Tennessee Daycare Training Requirements

Tennessee structures daycare training in two phases: pre-licensure requirements that must be completed before you can receive a license, and ongoing annual training that keeps your license active. Both are free — the cost is your time.

Pre-Licensure Training

8-Hour Virtual Orientation (Intake Meeting)

This is Step 4 of the TDHS pre-licensure process. The session is conducted virtually by the Pre-Licensure Unit and covers state licensing rules, operational requirements, and what to expect during inspections. It runs monthly, so your wait depends on when you make initial contact — you might catch the next session in a week or have to wait four weeks.

Once attendance is verified, the pre-application screen in the eLicensing portal unlocks. You cannot submit your application without completing this step.

2-Day Virtual Small Business Academy

Step 5. Provided by the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Network. The academy covers business planning, financial management, and operational logistics for home-based child care. Also held monthly with limited seats — register as soon as your orientation is confirmed.

Both courses are free. Neither requires a college degree or prior ECE certification.

Ongoing Annual Training

After licensure, primary educators must complete 18 clock hours of approved training per year. Tennessee accepts training from several approved providers:

TrainTN — the state's training catalog run through the University of Tennessee's SWORPS program. Courses cover child development, health and safety, behavior management, and administrative compliance. Most are available online.

ProSolutions Training — an approved third-party online training platform that offers Tennessee-specific courses. Courses can be completed at your own pace.

CCR&R Quality Coaching — state-funded coaches through the CCR&R Network can help you structure your training plan and target specific competency areas tied to the Star Quality Program scorecard.

What Annual Hours Must Cover

At least 6 annual hours must cover health and safety, and at least 3 must cover early literacy. The remaining hours must come from approved training relevant to child care operations. Common approved topics include:

• Child development and age-appropriate practices
• Health, safety, and nutrition
• Safe sleep practices (especially for infant-serving providers)
• Medication administration
• Emergency preparedness and multi-hazard planning
• Child abuse recognition and mandatory reporting
• Business management and recordkeeping

Your Licensing Consultant may recommend specific topics based on findings from unannounced inspections. Documented training completion is part of your personnel file, which inspectors review.

Training for Additional Staff

If you operate a group child care home and employ additional educators, each educator must complete 12 hours of annual training. Substitutes who work more than 36 hours in a calendar year must complete at least 4 hours of annual training, in addition to the background-check standards described above.

How Training Connects to the Star Quality Program

After one year of licensed operation, TDHS evaluates your facility on a quality scorecard. Training completion and quality indicators contribute to your score:

• Score of 80 to 89: 15% bonus on CCAP subsidy reimbursement rates
• Score of 90 to 100: 20% bonus on CCAP reimbursement rates

State-funded CCR&R quality coaches can help you target the scorecard areas where additional training hours will have the most impact on your rating.

The Tennessee Home Daycare Licensing Guide includes a training planner that maps pre-licensure and annual requirements to a calendar so you stay on track without scrambling before renewal.

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