Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR North Carolina

If you work in childcare in North Carolina — 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 framework10A NCAC 09 .1102 — all staff who provide direct care (or accompany children off premises) must complete first aid and CPR certification appropriate to the ages of children in care. At least one staff member who has completed CPR must be present at all times; CPR must be completed within six weeks of employment. Separate ITS-SIDS training applies to infant-room staff.
Governing authorityNorth Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE)
Renewal periodEvery 2 years
New hire deadlineWithin 42 days of hire
Min. certified staffAt least one CPR-trained staff member present at all times; all direct-care staff must be certified
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Every 2 yearsOnline courses accepted

What North Carolina requires

Under 10A NCAC 09 .1102, all North Carolina staff who provide direct care, or who accompany children off the premises, must complete first aid and CPR certification appropriate to the ages of the children in care. At least one staff member who has completed CPR must be present at all times, and CPR must be finished within six weeks of employment, on a two-year renewal cycle, under the Division of Child Development and Early Education. Staff in infant rooms must also complete separate ITS-SIDS training.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

North Carolina's 10A NCAC 09 .0803 requires written parental authorization for both prescription and over-the-counter medication (over-the-counter approval valid up to 30 days) and storage in the original container. The rule does not specify locked storage, staff training, or epinephrine, so best practice is to keep a child's prescribed autoinjector immediately reachable, backed by an individual allergy action plan and staff trained to recognize anaphylaxis and respond at once.

How our courses meet these requirements

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

Don't wait for renewal day

A child's emergency does not wait for the expert to arrive; it falls to the caregiver already there, in the first few seconds. A pediatric certification built on recognized national standards gives your team the confidence to start CPR, clear an airway, or give epinephrine without hesitation, and it reassures every family who walks through your door. It is the clear, license-ready path to meeting North Carolina's requirement.