Connecticut Daycare Training Requirements

Several required pre-licensing training and clearance items must be on file before the OEC will issue your license. Medication administration becomes essential the first time a parent hands you a tube of prescription diaper cream and you legally cannot apply it.

Pre-Licensing Training (Required Before License Issuance)

Pediatric First Aid and CPR. Must be completed in-person through an approved provider: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or National Safety Council. Online-only courses do not satisfy the OEC requirement. Budget $50 to $100 for the course. Certification is typically valid for two years.

The training must cover infant, toddler, and child-age CPR techniques appropriate for the age groups you'll serve.

OEC Health and Safety Orientation. A free, self-paced online training available through the Connecticut Early Childhood Professional Registry. It covers child development basics, safe sleep practices, mandated reporting of child abuse, and infectious disease control protocols. Plan for several hours to complete it.

Register for a Professional Registry account at the OEC portal. You'll use this same account to track all future training.

Background and health clearances. While not "training" in the classroom sense, every household adult needs a completed Adult Medical Statement signed by a physician, PA, or APRN confirming general health and ability to participate in child care. Children under 18 in the household need current health records on file.

Medication Administration Training (Required to Administer Any Medication)

Under CGS § 20-14h through 20-14j, unlicensed personnel (which includes home daycare providers) must hold a Medication Administration Certificate before administering any medication to a child in care. This has two tiers:

Oral, topical, and inhalant medications. The training course must be led by a licensed physician, PA, APRN, or RN. The written approval is valid for three years. Nonprescription topical medications — standard diaper ointments, medicated powders, teething gels — are exempt from formal medical orders as long as you have written parent permission on file.

Injectable medications. A separate training program covers premeasured auto-injectors like EpiPens. The written approval is valid for only one year and must be re-validated annually.

Without this certification, you cannot administer anything beyond basic first aid. Most providers complete the training within their first year of operation rather than delaying licensure for it.

Ongoing Professional Development

After licensure, you must complete annual continuing education hours to maintain your license. The OEC tracks completed hours through the Professional Registry. Several options exist:

• Free courses through 2-1-1 Child Care covering topics like positive guidance, nutrition, and inclusion
• Workshops offered by All Our Kin (free, with one-on-one coaching support)
• College courses in Early Childhood Education that also count toward accreditation incentives

The CPR/First Aid certification requires in-person renewal every two years. The medication administration certificate renews on its own cycle (three years for oral/topical, one year for injectables).

The Connecticut Home Daycare License Process Guide includes a training certification tracker that logs each requirement, its expiration date, and renewal windows — so nothing lapses without warning.

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