Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

If you work in childcare in Indiana — whether at a daycare, preschool, home-based care, or camp — first aid and CPR certification is not optional. It's a licensing requirement, and for good reason: children are among the most vulnerable to choking, allergic reactions, and injuries. Being prepared to respond can mean everything.

What Indiana requires

Indiana's licensing rules (470 IAC 3-4.7-33 and 3-4.7-34), enforced by the Family and Social Services Administration's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, require that a caregiver with current basic first aid and a caregiver with current CPR covering every age group served be on duty at all times. New staff have up to 180 days from hire to complete the training. Basic first aid is renewed every three years, and caregivers who work with infants and toddlers must keep their CPR certification current each year.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

A child's prescribed epinephrine auto-injector must be kept on site under the allergy emergency-plan rule (470 IAC 3-4.7-82.5) and stored where children cannot reach it. Prescription and over-the-counter medications may be given only with written parental permission and must be held in a locked cabinet (470 IAC 3-4.7-88), so staff should be ready to recognize anaphylaxis and use an auto-injector without delay.

How our courses meet these requirements

A recognized, standards-based certification — online theory paired with a hands-on skills check — meets Indiana’s requirement and keeps your team ready to act.

Don't wait for renewal day

When a child stops breathing or a severe allergic reaction takes hold, the first minutes decide the outcome, and a caregiver who has practised these skills acts instead of freezing. Families trust that the adults in the room can respond. A recognized, standards-based certification — including blended courses that pair online learning with an in-person skills check — keeps your program license-ready.