Idaho Daycare CPR and First Aid Requirements

Idaho requires every daycare provider and assistant to hold current pediatric CPR and first aid certification before a license can be issued. The requirement itself is straightforward. The part that wastes providers' time and money is the course format restriction: fully online CPR courses are not accepted by Idaho.

What Idaho Actually Requires

Under IDAPA 16.06.03, licensed daycare providers must maintain valid certifications in:

• Pediatric CPR (infant and child)
• Rescue breathing (infant and child)
• Pediatric first aid

All three are typically covered in a single combined course. The certification must remain current for the duration of your license — if it lapses, your license is at risk during renewal.

Why Online-Only Courses Don't Count

Idaho requires the skills assessment portion of CPR training to be conducted in person by a certified instructor. The reasoning is practical: CPR involves physical technique — chest compressions, rescue breaths, choking response — that can't be reliably evaluated through a screen.

This means:

• Fully online courses (no in-person component at all) are rejected by IdahoSTARS when you try to upload the certificate.
• Hybrid courses (online study + in-person skills check) are accepted. This is the format most providers choose because the online portion is self-paced and the in-person portion takes 2–3 hours.
• Fully in-person courses are accepted. These are typically full-day (6–8 hour) sessions.

A fully online-only certificate does not satisfy the in-person skills requirement. Plan to complete an accepted in-person or hybrid course instead.

Common Course Providers

Common training sources include:

• American Red Cross — offers both in-person and hybrid (online + in-person skills session) formats
• American Heart Association — offers HeartSaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED in both formats
• Regional Child Care Resource Centers (CCRCs) — sometimes host group training sessions specifically for daycare providers, often at reduced cost

Cost ranges from $50 to $110 per person depending on the provider and format. Hybrid courses tend to be at the lower end. Group rates through a CCRC can reduce costs further if you coordinate with other providers in your area.

Uploading Certification to RISE

Once you complete the course, upload the digital certificate to the "My Documents" section of the RISE portal. Follow RISE's prompts for the correct profile.

The certificate should clearly show:

• Your full legal name
• The course title (must include "pediatric" or "infant/child" CPR)
• The certifying organization
• The issue date and expiration date
• The instructor's name or credential number

IdahoSTARS reviews uploaded certificates during your application processing. If the certificate is ambiguous about format (doesn't clearly indicate an in-person skills component), expect a follow-up request for clarification.

Renewal Timeline

Check your certificate's expiration date and re-certify before it lapses. Your daycare license requires current CPR/first aid certification, so keep the updated certificate in RISE.

ICCP Providers Need More

If you plan to enroll as an ICCP (Idaho Child Care Program) provider to accept state subsidy payments, your training requirements expand beyond CPR. ICCP providers must complete a 12-hour series of health and safety courses within 90 days of enrollment. These courses are free through IdahoSTARS and cover topics like safe sleep, medication administration, and infectious disease prevention.

The CPR/first aid certification is still required on top of the 12-hour series — it doesn't substitute for it.

The Idaho Home Daycare License guide includes a training timeline that sequences CPR certification alongside background checks and inspections so nothing expires while you're waiting on another step.

See more Idaho guides →