Childcare CPR & first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR Connecticut
If you work in childcare in Connecticut — 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 Connecticut requires
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies § 19a-79, administered by the Office of Early Childhood, require that whenever a center or group home is operating, at least one staff member hold current CPR certification and at least one have completed a department-approved first aid course of at least six hours within the past three years. The approved course includes a practical skills evaluation; a fully online CPR is permitted only at the employer's discretion, while a blended course with an in-person skills check reliably satisfies the rule.
Anaphylaxis and medication administration
Connecticut requires medication to be given by staff who hold Medication Administration Certification — training that specifically covers the emergency epinephrine auto-injector — and only with written authorization from both the parent and the prescriber. Medications are kept in locked storage. That certification means a trained caregiver can recognize anaphylaxis and deliver epinephrine in the moments that matter, rather than waiting.
How our courses meet these requirements
A recognized, standards-based certification — online theory paired with a hands-on skills check — meets Connecticut’s requirement and keeps your team ready to act.
Don't wait for renewal day
When a child stops breathing or chokes, the clock starts immediately, and the caregiver in the room is the one who answers it. Certification keeps that response practiced and calm, reassures the families who entrust their children to you, and keeps your center squarely within Connecticut's requirement. A recognized course that pairs online learning with an in-person skills evaluation meets the state's expectation while fitting a working week.