; and they must be available to
respond, if needed. If a program only provides evening child care, they are not required
to provide outdoor space. The program director is not required to have a Director
Credential, nor do staff need to have staff credentials.
✔✔access - ✔✔During the child care program's operational hours and the times the
children are in care, the program must allow parents, guardians, and the licensing
authority access to the program. A parent or guardian must have access to the child
care program in person and by telephone.
✔✔programs exempt from licensure - ✔✔Public and Non-Public Schools—School Day
Programs for Children Grades Six and Above
School-Age Programs That Meet Certain Criteria
Instructional/Tutorial Programs
Open Access Programs
National Membership Organizations That Meet Certain Criteria
Summer Day Camps and 24-hour Camps
Vacation Bible Schools
Transient Establishments (hotels, resorts, and similar establishments)
Non-Custodial In Home Care
Religious Exemption Pursuant To s. 402.316, F.S.
✔✔public and non public schools- school day - ✔✔school programs for preschool-age
children that are operated and staffed directly by the school and that meet age-
appropriate standards as adopted by the State Board of Education are exempt from
,licensure. Also exempt are the integral programs offered by public schools for children
under three years of age who are eligible for participation in the program under
provisions of Public Law No. 94-142 or Public Law No. 99-457. These programs may
only provide child care before or afterschool and during school holidays, such as a
teacher planning day.
✔✔programs fro children grades 6 and up - ✔✔These programs are not designated as
Gold Seal Quality Care providers, and they provide child care exclusively for children in
grades six and above
✔✔school age programs that meet certain criteria - ✔✔If the program is located on a
public or non-public school site, is operated directly by that school, and serves only
school-age children who attend the school during the day, then it is exempt from
licensure. The program may provide services during any out-of-school times, including
before school, after school, on teacher planning days, holidays, and intercessions that
occur during the school district's academic calendar year. They must follow standards
set by the Florida Building Code State Requirements for Public Educational Facilities.
✔✔instructional/tutorial programs - ✔✔Have a single instructional/tutorial purpose
Is the only service they provide
Cannot cater, serve, or prepare meals
Instructional/tutorial session may not exceed two hours for one session or three hours
for a session with multiple academic areas
Instructional and tutorial programs cannot be designated as Gold Seal and cannot
contract to deliver a School Readiness program.
✔✔open access programs - ✔✔Operate for less than four hours per day,
Including any out-of-school times, such as before school, after school, on teacher
planning days, holidays, and intercessions that occur during the school district's official
academic calendar year
Do not
Assume responsibility for supervision
Provide transportation for field trips
Serve or prepare any meals
`
✔✔national membership organizations that meet certain criteria - ✔✔Recognized in at
least ten states,
Which are created for the purpose of providing activities that contribute to the
development of good character/good sportsmanship
Must comply with the association's purposes and procedures;
Meet minimum standards; and
Be in good standing for all of their before school, after school, and out-of-school
programs
, ✔✔Nonprofit membership organizations that are associated with national organizations
- ✔✔must submit an annual attestation to the Department and comply with background
screening requirements.
✔✔summer day camps and 24 hour camps - ✔✔Recreational, educational, and other
enrichment programs operated during summer vacations for children who are five years
of age or older on or before September 1.
Not inspected or regulated by the department,
Are required to have all personnel screened through the background screening
clearinghouse with a level 2 background screening and a signed child care attestation of
good moral character
exempt from licensure
✔✔Other Exempt Child Care Programs - ✔✔Vacation Bible Schools
Transient Programs
Club/Recreational Facility
Non-Custodial In-Home Care
✔✔religious exemption - ✔✔For example, if a program is an integral part of a church or
parochial school, religious exemption may be an option.
To be considered an "integral" part of a church or parochial school, a child care program
must submit a notarized statement from the pastor of the church that describes how the
program is integral to the church/parochial school.
✔✔Religious Exempt Accreditation - ✔✔Faith-based child care programs must be
accredited by or members of organizations that have adopted and published accrediting
standards for health, safety, and sanitation and
Require their child care programs to comply with these and local standards.
Must be required to meet the requirements in ss. 402.305 and 402.3055, F.S., Relating
to background screening.
✔✔faith based voluntary and mandatory licensure - ✔✔Some faith-based child care
programs may choose to pursue voluntary licensure rather than religious exemption.
Once licensed, though, a religious exempt program cannot withdraw from licensure.
In other cases, faith-based child care programs that have been in operation since July
1, 1974 may be in a county or city that has state or local child care licensing
requirements that mandate licensure.
