Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Rhode Island

If you work in childcare in Rhode Island — 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 framework218-RICR-70-00-1 (child care center licensure regulations) — every staff member must be trained under the most recent American Heart Association guidelines in pediatric CPR (online training is NOT accepted for CPR — in-person hands-on component required) and pediatric first aid (online training IS accepted). At least one staff member trained in the Heimlich maneuver for infants and toddlers must be on-site at all times.
Governing authorityRhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) / DCYF, Child Care Licensing
Renewal periodEvery 2 years
Min. certified staffEvery staff member trained in pediatric CPR/first aid; at least one Heimlich-trained on-site at all times
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Every 2 yearsOnline courses accepted

What Rhode Island requires

Rhode Island requires every staff member to be trained under the most recent national resuscitation guidelines in pediatric CPR and in pediatric first aid, under 218-RICR-70-00-1 for child care center licensure. Online training is not accepted for CPR, which must include an in-person, hands-on component, though online delivery is accepted for pediatric first aid. At least one staff member trained in the Heimlich maneuver for infants and toddlers must be on-site at all times, with renewal every two years, under the Department of Human Services / DCYF, Child Care Licensing.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

Under 218-RICR-70-00-1, prescription and over-the-counter medication requires written parental permission with a prescriber order and storage behind child safety locks, while infants' and toddlers' rescue medications may be kept unlocked but out of reach, and school-age children may self-carry epinephrine with documentation. This keeps a child's autoinjector reachable in an emergency, and it works best alongside an individual allergy action plan and staff trained to recognize anaphylaxis and act immediately.

How our courses meet these requirements

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

Don't wait for renewal day

Rhode Island insists on hands-on CPR skills because, in a real emergency, muscle memory is what saves a child in the first seconds. A pediatric certification built on recognized national standards, with the required in-person skills session for CPR paired with convenient online first aid learning, meets the state's rule and prepares your team to act with confidence. It keeps your center license-ready and gives families real peace of mind.