Required Training - Certified Child Care Training is essential in ensuring a safe, healthy and supportive environment for children. Completion of specific preservice and foundational training is required to meet State of Wisconsin regulations for certified family child care. Foundational Training Requirements Introduction to the Child Care Profession Fundamentals of Family Child Care Principles of Certification Pediatric First Aid Infant/Child CPR Child Abuse and Neglect Additional Training Requirements Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Reduction (SIDS) Abusive Head Trauma Prevention (AHT) Continuing Education Foundational Training Requirements by Course Introduction to the Child Care Profession Required For Foundational training, including the Introduction to the Child Care Profession, is required for all certified family child care operators, including in-home operators, caregiver employees and caregiver volunteers. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the foundational training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Note: The Principles of Child Care Certification course can be completed in place of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care but will not meet the requirements for Introduction to the Child Care Profession for individuals who wish to work in a licensed group or family child care center. Format Department-approved training agencies may offer a blended course that includes an E-Learning Course using the Professional Development Networking (PDN) with Face-to-Face in-person or virtual sessions. Training agencies may also offer Face-to-Face in-person or Web-Based courses, using a virtual platform for training sessions. Beginning July 1, 2026 learners will register for department-approved non-credit courses using PDN’s Professional Development System (PDS) Online. Frequency Caregivers must complete this course once, as part of their initial foundational training within three (3) months of Provisional Certification or for employees/volunteers, within 3 months of work commencing. Helpful Links Child Care Foundational Training Department-Approved Agencies Certified Family Child Care Training Requirements Summary Time Needed Completion is required within three (3) months of certification or within three (3) months of a caregiver volunteer or employee’s work commencing. The course takes approximately 45 total hours to complete. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the foundational training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. The Training Covers The training covers several topics including recognition of child abuse and neglect, SIDS reduction, AHT prevention, nutrition, routines & schedules, child development, positive guidance, quality child care environments, parent communication and other health and safety topics. Fundamentals of Family Child Care Required For Foundational training, including Fundamentals of Family Child Care, is required for all certified family child care operators, including in-home operators, caregiver employees and caregiver volunteers. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the foundational training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Note: The Principals of Child Care Certification course can be completed in place of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care, but will not meet the requirements for Introduction to the Child Care Profession for individuals who wish to work in a licensed group or family child care center. Format Department-approved training agencies may offer a blended course that includes an E-Learning Course using the Professional Development Networking (PDN) with Face-to-Face in-person or virtual sessions. Training agencies may also offer Face-to-Face in-person or Web-Based courses, using a virtual platform for training sessions. Beginning July 1, 2026 learners will register for department-approved non-credit courses using PDN’s Professional Development System (PDS) Online. Frequency Caregivers must complete this course once, as part of their initial foundational training within 3 months of certification or for employees/volunteers, within three (3) months of work commencing. Helpful Links Child Care Foundational Training Department-Approved Agencies Certified Family Child Care Training Requirements Summary Time Needed Completion is required within 3 months of Provisional Certification or within three (3) months of a caregiver volunteer or employee’s work commencing. The course takes approximately 30 total hours to complete. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the foundational training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. The Training Covers The training covers several topics including state licensing and certification requirements, policies for health, safety, nutrition, and development of children, establishing a family child care business, professionalism as a family child care business, program and financial record keeping, activity planning, etc. Principles of Certification Required For Foundational training is required for all certified family child care operators, including in-home operators, caregiver employees, and caregiver volunteers. The Principles of Certification Course may be an alternative way to meet the requirements for the Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care for certified providers only. This combines elements of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care and is for individuals who wish to become certified providers. This course will not meet licensing requirements. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the foundational training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Format Department-approved training agencies may offer a blended course that includes an E-Learning Course using the Professional Development Networking (PDN) with Face-to-Face in-person or virtual sessions. Training agencies may also offer Face-to-Face in-person or Web-Based courses, using a virtual platform for training sessions. Beginning July 1, 2026 learners will register for department-approved non-credit courses using PDN’s Professional Development System (PDS) Online. Frequency Caregivers must complete non-credit coursework, as part of their initial foundational training, within three (3) months of certification or for employees/volunteers, within three (3) months of work commencing. Helpful Links Child Care Foundational Training Department-Approved Agencies Certified Family Child Care Training Requirements Summary Time Needed The Principles of Certification Course combines elements of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession and Fundamentals of Family Child Care and is for individuals who wish to become certified providers, and will take approximately 45 hours to complete. This course will not meet licensing requirements. The Training Covers The training covers several topics including recognition of child abuse and neglect, SIDS reduction, AHT prevention, nutrition, routines and schedules, child development, positive guidance, parent communication, and other health and safety topics, as well as, establishing a family child care business, professionalism as a family child care business, program and financial record keeping, etc. Pediatric First Aid Required For Effective August 1, 2026, a training in pediatric first aid is required for all certified family child care operators, including in-home operators, caregiver employees and caregiver volunteers. An infant/child CPR course that also covers pediatric first aid is recommended, in order to meet both requirements for infant/child CPR and pediatric first aid. Format A training in pediatric first aid teaches caregivers the skills needed to identify and respond to common pediatric emergencies, illnesses and injuries. Examples of acceptable training include, but are not limited to: An infant/child CPR training that includes pediatric first aid. A stand alone in-person, virtual, online or web-based training/webinar in pediatric first aid. American Academy of Pediatrics Training for Teachers and Caregivers An independent study and review of pediatric first aid procedures. Training offered by local municipalities, fire/EMS departments, health clinics/hospitals. Applicants, operators, and providers must submit to the certification agency documentation of completion of a training in pediatric first aid. It is recommended applicants/operators/providers complete an infant/child CPR training (or renewal) that includes pediatric first aid. Frequency Caregivers must complete a training in pediatric first aid once, as part of their initial training. It is recommended providers refresh their pediatric first aid knowledge as part of the continuing education requirements. Helpful Links Certified Family Child Care Training requirements Summary American Academy of Pediatrics Online Course: Pediatric First Aid and Safety Training for Teachers and Caregivers Heart Saver Pediatric First Aid / CPR AED Training American Red Cross First Aid Nemours KidsHealth First Aid Sheets Children's Wisconsin First Aid & Safety Time Needed Caregivers must complete training in pediatric first aid, as part of their initial foundational training within three (3) months of Provisional Certification or for employees/volunteers, within three (3) months of work commencing. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the pediatric first aid training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Operators certified or employees working prior to August 1, 2026 must complete a training in pediatric first aid by November 1, 2026 or by the date they renew their infant/child CPR, whichever comes later. Caregivers must complete training in pediatric first aid, as part of their initial foundational training and, unlike infant/child CPR, there is no requirement to renew their training. Training in pediatric first aid may be completed again as continuing education. Training Covers A training in pediatric first aid teaches caregivers the skills needed to identify and respond to common pediatric emergencies, illnesses and injuries. Infant/Child CPR Required For Infant/Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is required for all certified family child care operators, including in-home operators, caregiver employees and caregiver volunteers. Infant/child CPR training must result in a certificate of completion. An infant/child CPR course that also covers pediatric first aid is recommended, in order to also meet the pediatric first aid training requirement described below. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the CPR training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Format Many infant/child CPR courses are offered in a blended learning format and classroom-based format. Before registering for a course, be sure it covers infant/child CPR and results in a certificate of completion. Frequency Infant/child CPR training must result in a certificate of completion. If the certificate of completion does not have a date specifying the length of time for which it is valid, the infant/child CPR training must be renewed every year. Helpful Links Certified Family Child Care Training requirements Summary A suggested list of Department of Health Services (DHS) approved CPR trainings is located on the DHS website. Online or in-person classroom CPR training is acceptable for certification as long as the training results in a certificate of completion. Instruction in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) is not required for certified operators. It may be helpful for an applicant for certification to understand, however, that although certification does not require an infant/child CPR training through a DHS-approved agency and AED, licensing does require a DHS-approved training that includes AED, in the event they plan to pursue family child care licensing. Time Needed Completion is required within three (3) months of Provisional Certification or within three (3) months of a caregiver volunteer or employee’s work commencing. Time required to complete an infant/child CPR course can vary widely, depending upon the training agency. It is recommended providers complete an infant/child CPR course that also includes pediatric first aid in order to meet the first aid training. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the infant/child CPR training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Training Covers An infant/child CPR course may also include Automated External Defibrillator (AED). (AED is not required for certification). It is recommended providers complete a course that also includes pediatric first aid. Infant/child CPR courses provide instruction to caregivers on how to respond in an emergency before professional help arrives. Infant/child CPR courses that include pediatric first aid teach caregivers the skills to respond to common illnesses and injuries as well as serious emergencies including choking relief and use of CPR and AED. Child Abuse and Neglect Required For Training in child abuse and neglect is required for all certified family child care operators, including in-home operators, caregiver employees and caregiver volunteers. Format Completion of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession or Principles of Child Care Certification meets the requirement for child abuse and neglect training. If an individual has completed a credit-based course called Health, Safety and Nutrition, as part of an Associate Degree from a technical school, they have also completed training in child abuse and neglect. Applicants/providers may complete the Free Mandated Reporter Online Training which results in a certificate of completion. Providers may also review Mandated Child Abuse and Neglect materials on the DCF website, but will be required to document their review and what they learned. Contact the certification agency for additional guidance and information. Frequency Caregivers must complete training in child abuse and neglect, as part of their initial foundational training within three (3) months of Provisional Certification or for employees/volunteers, within three (3) months of work commencing. Note: The requirements for child abuse and neglect training are different for licensed child care providers who must complete training every two years. For more information regarding licensing requirements please visit the child care licensing rules page. Helpful Links Certified Family Child Care Training requirements Summary Mandated Child Abuse and Neglect Reporters Materials Mandated Reporter Online Training Obligatoriedad de Denunciar el Abuso y la Negligencia de Menores Time Caregivers must complete training in child abuse and neglect, as part of their initial foundational training within three (3) months of Provisional Certification or for employees/volunteers, within three (3) months of work commencing. A substitute who replaces the certified operator on an infrequent, pre-arranged basis is not required to meet the child abuse and neglect training requirements until the substitute has worked for 240 hours. Time required to complete a training in child abuse and neglect varies depending on training method/agency. Training Covers A training in child abuse and neglect covers legal responsibilities of mandated reporters, types of child abuse and neglect and their definitions, how to recognize child abuse and neglect, how and where to make a report, what happens after making a report, and protections under the law. Additional Training Requirements Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Reduction (SIDS) Required For Training in the most current medically accepted methods for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and safe sleep is required prior to certification for each child care operator and prior beginning to work with children in care for each provider, including volunteers, substitutes, and emergency back−up providers, or any other person who provides care and supervision for children under one year of age. Format A training in SIDS reduction and safe sleep may be online, face-to-face, in- person or self-study with DCF recommended videos and resources. SIDS Reduction is included in the department-approved non-credit course, Introduction to the Child Care Profession Course if completed after September 2001 and the Principles of Certification Course. Certification workers may also review SIDS and safe sleep resources/training materials with applicants for certification. Documentation of training is required. Frequency Caregivers must complete this course once, as part of their initial training prior to caring for children under age 1. Additional SIDS Resources What Does a Safe Sleep Environment Look Like? / ¿Cómo es un ambiente de sueño seguro? Safe Sleep for Your Baby / Sueño seguro para su bebé Safe to Sleep Videos Safe Sleep Academy Videos Free Online Class Reducing the Risk of SIDS and SUID in Early Education and Child Care In-person SBS/SIDS classes - through Wisconsin Registry Sleep Baby Safe - Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin Helpful Links Certified Family Child Care Training requirements Summary Time Needed The time required to complete a training in SIDS reduction may vary depending on the specific training. A training in SIDS reduction must be completed prior to granting certification or before work commences if caring for children under age 1. The Training Covers Training in SIDS reduction and safe sleep should cover the behaviors that increase the risk of SIDS, safe sleep environments and resources to help reduce the risk of SIDS for infants in care. Abusive Head Trauma Prevention (AHT) Required For Anyone who cares for children less than 5 years of age in a certified child care program must be trained on Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) Prevention. This requirement pertains to the certified operator and any other providers, including substitutes, volunteers, helpers, employees, and emergency back-up providers. Format Only department-approved trainers may offer the department-approved SBS and AHT training. SBS training was incorporated into the department-approved training Introduction to the Child Care Profession, offered by department-approved agencies effective July 1, 2005. If an individual completed this training after July 1, 2005, they have met the SBS/AHT Prevention training requirement. AHT is also included in the Principles of Certification Course. Visit the Wisconsin Registry for a schedule of upcoming in-person, virtual, and online AHT Prevention Trainings. Note: Not all AHT trainings are free. To find DCF’s free web-based AHT Prevention training on the Wisconsin Registry website, enter “DCF's Abusive Head Trauma” in the Course Title search box. DCF’s free online Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) training for child care providers moved to the Wisconsin Registry’s online learning system on September 1, 2024. Effective July 1, 2026 the free DCF AHT Prevention training will move to the Professional Development Network (PDN). Beginning July 1, 2026 learners will register for department-approved online AHT course using PDN’s Professional Development System (PDS) Online. Helpful Links Professional Development Network (PDN) DCF Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Training for Child Care Providers Certified Family Child Care Training requirements Summary Time Needed The DCF-approved online course will take approximately 45 minutes to complete and must be completed prior to granting certification or prior to work commencing if caring for children under age 5. The Training Covers A department-approved AHT training must be completed and includes awareness of abusive head trauma, its adverse consequences and how it is preventable, understanding of the Period of PURPLE Crying, knowledge and skills to handle the challenges and frustration of increased infant crying, including soothing strategies, creating a crying plan in order to avoid becoming over stressed or overwhelmed by infant crying and how to support and educate parents, caregivers and other staff about abusive head trauma and coping with normative crying. Continuing Education Regular certified child care operators must complete five (5) hours of qualifying continuing education annually. Continuing education must be in a topic broadly or specifically related to health and safety or child development and may be non-credit or credit-based education. Types of training acceptable may include workshops, conferences, seminars, lectures, correspondence courses, home study courses and independent reading/viewing of educational materials. The time spent renewing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training may be counted towards the required continuing education hours. Continuing Education Resources for Certified Providers (DCF-P-5252) Continuing Education Record Form (DCF-F-2114) Certified Family Child Care Training requirements Summary Acceptable alternatives to completing the Introduction to the Child Care Profession and/or Fundamentals of Family Child Care Courses Option 1 - For-Credit Courses A university or technical college credit course (2 or more credits) in an area that applies to early childhood/child development may meet the requirements for the Introduction to the Child Care Profession; however, the Fundamentals of Family Child Care course, child abuse and neglect training, and CPR training are still required. Examples of courses that meet the Introduction to Child Care Profession requirement include, but are not limited to, Child Development, Child Psychology, etc. Option 2 - College Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) The coursework completed to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education meets the requirements of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession. If the degree also included a business/administration course, that course meets the requirements for the Fundamentals of Family Child Care. A transcript must be reviewed to determine if the applicant/provider has completed a business/administration course or if the non-credit course, Fundamentals of Family Child Care, training in child abuse and neglect and CPR training must also be completed to meet preservice training requirements. If the degree is an Associates from one of the WI Technical Colleges in Early Childhood Education, students have received training in CAN in the course Health, Safety and Nutrition. Option 3 - College Degree in Education (not ECE) A BA/BS degree in education meets the same requirements described in option 1. A two or more credit broad-based university or technical college course in early childhood/child development can be completed in place of the Introduction to the Child Care Profession (Module A). The individual also needs to complete Fundamentals of Family Child Care, child abuse and neglect, and CPR training in order to meet preservice training requirements. Option 4 - High School Child Development Curriculum/Coursework High school credit in child development (or child care) does not meet the preservice training requirements unless the individual has completed the Assistant Child Care Teacher Certification (ACCT) course through a high school. In these cases, the individual would have been issued a DPI completion certificate. The ACCT course is equivalent to the Introduction to the Child Care Profession. In addition to the ACCT course, completion of Fundamentals of Family Child Care and CPR training is also required. Acceptable Credit-Based Alternatives to the Introduction to the Child Care Profession Course A university or technical college credit course (2 or more credits) in an area that applies to early childhood/child development may meet the requirements for the Introduction to the Child Care Profession; however, the Fundamentals of Family Child Care Course and CPR training are still required. Examples of courses that meet the Introduction to Child Care Profession requirement include, but are not limited to, Child Development, Child Psychology, etc. See links below for more details regarding acceptable credit courses: Credit and Non-Credit Training Additional Computer-Based Trainings for Applicants and Certified Operators Child Care Vehicle Safety Alarm Training (15 minutes) Maximum Number of Children in Care Training Videos Policy and Resources (25 minutes) Practice Scenarios (20 minutes)
