Licensed and self-declared child care providers and staff are required to complete preservice and ongoing training. Each licensing year, your licensing specialist will review your training records to ensure you have completed the required training.
Preservice Training Requirements
New Provider Orientation
The online new provider orientation course provides an overview of the laws, processes, and expectations of being a licensed or self-declared provider. New owners/operators must successfully complete the course prior to license or self-declared approval. New directors and supervisors must successfully complete the course within 30 days of employment.
Getting Started - ND's Basic Child Care Course
All North Dakota child care providers and staff are required to complete Getting Started, a 15-hour basic child care course, within the first three months of becoming licensed or employed. This free training may be retaken every three years as credit towards your annual training requirements.
Mandated Reporter of Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
Mandated reporter training is required to be completed annually by all providers and staff. This free training counts towards your annual training requirements.
North Dakota Safe Sleep
All staff members caring for infants must complete of one hour of department-approved safe sleep training prior to staff member providing care to infants and annually thereafter. This free training counts towards your annual training requirements.
Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid
All staff members responsible for caring for or teaching children must be certified within 90 of employment and prior to staff member having unsupervised access to children under care, in:
- Infant and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or other similar CPR/AED training programs that are approved by HHS; and
- Pediatric first aid by a program approved by HHS
Online pediatric CPR/AED training courses are approved, however, trainees must also have completed a hands on in-person skills test with a certified instructor.
This training does not count towards your annual training requirements.
Ongoing Training Requirements
Child care providers and staff must complete a minimum number of approved training hours each licensing year. The number of training hours needed depends on your provider type and number of hours worked. Staff should check with their supervisors to determine their provider type and licensing year.
Training may not be duplicated within a three-year period, with the exception of safe sleep and mandated reporter annual training.
Completed training hours can be found within your Growing Futures account in either your HHS Licensing Training Record or your Learning Record Report.
Self-Declaration Provider
Annual Training: Three hours, including:
- One hour on safe sleep prior to caring for infants
- One hour on mandated reporter of suspected child abuse or neglect
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
Training does not count towards your annual training requirements
Family License
Annual Training: Nine hours, including:
- One hour on safe sleep prior to caring for infants
- One hour on mandated reporter of suspected child abuse or neglect
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
Training does not count towards your annual training requirements
Group License
Supervisor/Director |
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Annual Training: 10 hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Staff |
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Work 30 to 40 hours/week Annual Training: Eight hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Work 20 to 30 hours/week Annual Training: Six hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Work 10 to 20 hours/week Annual Training: Four hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Work Less than 10 hours/week Annual Training: Two hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Center, Preschool, or School-Age License
Supervisor/Director |
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Annual Training: 13 hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Staff |
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Work 30 to 40 hours/week Annual Training: 13 hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Work 20 to 30 hours/week Annual Training: 11 hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Work 10 to 20 hours/week Annual Training: Nine hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Work Less than 10 hours/week Annual Training: Seven hours, including:
Current Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid Certification
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Questions? Contact Us
Early Childhood
North Dakota Health and Human Services
600 E. Boulevard Ave., Dept. 325
Bismarck, ND 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-2115
Toll-Free: (800) 997-8516
Relay ND TTY: 711
Email: dhsec@nd.gov