North Carolina Childcare Licensing
North Carolina Childcare Training Hour Requirements (2026)
North Carolina childcare staff must complete both pre-service (orientation) training before working with children and ongoing annual training each year. After the first year of employment, North Carolina child care center staff and family child care home operators must complete annual on-going training that scales with education and experience: 5 clock hours (four-year or higher degree in a child-care-related field), 8 (two-year degree in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Administration Credential), 10 (certificate or diploma in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Credential), 15 (10 years documented experience as a teacher, director, or caregiver in a licensed arrangement), or 20 clock hours if none of these criteria apply; CPR and First Aid do not count toward this requirement (10A NCAC 09 .1103(a),(c) for centers; 10A NCAC 09 .1703(d) for family child care homes).
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamNorth Carolina Training Hour Requirements: The Specifics
Each North Carolina child care center must ensure every new employee expected to have contact with children receives 16 hours of on-site orientation within the first six weeks of employment, including 6 of those hours within the first two weeks (10A NCAC 09 .1101(a))
10A NCAC 09 .1101(a)
health and safety training must then be completed within one year of employment (10A NCAC 09 .1102(a)), and family child care home operators complete a pre-licensing visit and new staff orientation requirements referenced in 10A NCAC 09 .1703 (set out in Rules .1702(d) and .1729(c)).
10A NCAC 09 .1102(a)
After the first year of employment, North Carolina child care center staff and family child care home operators must complete annual on-going training that scales with education and experience: 5 clock hours (four-year or higher degree in a child-care-related field), 8 (two-year degree in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Administration Credential), 10 (certificate or diploma in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Credential), 15 (10 years documented experience as a teacher, director, or caregiver in a licensed arrangement), or 20 clock hours if none of these criteria apply
two-year degree in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Administration Credential
CPR and First Aid do not count toward this requirement (10A NCAC 09 .1103(a),(c) for centers
c
10A NCAC 09 .1703(d) for family child care homes).
d
North Carolina Training Hour Requirements at a Glance
| Pre-service training | Each North Carolina child care center must ensure every new employee expected to have contact with children receives 16 hours of on-site orientation within the first six weeks of employment, including 6 of those hours within the first two weeks (10A NCAC 09 .1101(a)); health and safety training must then be completed within one year of employment (10A NCAC 09 .1102(a)), and family child care home operators complete a pre-licensing visit and new staff orientation requirements referenced in 10A NCAC 09 .1703 (set out in Rules .1702(d) and .1729(c)). |
|---|---|
| Annual training | After the first year of employment, North Carolina child care center staff and family child care home operators must complete annual on-going training that scales with education and experience: 5 clock hours (four-year or higher degree in a child-care-related field), 8 (two-year degree in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Administration Credential), 10 (certificate or diploma in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Credential), 15 (10 years documented experience as a teacher, director, or caregiver in a licensed arrangement), or 20 clock hours if none of these criteria apply; CPR and First Aid do not count toward this requirement (10A NCAC 09 .1103(a),(c) for centers; 10A NCAC 09 .1703(d) for family child care homes). |
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North Carolina Training Hour Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How many pre-service training hours does North Carolina require?
Each North Carolina child care center must ensure every new employee expected to have contact with children receives 16 hours of on-site orientation within the first six weeks of employment, including 6 of those hours within the first two weeks (10A NCAC 09 .1101(a)); health and safety training must then be completed within one year of employment (10A NCAC 09 .1102(a)), and family child care home operators complete a pre-licensing visit and new staff orientation requirements referenced in 10A NCAC 09 .1703 (set out in Rules .1702(d) and .1729(c)).
How many annual training hours does North Carolina require?
After the first year of employment, North Carolina child care center staff and family child care home operators must complete annual on-going training that scales with education and experience: 5 clock hours (four-year or higher degree in a child-care-related field), 8 (two-year degree in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Administration Credential), 10 (certificate or diploma in a child-care-related field or a NC Early Childhood Credential), 15 (10 years documented experience as a teacher, director, or caregiver in a licensed arrangement), or 20 clock hours if none of these criteria apply; CPR and First Aid do not count toward this requirement (10A NCAC 09 .1103(a),(c) for centers; 10A NCAC 09 .1703(d) for family child care homes).
Does CPR/First Aid count toward North Carolina training hours?
States differ on whether CPR and First Aid certification counts toward required training hours. Confirm with the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education before relying on it for your annual total.
North Carolina childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published North Carolina administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.