Connecticut Childcare Licensing

Connecticut Childcare Training Hour Requirements (2026)

Connecticut childcare staff must complete both pre-service (orientation) training before working with children and ongoing annual training each year. For child care centers and group child care homes, each program staff member must complete ongoing annual training that is at least one percent (1%) of the staff member's total annual hours worked (content per 45 CFR 98.41 on and after April 1, 2025), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(h)(2); Connecticut does not require licensed family child care home providers to complete a set number of annual continuing-education hours (only continuous first aid/CPR certification), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6.

Last updated: April 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Connecticut Training Hour Requirements: The Specifics

Connecticut does not prescribe a pre-service clock-hour figure

per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6(c) and Conn. Gen. Stat. 1

instead, before final approval of a family child care home license the applicant must verify current certification in first aid and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6(c) and Conn. Gen.

c

Stat. 19a-79, and child care centers/group child care homes must require new program staff to participate in employee orientation, per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(a)(6)

6

no minimum pre-service hour count is set.

per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6(c) and Conn. Gen. Stat. 1

For child care centers and group child care homes, each program staff member must complete ongoing annual training that is at least one percent (1%) of the staff member's total annual hours worked (content per 45 CFR 98.41 on and after April 1, 2025), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(h)(2)

content per 45 CFR 98.41 on and after April 1, 2025

Connecticut does not require licensed family child care home providers to complete a set number of annual continuing-education hours (only continuous first aid/CPR certification), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6.

only continuous first aid/CPR certification

Connecticut Training Hour Requirements at a Glance

Pre-service trainingConnecticut does not prescribe a pre-service clock-hour figure; instead, before final approval of a family child care home license the applicant must verify current certification in first aid and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6(c) and Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-79, and child care centers/group child care homes must require new program staff to participate in employee orientation, per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(a)(6); no minimum pre-service hour count is set.
Annual trainingFor child care centers and group child care homes, each program staff member must complete ongoing annual training that is at least one percent (1%) of the staff member's total annual hours worked (content per 45 CFR 98.41 on and after April 1, 2025), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(h)(2); Connecticut does not require licensed family child care home providers to complete a set number of annual continuing-education hours (only continuous first aid/CPR certification), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6.

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Connecticut Training Hour Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions

How many pre-service training hours does Connecticut require?

Connecticut does not prescribe a pre-service clock-hour figure; instead, before final approval of a family child care home license the applicant must verify current certification in first aid and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6(c) and Conn. Gen. Stat. 19a-79, and child care centers/group child care homes must require new program staff to participate in employee orientation, per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(a)(6); no minimum pre-service hour count is set.

How many annual training hours does Connecticut require?

For child care centers and group child care homes, each program staff member must complete ongoing annual training that is at least one percent (1%) of the staff member's total annual hours worked (content per 45 CFR 98.41 on and after April 1, 2025), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-79-4a(h)(2); Connecticut does not require licensed family child care home providers to complete a set number of annual continuing-education hours (only continuous first aid/CPR certification), per Conn. Agencies Regs. 19a-87b-6.

Does CPR/First Aid count toward Connecticut training hours?

States differ on whether CPR and First Aid certification counts toward required training hours. Confirm with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Division of Licensing before relying on it for your annual total.

Connecticut childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Connecticut administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Division of Licensing before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.