Indiana Childcare Licensing
Indiana Childcare Training Hour Requirements (2026)
Indiana childcare staff must complete both pre-service (orientation) training before working with children and ongoing annual training each year. Child care CENTER directors and all persons counted in child/staff ratios must complete a minimum of twelve (12) clock hours of in-service training annually, and lead caregivers who do not meet the educational qualifications must complete an additional eight (8) hours of in-service training per year (470 IAC 3-4.7-35). For licensed child care HOMES, no numeric annual continuing-education clock-hour total is specified; requirements are task-based: at least one direct caregiver trained in pediatric CPR annually and a first aid course completed every three (3) years (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5).
Licensing Agency
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamIndiana Training Hour Requirements: The Specifics
Indiana sets no fixed pre-service clock-hour count
470 IAC 3-4.7-32
instead, prior to having direct contact with children or food, all child care center staff and volunteers must receive orientation covering the children's names/ages/specific needs, confidentiality of records, the discipline policy, meal patterns and food handling, emergency evacuation procedures, general health policies, and training in universal precautions (470 IAC 3-4.7-32)
470 IAC 3-4.7-32
child care home caregivers must complete fire prevention and safety procedures within one (1) week of starting and listed safety topics (inspection checklist, confidentiality, child abuse/neglect reporting, universal precautions) within thirty (30) days (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5).
470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5
Child care CENTER directors and all persons counted in child/staff ratios must complete a minimum of twelve (12) clock hours of in-service training annually, and lead caregivers who do not meet the educational qualifications must complete an additional eight (8) hours of in-service training per year (470 IAC 3-4.7-35).
470 IAC 3-4.7-35
For licensed child care HOMES, no numeric annual continuing-education clock-hour total is specified
470 IAC 3-4.7-35
requirements are task-based: at least one direct caregiver trained in pediatric CPR annually and a first aid course completed every three (3) years (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5).
470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5
Indiana Training Hour Requirements at a Glance
| Pre-service training | Indiana sets no fixed pre-service clock-hour count; instead, prior to having direct contact with children or food, all child care center staff and volunteers must receive orientation covering the children's names/ages/specific needs, confidentiality of records, the discipline policy, meal patterns and food handling, emergency evacuation procedures, general health policies, and training in universal precautions (470 IAC 3-4.7-32); child care home caregivers must complete fire prevention and safety procedures within one (1) week of starting and listed safety topics (inspection checklist, confidentiality, child abuse/neglect reporting, universal precautions) within thirty (30) days (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5). |
|---|---|
| Annual training | Child care CENTER directors and all persons counted in child/staff ratios must complete a minimum of twelve (12) clock hours of in-service training annually, and lead caregivers who do not meet the educational qualifications must complete an additional eight (8) hours of in-service training per year (470 IAC 3-4.7-35). For licensed child care HOMES, no numeric annual continuing-education clock-hour total is specified; requirements are task-based: at least one direct caregiver trained in pediatric CPR annually and a first aid course completed every three (3) years (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5). |
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Indiana Training Hour Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How many pre-service training hours does Indiana require?
Indiana sets no fixed pre-service clock-hour count; instead, prior to having direct contact with children or food, all child care center staff and volunteers must receive orientation covering the children's names/ages/specific needs, confidentiality of records, the discipline policy, meal patterns and food handling, emergency evacuation procedures, general health policies, and training in universal precautions (470 IAC 3-4.7-32); child care home caregivers must complete fire prevention and safety procedures within one (1) week of starting and listed safety topics (inspection checklist, confidentiality, child abuse/neglect reporting, universal precautions) within thirty (30) days (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5).
How many annual training hours does Indiana require?
Child care CENTER directors and all persons counted in child/staff ratios must complete a minimum of twelve (12) clock hours of in-service training annually, and lead caregivers who do not meet the educational qualifications must complete an additional eight (8) hours of in-service training per year (470 IAC 3-4.7-35). For licensed child care HOMES, no numeric annual continuing-education clock-hour total is specified; requirements are task-based: at least one direct caregiver trained in pediatric CPR annually and a first aid course completed every three (3) years (470 IAC 3-1.1-33.5).
Does CPR/First Aid count toward Indiana training hours?
States differ on whether CPR and First Aid certification counts toward required training hours. Confirm with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care before relying on it for your annual total.
Indiana childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Indiana administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL) - Bureau of Child Care before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.