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Introductory Training
Begin Within First 90 Days of Employment
Within first 90 days of employment, begin the 30 hours of mandated training by starting a course, taking a child care competency exam, or earning an educational exemption.
Complete One (1) Year from Date Training Began
Complete 30 hours of mandated training by passage of a competency exam or educational exemption.
- Family Child Care Home Rules and Regulations (6 hours)
- Health, Safety and Nutrition (8 hours)
- Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (4 hours)
- Child Growth and Development (6 hours)
- Behavioral Observation and Screening (6 hours)
Additional Required Training Timeframes
Note: By December 31, 2021, the facility shall maintain a specific number of child care personnel (as outlined in the Child Care Facility Handbook) with current CPR certification and first aid training that are on site at the facility at all times children are in care.
Prior to Caring for Children
Universal Precautions/Exposure Plan
All child care personnel are required to be educated on the program’s Exposure Plan regarding universal safety precautions prior to beginning work and annually thereafter.
Within First 30 Days of Employment
Fire Extinguisher Training
All child care personnel must complete training in the use and operation of a fire extinguisher.
Safe Sleep/Shaken Baby Syndrome Training
Operators offering care to infants must complete one of the following:
- DCF Health, Safety and Nutrition (8 hours)
OR - DCF Safe Sleep Practices for Child Care (1 hour) OR
- Early Learning Florida’s Safe Sleep Practices (1 hour)
Within 12 Months of Employment
Early Literacy
Complete 5 hours of literacy training through one of the following:
- Early Literacy for Children Birth to Three (5 hours) online course
- Emergent Literacy for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Instructors (5 hours) online course
- One of the Department's approved literacy training courses
- One college level early literacy course (for credit or non-credit) if taken within the last five years
Prior to Administration of Medication
Medication Administration
Prior to administering medication to children, child care personnel responsible for administering medication must complete training on proper medication administration procedures.
Note: By June 12, 2021, large family child care home employees must also have current First Aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. Large family child care home employees hired on or after March 14, 2021 must have current First Aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification within 90 days of hire date at the home.
Within Six (6) Months of Licensure
Must complete 10 hours of Part II training by passage of a competency exam or educational exemption. Part II training may be completed through one of the following options:
- Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practice (5 hours) AND one (1) of the following:
- Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practice (5 hours)
- Preschool Appropriate Practice (5 hours)
- School-Age Appropriate Practice (5 hours)
- OR
- Special Needs Appropriate Practice (10 hours)
- Note: Training is available online or instructor-led.
Annual In-Service Training
During Licensure Year
Employees of a large family child care home must complete a minimum of 10 hours or 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) of in-service training annually during the operator’s 12-month licensing period. Note: College courses concentrating on children ages birth through twelve will be accepted. Documentation of the in-service training must be recorded on the CF-FSP Form 5268A and maintained at the licensed family child care home.