North Carolina Daycare CPR and First Aid Training Requirements

Getting a CPR card online takes 45 minutes. Getting one that DCDEE actually accepts for your family child care home license is a different story — the state is specific about course format, age appropriateness, and timing, and the wrong class means redoing it before you can open.

CPR and First Aid: What DCDEE Accepts

Your Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification must cover the ages of children in your care. If you accept infants through school-age, the course needs to include infant, child, and adult CPR modules.

The critical rule: purely online CPR courses are not accepted. DCDEE requires an in-person, blended, or hands-on component where you practice chest compressions and airway management on physical manikins. The American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and National Safety Council all offer qualifying formats — just verify the course includes a hands-on skills check, not just a video and a quiz.

Both certifications must be current before your first day with children. Renewal is on whatever cycle the certifying organization sets (typically every two years), but renewals cannot count toward your annual ongoing training hours.

ITS-SIDS Training for Infant Care

If your license authorizes care for children 12 months old or younger, you must complete the state-approved Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep and SIDS Risk Reduction (ITS-SIDS) training within 12 months before submitting your application. The training is offered through DCDEE-approved trainers and local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies.

The course covers back-to-sleep positioning, approved crib standards (firm mattress, tight-fitting sheet, nothing else in the crib), and the documentation requirements for any sleep position waivers. You must retake it every three years to keep your license current.

Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment

Within 90 days of your license issuance date, you must complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment course through the Positive Childhood Alliance NC (PCAN) online platform. Unlike CPR, this one is fully online and self-paced.

This is a mandatory reporter training — North Carolina law requires child care providers to report suspected abuse or neglect. The course teaches you what to look for and how to file a report with your county Department of Social Services.

Ongoing Annual Training Hours

After your first year (which requires 20 hours of health and safety training), your annual continuing education requirement depends on your education level:

• Four-year ECE degree or higher: 5 clock hours per year
• Two-year ECE degree or Admin Credential: 8 clock hours per year
• ECE certificate or NC Early Childhood Credential: 10 clock hours per year
• 10+ years of verified experience in a licensed facility: 15 clock hours per year
• High school diploma or GED only: 20 clock hours per year

All training hours must be logged in the DCDEE WORKS portal — the state's workforce education registry. Upload certificates directly through the portal; official college transcripts still need to be mailed as paper copies to the DCDEE early childhood education branch.

You are also required to maintain an annual Professional Development Plan that identifies your caregiving goals and the coursework you plan to take. Your DCDEE consultant may review this during annual compliance visits.

Putting It Together

The training sequence matters. Complete CPR/First Aid and ITS-SIDS before you apply — they are application prerequisites. Complete the child maltreatment course within 90 days after your license is issued. Then build your ongoing training hours into your operating calendar each year. The North Carolina Home Daycare Licensing Guide maps the full training timeline alongside every other step in the licensing process.

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