Ohio

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

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).

Lead teacher

Child care staff members must be at least 16 and have completed high school — or be at least a high school junior enrolled in or having completed an early childhood career-technical program, a CDA training program or credential, or an ECE-focused college credit program. Staff under 18 work under supervision limitations.

Director

An administrator needs a high school education plus one of 12 options (A-L in Appendix A to rule 5180:2-12-07): e.g., at least an associate degree in child development/ECE, a current Ohio administrator credential, Career Pathways Level 3, or a CDA or 4 ECE college courses combined with 2 years of experience in early care and education.

Worth knowing

Young infants may alternatively be staffed 2:12 in the same room. Rules were renumbered from 5101:2-12 (ODJFS) to 5180:2-12 under the Department of Children and Youth; administrator and staff rules are effective July 1, 2026, while the ratio appendix in force is dated October 29, 2021 (still captioned 5101:2-12-18).