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    Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)

    ​Bureau of Certification Services

    The Bureau of Certification Services is responsible for licensing of both for-profit and non-profit entities implementing child care for more than four children not related to the provider. 

    There are more than 6,400 child care providers in the Commonwealth that fall into three categories — child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes. 

    Certification staff are located at OCDEL Headquarters in Harrisburg and five regional offices across the state. Each regional office includes one regional manager, multiple supervisors, certification field representatives, and clerical staff. Certification field representatives inspect all child care facilities to ensure they are following the child care regulations authorized by 55 Pa Code Chapters 3270, 3280, and 3290. Certification staff support initial licensing requirements for new providers and complete an unannounced inspection annually for all providers and conduct complaint investigations. Certification staff also review, approve, and conduct follow up inspections for all plans of correction related to provider noncompliance.  

    Contact Information

    • Address: 301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 370 Pittsburgh, PA 15222
    • Telephone: 412-565-5183
    • Toll Free: 800-222-2149
    • Fax: 412-565-2658

    Counties Serviced: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland

    • Address: 555 Walnut St, Forum Place, 6th Fl, P.O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105
    • Telephone: 717-772-7078
    • Toll Free: 800-222-2117
    • Fax: 717-705-8233

    Counties Services: Adams, Centre, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Tioga, Union, York

    • Address: 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton State Office Building, Scranton, PA 18503
    • Telephone: 570-963-4371
    • Toll Free: 800-222-2108
    • Fax: 570-963-3006

    Counties Serviced: Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming

    • Address: 801 Market Street, Suite 5132, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3126
    • Telephone: 215-560-2541
    • Toll Free: 800-346-2929
    • Fax: 215-560-5139

    North

    • Counties Serviced: Bucks, Montgomery

    • Philadelphia Zip Codes: 19111, 19114, 19115, 19116, 19118, 19119, 19120, 19124, 19126, 19127, 19128, 19129, 19135, 19136, 19138, 19140, 19141, 19144, 19149, 19150, 19152, 19154, 19155

    South

    • Counties Serviced: Chester, Delaware

    • Philadelphia Zip Codes: 19102, 19103, 19104, 19106, 19107, 19109, 19112, 19121, 19122, 19123, 19125, 19130, 19131, 19132, 19133, 19134, 19137, 19139, 19142, 19143, 19145, 19146, 19147, 19148, 19151, 19153, 19176

    OCDEL News

    News & Newsletters

    OCDEL’s Bureau of Certification Services issues periodic information about meeting child care regulations through the Certification News.

    Announcements

    The Pennsylvania Key is an important and trusted parter of OCDEL. Policy and certification announcements are shared at the below link.

      View All Announcements