Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Colorado

If you work in childcare in Colorado — 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 frameworkCode of Colorado Regulations 12 CCR 2509-8, Rule 7.702.42: for every 30 or fewer children in attendance, at least one staff member on duty must hold a Department-approved First Aid and Safety Certificate (including CPR for all ages). Within 30 days of employment, employees not yet certified complete the Introduction to First Aid and CPR module, renewed every 2 years.
Governing authorityColorado Department of Early Childhood, Division of Early Care and Learning
Renewal periodEvery 2 years
New hire deadlineWithin 30 days of hire
Min. certified staffAt least one staff member on duty holding a First Aid and Safety Certificate (including CPR for all ages) for every 30 or fewer children, present at all times, including outdoor play and field trips.
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Every 2 yearsOnline courses accepted

What Colorado requires

Under the Code of Colorado Regulations (Rule 7.702.42), overseen by the Department of Early Childhood's Division of Early Care and Learning, at least one staff member on duty must hold a Department-approved First Aid and Safety Certificate — which includes CPR for all ages — for every thirty or fewer children, and that coverage extends to outdoor play and field trips. Employees who are not yet certified complete the Introduction to First Aid and CPR module within thirty days of hire, and certification is renewed every two years. The course must come from an approved provider and include a hands-on skills evaluation, which a blended course satisfies.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

Colorado requires staff who administer medication to complete Department-approved Medication Administration Training delegated by a child care health consultant, and emergency epinephrine is given according to the child's individual health care plan. Written parental consent is required, and the auto-injector may be stored accessible rather than locked — kept out of children's reach but ready to grab — so nothing stands between a caregiver and a severe reaction. Each child's plan spells out exactly when and how to act.

How our courses meet these requirements

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

Don't wait for renewal day

In a choking or non-breathing emergency, the outcome is often decided before an ambulance is even close, by whoever is trained and standing there. Earning certification keeps those seconds in capable hands, deepens the trust of the families you serve, and keeps your program ready for any licensing visit. Because Colorado accepts training from an approved provider that includes a hands-on skills check, a blended course of online study plus an in-person evaluation meets the requirement on a caregiver's schedule.