The State Licensing Guide

Compare all 51 jurisdictions

Every ratio below is researched from the state's own regulations, cited and dated on its page. Sort a column to rank states; pick a state to see its full rules.

Summaries of center-based licensing rules — not legal advice. Regulations change; always confirm with the state's licensing agency.

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					Annual training
Alabama	1:5	1:7	1:11	1:21	Child care workers/teachers: at least 12 clock hours of training each year; directors: 24 clock hours. CPR and first aid training does not count toward the annual hours. At least one staff person with current pediatric CPR and first aid certification must be present during all hours of operation.
Alaska	1:5	1:6	1:10	1:18	At least 24 hours of annual training relevant to child care and development for caregivers and administrators (12 hours for part-time caregivers working 15 hours/week or less), including at least one hour on health and safety topics; each caregiver must hold valid pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR certification.
Arizona	1:5	1:6	1:13	1:20	Each staff member providing child care must complete 18 or more actual hours of training every 12 months (R9-5-403); staff serving infants need at least 6 of those hours in infant growth and development, and directors need at least 6 hours in program administration; designated staff must maintain current infant/child first aid and CPR certification.
Arkansas	1:5	1:8	1:12	1:18	All staff working directly with children: at least 15 hours of registered training per year in continuing early childhood education (directors likewise 15 clock hours); new staff complete an 8-clock-hour orientation within 3 months; the director and 50% of on-site staff must hold current first aid and CPR certificates (including infant/child CPR where infants and toddlers are served).
California	1:4	1:6	1:12	1:14	Title 22 sets no annual in-service clock-hour requirement for teachers. Directors and teachers must complete 15 hours of preventive health and safety training (including pediatric CPR and first aid) under Health & Safety Code 1596.866 where required, and at least one staff member trained in pediatric CPR/first aid must be present whenever children are at the center.
Colorado	1:5	1:5	1:10	1:15	All staff working with children: at least 15 clock hours of ongoing professional development per year, including at least 3 hours in social-emotional development; a person certified in first aid and CPR for all ages must be with the children at all times; 1 hour of child development training within 90 days of hire.
Connecticut	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:15	Program staff must document ongoing training of at least 1% of total annual hours worked (about 20 hours for a full-time employee); health and safety orientation topics within 3 months of hire; at least one staff member with current CPR certification and one with current first aid certification must be present whenever the center is open.
Delaware	1:4	1:6	1:10	1:15	Staff working 25+ hours/week (including administrators): 18 clock hours of annual training, with at least 2 hours in health or safety (9 hours including 1 health/safety hour for staff under 25 hours/week); staff must be trained in first aid and CPR within 2 months of hire, and a first aid/CPR-certified person for the ages served must be present whenever children are present.
District of Columbia	1:4	1:4	1:8	1:15	Child development center staff caring for children must complete at least 21 hours of professional development annually (including required health and safety topics); center directors must complete 12 hours of OSSE-approved professional development annually; staff certified in CPR and first aid are required under §150.
Florida	1:4	1:6	1:15	1:25	All child care personnel must complete the 40-clock-hour introductory child care training, then 1 CEU (10 clock hours) of approved in-service training each fiscal year (July 1–June 30); pediatric CPR and first aid are among the approved in-service topics, and facilities must meet the Handbook's first aid/CPR staffing requirements.
Georgia	1:6	1:8	1:15	1:25	10 clock hours of approved training per calendar year after the first year of employment (must include at least 2 hours in language/literacy practices and 2 hours in child development or health and safety). Pediatric CPR (renewed every 2 years) and pediatric first aid (every 3 years) certification required within 45 days of hire; those hours do not count toward the 10.
Hawaii	1:4	1:6	1:12	1:20	Caregivers must complete at least 16 hours of department-approved training annually (substitutes 10, regular volunteers 8), after an initial DHS health-and-safety training within 45 days of hire that includes pediatric first aid and child CPR (HAR 17-892.2-35).
Idaho	1:6	1:8	1:12	1:24	4 hours of ongoing training in child development areas every 12 months after hire (Idaho Code 39-1119). Each staff member counted in the child:staff ratio must hold current pediatric rescue breathing and pediatric first aid certification.
Illinois	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:20	15 clock hours of in-service training per year for the director and each child care staff member (Sections 407.100(b) and 407.170(c)); first-year training must cover abuse/neglect reporting and licensing rules.
Indiana	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:15	12 clock hours of in-service training annually for directors and all persons counted in child/staff ratios (470 IAC 3-4.7-35); lead caregivers who lack the required education must complete 8 additional hours (20 total). First aid and CPR training are also required.
Iowa	1:4	1:7	1:10	1:15	First year: 10 contact hours from approved subject areas plus pre-service health/safety training, CPR, first aid, and mandatory reporter training. After the first year: staff need 6 contact hours of professional development annually; center directors and on-site supervisors need 8 (441-109.7).
Kansas	1:3	1:6	1:12	1:16	16 clock hours of professional development per licensure year for each staff member and volunteer counted in ratios (4 of the 16 in specified health/safety areas; infant caregivers need 4 infant-specific hours). Program directors also complete 16 hours including 6 in administration. Each unit must always have someone present with current pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR certification (K.A.R. 28-4-428a).
Kentucky	1:5	1:6	1:12	1:15	First year: 6 hours of orientation plus 9 hours of cabinet-approved early care and education training; every year thereafter: 15 hours of cabinet-approved training (July 1-June 30), including at least 1.5 hours on pediatric abusive head trauma. Centers must ensure staff receive first aid and CPR training (922 KAR 2:090 Section 11; 2:120 Section 7(8)).
Louisiana	1:5	1:7	1:13	1:23	12 clock hours of approved continuing education per anniversary year for staff who are left alone with children or have supervisory authority (3 hours for other staff), plus orientation within 7/30 days of hire; all staff accessible to children must hold current infant/child CPR, adult CPR, and pediatric first aid certification, obtained within 90 days of hire (LAC 28:CLXI Sections 1719-1723).
Maine	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:13	In facilities serving 13+ children: 30 hours of annual training for staff working more than 20 hours/week (18 hours if under 20 hours/week); small facilities require 12 hours. First aid/CPR certification hours count, annual training must include health and safety topics, and all staff register with Maine's Professional Development Network (Section 8).
Maryland	1:3	1:3	1:10	1:15	At least 12 clock hours of approved continued training per full year of employment for child care teachers and directors (at least 6 hours core-of-knowledge training, up to 6 hours elective), per COMAR 13A.16.06.
Massachusetts	1:3	1:4	1:10	1:13	Educators in large-group programs working 20+ hours/week must complete a minimum of 20 hours of professional development per year (scaled down to a minimum of 5 hours for those working under 10 hours/week); at least one-third must address the needs of diverse learners (606 CMR 7.09).
Michigan	1:4	1:4	1:10	1:18	16 clock hours of professional development per calendar year for program staff on topics relevant to job responsibilities (10 hours for small-capacity center staff; 5–10 hours for substitutes depending on schedule) — R 400.8216a.
Minnesota	1:4	1:7	1:10	1:15	Directors and staff working more than 20 hours/week: 24 hours of in-service training per calendar year; staff working 20 hours/week or less: 12 hours (Minn. Stat. 142B.65). Pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR must be repeated at least every other calendar year.
Mississippi	1:5	1:9	1:14	1:20	All child care staff, directors, director designees, and caregivers must complete 15 contact hours of approved staff development annually, accrued during the licensure year (15 Miss. Code R. 11-55-1.5.8).
Missouri	1:4	1:8	1:10	1:16	All caregivers must complete at least 12 clock hours of child-care-related training each calendar year (one college credit hour = 15 clock hours); current first aid/CPR certification is also required, and infant-care facilities need safe sleep training every three years (5 CSR 25-500.102).
Montana	1:4	1:8	1:10	1:14	No fixed statewide clock-hour total in the rule: directors, teachers, and assistant teachers must complete the annual training required to stay current on the Montana ECP Practitioner Registry (ARM 37.95.162). Teachers at school-age-only facilities need at least 8 hours of continuing education annually; a health-and-safety review course is required at least every 3 years, and CPR/first aid certification within 30 days of hire (ARM 37.95.163).
Nebraska	1:4	1:6	1:10	1:15	Each staff member providing direct care must obtain a minimum of 12 clock hours of training annually (6 clock hours if working 20 hours/week or less); staff responsible for food need 4 clock hours of nutrition/food-safety training annually; 2 hours of CPR and 1 hour of first aid may count in the year taken (391 NAC 3-006.10).
Nevada	1:4	1:6	1:12	1:18	24 hours of training during each 12-month licensing period for directors and caregivers (NRS 432A.1775; NAC 432A.326), including at least 12 hours specific to the age group served and 2 hours on children's wellness, health, and safety; CPR certification (including infants where applicable) within 120 days of hire.
New Hampshire	1:4	1:5	1:8	1:15	18 hours of professional development within the first 12 months of hire and annually thereafter for the center director, administrators, and all child care staff (12 hours for certain reduced-hour staff) (He-C 4002.33).
New Jersey	1:4	1:6	1:10	1:15	All staff must complete 12 clock hours of continuing staff development each year; the director, head teachers, group teachers and program supervisors must complete 20 hours per year instead. Annual re-training on the required orientation topics is also mandatory (N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.7 and 4.8).
New Mexico	1:6	1:6	1:12	1:15	Each staff person working directly with children more than 20 hours per week, including the director, must obtain at least 24 hours of training each year, covering all 7 competency areas within 2 years; staff working 20 hours or fewer complete half. First aid/CPR training must include a hands-on component.
New York	1:4	1:5	1:7	1:10	Each staff person and volunteer must complete a minimum of 30 hours of training every 2 years, of which 15 hours must be obtained during the person's first 6 months at the program, and at least 5 office-approved hours each year. At least one staff person certified in CPR and first aid must be on the premises during operating hours.
North Carolina	1:5	1:6	1:15	1:25	North Carolina sets no single annual clock-hour figure at the minimum license level — required in-service hours vary with each person's education, experience and prior training. All direct-care staff need CPR and First Aid certification, ITS-SIDS training for infant rooms (renewed every 3 years), a 16-hour orientation within the first 6 weeks, and health and safety training within the first year, plus an annually reviewed professional development plan.
North Dakota	1:4	1:5	1:7	1:20	Staff working 30+ hours/week must certify 13 hours of department-approved training annually (prorated to 11, 9 or 7 hours for part-time staff). Also required: a department-approved basic child care course within 90 days of hire, infant/pediatric CPR-AED and pediatric first aid certification within 90 days, 1 hour of safe sleep training before caring for infants, and annual mandated-reporter training.
Ohio	1:5	1:7	1:12	1:18	Each child care staff member must complete a minimum of 6 clock hours of professional development training each fiscal year (staff hired January-June start with the following fiscal year). All staff must be trained in first aid and CPR appropriate to the ages served, completed within the first 90 days of hire (OAC 5180:2-12-10).
Oklahoma	1:4	1:6	1:12	1:20	Annual professional development is tied to the Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder (OPDL): 12 clock hours per year at Level 1 and 20 clock hours at Level 2 and above; directors must maintain at least 20 clock hours every 12 months for the Oklahoma Director's Credential. The director and master teachers must obtain CPR and first aid certification within 3 months.
Oregon	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:15	Directors, teachers and aide IIs must complete at least 15 clock hours of Oregon Registry (ORO)-approved training annually, including at least 8 hours in child development/early childhood education and 1 hour in health, safety and nutrition; prorated at 1.25 hours per month during the first year (OAR 414-305-0380).
Pennsylvania	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:12	All staff persons must complete an annual minimum of 12 clock hours of child care training (§ 3270.31). Staff must also complete pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR professional development within 90 days of hire and keep the certifications current.
Rhode Island	1:4	1:6	1:9	1:13	All program leadership and classroom staff must complete 20 hours of training annually aligned with Rhode Island's Workforce Knowledge and Competencies relevant to their role; 10 of those hours must be approved through a Department-determined process.
South Carolina	1:5	1:6	1:17	1:23	Caregivers/teachers providing direct care must complete at least 15 clock hours of training annually, from at least three approved topic areas; CPR and first aid do not count toward the 15 hours. Directors must complete at least 20 clock hours annually (at least 5 in program administration and 5 in child growth and development/health and safety).
South Dakota	1:5	1:5	1:10	1:15	Each director and each provider counted in staff-child ratios must complete 10 hours of annual training in the federally required health and safety topic areas (ARSD 67:42:17); pediatric CPR renewal may not be counted toward the annual hours. Orientation covering 13 health/safety topics (including pediatric first aid and CPR) is required before unsupervised care.
Tennessee	1:4	1:7	1:13	1:20	Center educators must complete 12 total hours of professional development annually, including at least 6 hours in health/safety and 3 hours in pre-literacy; directors of single-site centers must complete at least 24 total hours annually. First aid and CPR training are also required (initially during the first licensure period).
Texas	1:4	1:9	1:18	1:22	Caregivers must complete 24 clock hours of annual training relevant to the ages served (§746.1309); directors must complete 30 clock hours annually (§746.1311). Annual hours are exclusive of CPR/first aid, and at least one caregiver or employee with current first aid (with rescue breathing and choking) and CPR certification must be present.
Utah	1:4	1:5	1:15	1:20	Caregivers and directors must each complete at least 20 hours of child care training each year (based on the facility's license date), or at least 1.5 hours per month. At least one staff member with current pediatric first aid and CPR certification (with hands-on testing) must be present whenever a child is in care.
Vermont	1:4	1:4	1:10	1:13	All staff must complete 15 clock hours of annual professional development per their Individual Professional Development Plan (rules 7.4.1–7.4.4); CPR and first aid training do not count toward the 15 hours (rule 7.4.7). Staff counted in ratios must obtain pediatric first aid and infant/child CPR training and keep it current.
Virginia	1:4	1:5	1:10	1:18	Staff must complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training appropriate to the ages of children in care (8VAC20-780-245); annual training must include the center's emergency preparedness plan, and CPR/first aid is among the required training topics.
Washington	1:4	1:7	1:10	1:15	Early learning providers must complete 10 hours of annual in-service training after 12 months of cumulative employment (WAC 110-300-0107). First aid/CPR certification and required health and safety trainings must be completed within three months of hire (WAC 110-300-0106).
West Virginia	1:4	1:4	1:12	1:16	All qualified staff must complete 15 hours of approved training within the first year of employment (directors: 6 of the 15 in management; caregivers: 6 related to the age group served) (§78-1-8.7). Staff must apply for and maintain a WV STARS Career Pathway credential, completing the approved training needed to keep it current; first aid and CPR are required within six months of employment and must be kept current.
Wisconsin	1:4	1:7	1:13	1:18	Each administrator, center director, and child care worker must participate in at least 15 hours of continuing education annually (DCF 251.05(4)(c)); staff working fewer than 8 months per year need 2 hours per month of employment. All employees in regular contact with children must obtain infant/child CPR certification and pediatric first aid training within 3 months of starting work.
Wyoming	1:4	1:5	1:12	1:18	Anyone providing direct care or counted in ratio more than 24 hours in any month must complete at least 12 training credits annually in early learning/child development (Chapter 11, Section 4(c)); 8 health and safety credits are required every 2 years, and all staff must maintain current pediatric and adult first aid and CPR certification with in-person skills demonstration.