Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Florida

If you work in childcare in Florida — 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.

Requirements at a glance

Regulatory frameworkFlorida Administrative Code 65C-22.004(2)(a)-(b): each child care facility must have at least one staff member with current first aid and infant/child CPR certificates; one such staff member must be present at all times children are in care, on field trips, and during all transportation. Certificates are valid per the program, not to exceed 3 years; CPR requires an on-site instructor-based skills assessment.
Governing authorityFlorida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Renewal periodEvery 3 years
Min. certified staffAt least one staff member with current first aid and infant/child CPR, present at all times children are in care, on field trips, and during all transportation.
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Every 3 yearsOnline courses accepted

What Florida requires

Florida Administrative Code 65C-22.004, enforced by the Department of Children and Families, requires each child care facility to have at least one staff member with current first aid and infant/child CPR certificates, and one such person must be present at all times children are in care, on field trips and during any transportation. Certificates stay valid for the term set by the program, not to exceed three years, and the CPR portion requires an on-site, instructor-led skills assessment — which a Department-approved blended course provides.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

Florida rules (65C-22.006) let a facility give prescription or non-prescription medication only with dated, signed parental authorization, and a child's known allergies must be documented and posted with the stored medication. Medicine must have child-resistant caps and be kept locked or otherwise inaccessible and out of children's reach. For a child at risk of anaphylaxis, an on-site auto-injector and a posted care plan let staff respond the instant symptoms appear.

How our courses meet these requirements

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

Don't wait for renewal day

When a child chokes or suddenly stops breathing, the outcome rests with the caregiver already there, in the minutes before help arrives. Certification keeps that response confident and current, reassures the families who trust your facility every day, and keeps you ready for a licensing inspection. A recognized course that blends online learning with the state's required in-person skills assessment meets the rule without a long day away from the children.