Alabama

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

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.

Lead teacher

A child care worker/teacher with primary responsibility for a group must be at least 19 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED, and complete at least 12 clock hours of child care training within 30 days of employment.

Director

Directors must be at least 19, have 20 clock hours of training in administration/management plus 4 in quality child care, and meet one pathway: 120 clock hours of child care training + high school diploma/GED + 12 months experience; or CDA/CCP credential + diploma + 12 months; or an associate degree in child development/ECE + 9 months; or a bachelor's degree in those fields + 6 months.

Worth knowing

Alabama sets no fixed numeric group-size caps for centers; group size is governed by room capacity, staffing and equipment. Additional ratio rows: 24-36 months grouped separately 1:8; 4 years up to school age 1:18; 8 years and older 1:22. Mixed-age groups follow the youngest child's ratio when >20% of the group is in the youngest category.