Home-based providers are a heterogeneous group that cared for approximately 7.2 million children, from birth to age 5, in 2012. This brief uses data from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) to provide an overview of the different types of home-based providers as well as information about these providers' experiences, educational backgrounds, and professional development. The brief concludes with questions for further exploration by state leaders. (author abstract)