Training Requirements for Child Care Personnel

Purpose

To ensure all child care personnel meet required training standards to promote the health, safety, and development of children in care and maintain compliance with Florida childcare licensing regulations.

Scope

This SOP applies to all child care personnel, including directors, employees, and volunteers, who work directly with children in a licensed Florida child care facility.

Definitions

Child Care Personnel: Individuals who work directly with children in care.
Other Personnel: Staff who do not routinely work directly with children (e.g., cooks, bookkeepers, janitors).
Direct Care: Any time an individual is responsible for the supervision of children.

Note: Training requirements do not apply to “other personnel” unless they temporarily or permanently provide direct care to children.

Policy Overview

Child care personnel who are compliant with school-age training requirements are considered compliant with child care personnel training requirements.
The child care program is responsible for obtaining, tracking, and maintaining all training documentation for personnel.

1. Beginning Training Requirements

1.1 Applicability

All child care personnel and volunteers who work 10 hours or more per month must comply.

1.2 Timeline

Training must begin within 90 days of employment in the child care industry.
Training must be successfully completed within 12 months of the date training begins.
Total completion may not exceed 15 months from date of employment in any licensed Florida child care facility.

Training completed prior to employment in the child care industry does not count toward the “begin training” requirement.

1.3 Approved Methods

Training requirements may be met by:

Classroom attendance in a Department-approved course
Educational exemption from a Department-approved course
Beginning a Department-approved online training course
Passing a Department-approved competency examination

2. Mandated Introductory Training (40 Hours)

2.1 Requirement

Child care personnel must successfully complete 40 hours of introductory child care training, verified by competency examinations with a minimum weighted score of 70%.

Personnel who completed the 40-hour training prior to January 1, 2004 are exempt from the competency exam requirement.

2.2 Part I Courses – 30 Hours (All Required)

Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Growth and Development
Behavioral Observation and Screening

2.3 Part II Courses – 10 Hours (Choose One Option)

Special Needs Appropriate Practices (10 hours)
OR
Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practices (5 hours)
PLUS one of the following (5 hours):
- Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices
- Preschool Appropriate Practices
- School-Age Appropriate Practices

3. Early Literacy Training

3.1 Requirement

All child care personnel must complete a minimum of 5 clock hours (.5 CEUs) in early literacy and language development for children birth through five years.

3.2 Timeline

Must be completed within 12 months of employment in the child care industry.

3.3 Approved Options

Personnel must complete one of the following:

A Department-provided online literacy course
A Department-approved literacy course
One college-level early literacy course (credit or non-credit) completed within the last five years

3.4 Documentation

Proof may include:

Certificate of completion
Classroom transcript
Diploma

4. Safe Sleep & Shaken Baby Syndrome Training

4.1 Applicability

Required for all child care personnel working in facilities that care for infants.

4.2 Timeline

Must be completed within 30 days of hire at the facility.

4.3 Training Content

Includes:

Safe sleep practices
Prevention and recognition of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma
Coping strategies for crying or distressed infants
Brain development and vulnerabilities in infancy and early childhood

4.4 Approved Courses

Department’s Health, Safety, and Nutrition course
Department’s Safe Sleep course
Early Learning Florida’s Safe Sleep Practices

4.5 Documentation

Training must appear on the Department’s training transcript and be maintained in the personnel file.

5. First Aid & Pediatric CPR

5.1 General Requirement

At least one personnel with current pediatric CPR certification and
At least one personnel with current first aid certification
must be present at all times children are in care.
(The same person may fulfill both roles.)

5.2 Minimum Staffing Requirements

Number of Personnel Supervising Children	Minimum CPR-Certified	Minimum First Aid Trained
0–25	3	3
26–50	4	4
51–75	5	5
76–100	6	6
101+	7	7

A Director on-site with CPR and first aid certification may count toward the total.

5.3 Additional Requirements

Certified personnel must be present:
- At all times children are in care
- On all field trips
- During all transportation activities
CPR courses must include instructor-led, in-person skill assessments.
Certifications are valid per issuing organization guidelines, not to exceed three years.

6. Fire Extinguisher Training

All child care personnel must receive training in the use and operation of a fire extinguisher.
Must be completed within 30 days of hire at each facility of employment.
Documentation must be maintained on file.

7. Transportation Training

7.1 Applicability

Required for all personnel who transport or participate in transporting children.

7.2 Approved Courses

Department’s Transportation Safety course
Early Learning Florida’s Precautions in Transporting Children course

7.3 Documentation

Proof of completion must be maintained on the training transcript and in the personnel file.

8. Annual In-Service Training

8.1 Requirement

After completing the 40-hour introductory training, personnel must complete 10 clock hours or 1 CEU annually.

8.2 Training Period

July 1 through June 30 (state fiscal year)

8.3 Approved Topics

Training must focus on children birth through age 12 and may include:

Health and safety
Pediatric CPR
First aid (once every two years only)
Nutrition
Child development (typical and atypical)
Child transportation and safety
Behavior management
Working with families

College-level courses are acceptable.

Recordkeeping & Compliance

All training documentation must be:
- Maintained in each personnel file
- Available for licensing review
- Kept current and accurate