State library · checked October 2026
Oregon child care, camp and ratio rules
What camps, after-school programs and child care centers in Oregon need to know about licensing, ratios, background checks, medication and reporting abuse, with links to the official rules.
Child care licensing
DELC certifies child care centers serving children from 6 weeks through age 12 (OAR 414-305) and school-age-only centers (OAR 414-310), and licenses family child care homes. Certain license-exempt preschool and school-age programs must still be 'recorded' with DELC.
After-school and recreation programs: Exempt from certification (OAR 414-305-0120): programs run by a school district, charter school, city, county or other government agency; single-enrichment activities such as sports practice, lessons or tutoring where no child attends more than 8 hours a week; group athletic or social activities of an organized club; care given only during summer or holiday breaks for fewer than 70 days a year; and youth development activities for school-age children when school is out. Programs offering youth development activities to school-age children must register as 'recorded programs': all staff and volunteers 18 and older enroll in the Central Background Registry and the program posts a notice for parents.
Licensing agency: Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Child Care Licensing Division
Sources: DELC Rules for Certified Child Care Centers, CCLD-0084 (OAR 414-305); OAR 414-305-0400 (Cornell LII); DELC Rules for Certified School-Age Centers, CCLD-0542 (OAR 414-310); DELC Recorded Programs
Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers
| Ages | Children per staff member | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 4 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 5 years (not yet kindergarten-eligible) | 1:10 | 20 |
| School-age (kindergarten-eligible and up) | 1:15 | 30 |
Rule: OAR 414-305-0400 (Table 3A). Oregon groups children from 36 months to school-age together (1:10, max 20). 'School-age' means eligible for kindergarten by the first day of the current school year, including the summer before kindergarten, so most 5-year-olds use the school-age ratio. Table 3A applies to centers first certified after July 15, 2001; older centers may use Table 3B (school-age is also 1:15, max 30). Mixed-age groups use the youngest child's ratio, except centers with 16 or fewer children may use the Mixed-Age Ratio Table. School-age-only centers: 1:15, max 30 (OAR 414-310-0360).
Summer camps
Operating an 'organizational camp' requires a yearly license from the Oregon Health Authority or a delegated county health department; licenses expire Dec. 31 (OAR 333-030-0020). State law defines organizational camps to include youth, scout, summer, day, nature, survival and athletic camps, including those run by religious, school or community groups (ORS 446.310), and the rules cover sanitation, water, food service and camp health care. Separately, a school-age day program may need to be recorded with DELC or, if it works as child care, certified.
Camp agency: Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division (or a delegated county health department)
Sources: OAR 333-030-0020 Licensing Required (Cornell LII); OAR 333-030-0015 Definitions, incl. day camp (Cornell LII); ORS 446.310 definitions (oregon.public.law mirror); OHA Pools and Lodging (organizational camps)
Background checks
The operator, all center staff, and anyone 18 or older who may have unsupervised access to children must be enrolled in DELC's Central Background Registry (CBR) before working (OAR 414-305-0310). The CBR check covers Oregon State Police records, ODHS child protective services records, an FBI fingerprint check and sex offender registries, plus out-of-state checks for anyone who lived elsewhere in the past 5 years; enrollment expires every 5 years (OAR 414-061-0090). Recorded (license-exempt) school-age and preschool programs must also enroll staff and volunteers 18 and older. No separate background check rule for organizational camps was found.
Sources: DELC Central Background Registry; OAR 414-061-0090 (Cornell LII); DELC Recorded Programs
Giving medication
Before giving any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, a center needs signed, dated parent authorization (up to 12 months for chronic conditions; phone permission is allowed for a single dose of a non-prescription medicine). Medicine must be in its original labeled container (prescriptions labeled with the child's name), not expired, given as labeled unless a physician writes otherwise; each dose is logged right away with any side effects, parents are told daily, and medicines are kept out of children's reach (OAR 414-305-1030).
Reporting child abuse
Oregon lists 'public or private officials' who must report immediately (ORS 419B.005, 419B.010), including school employees, registered or certified child care providers, operators of recorded programs, paid coaches and athletic trainers, and employees of organizations providing child-related services such as youth groups, scouts, and summer or day camps. Reports go to ODHS or law enforcement.
Oregon child abuse hotline: 1-855-503-7233 (855-503-SAFE) (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: ODHS: Reporting Child Abuse in Oregon / Mandatory Reporting; ODHS: How to Report Abuse or Neglect; ORS 419B.005 (oregon.public.law mirror)
Checked October 2026 against Oregon's official rules and federal sources. Rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice. Oregon has 2,662 youth and community program nonprofits, according to our analysis of IRS data.
FAQ
Oregon questions
What is the staff-to-child ratio for school-age children in Oregon?
In licensed child care centers, 1 staff member for every 15 school-age children, with groups of up to 30 (OAR 414-305-0400 (Table 3A)). Camps and license-exempt programs can follow different rules.
Do summer camps need a license in Oregon?
Operating an 'organizational camp' requires a yearly license from the Oregon Health Authority or a delegated county health department; licenses expire Dec. 31 (OAR 333-030-0020). State law defines organizational camps to include youth, scout, summer, day, nature, survival and athletic camps, including those run by religious, school or community groups (ORS 446.310), and the rules cover sanitation, water, food service and camp health care. Separately, a school-age day program may need to be recorded with DELC or, if it works as child care, certified.
Do after-school programs need a child care license in Oregon?
Exempt from certification (OAR 414-305-0120): programs run by a school district, charter school, city, county or other government agency; single-enrichment activities such as sports practice, lessons or tutoring where no child attends more than 8 hours a week; group athletic or social activities of an organized club; care given only during summer or holiday breaks for fewer than 70 days a year; and youth development activities for school-age children when school is out. Programs offering youth development activities to school-age children must register as 'recorded programs': all staff and volunteers 18 and older enroll in the Central Background Registry and the program posts a notice for parents.
Who has to report suspected child abuse in Oregon?
Oregon lists 'public or private officials' who must report immediately (ORS 419B.005, 419B.010), including school employees, registered or certified child care providers, operators of recorded programs, paid coaches and athletic trainers, and employees of organizations providing child-related services such as youth groups, scouts, and summer or day camps. Reports go to ODHS or law enforcement. Oregon's hotline: 1-855-503-7233 (855-503-SAFE).
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