Indiana Child Care CPR and First Aid Requirements: A Guide for Educators and Providers

Working in early childhood education in Indiana is a rewarding career, whether you are a lead teacher at a licensed center, an assistant in an infant room, or the owner of an in-home daycare. Alongside creating safe learning environments, maintaining current emergency training is a strict legal mandate for every child care professional in the state.

At Rescue Mission CPR Indianapolis, we regularly help local educators, daycare directors, and nannies navigate state licensing inspections with confidence. Here is everything you need to know about Indiana’s child care CPR and First Aid requirements—and how to make sure your certification passes your next audit.

Who Sets Indiana’s Child Care CPR Rules?

In Indiana, child care health and safety standards are determined and enforced by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) through its Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning (OECOSL). These requirements are outlined in the Indiana Administrative Code (including 470 IAC 3-4.7 for licensed centers and 470 IAC 3-1.1 for licensed child care homes) and are tracked during licensing inspections through the state’s I-LEAD portal.

Core CPR and First Aid Requirements for Indiana Child Care Worker

To stay compliant with FSSA and OECOSL regulations, your certification must meet specific criteria:

• Age-Appropriate Coverage (Pediatric Focus): Your training cannot be limited to adult CPR. You must hold valid certification in Infant, Child, and Adult CPR, alongside AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use and Pediatric First Aid covering all age groups present in your facility.
• Mandatory Hands-On Skills Evaluation: This is the most common pitfall during licensing inspections. 100% online-only CPR courses do not meet Indiana state licensing requirements. To be valid for FSSA compliance, your course must include an in-person, hands-on skills evaluation (return demonstration) led by a certified instructor. Blended courses—where you complete the coursework online and attend a short in-person skills check—are accepted.
• Recognized Curriculum: Your certification must follow current national emergency cardiovascular care guidelines, such as those issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross.
• Continuous Staffing Coverage: Indiana law requires that at least one staff member with current, valid CPR and First Aid certification is physically present inside the licensed facility—and on any off-site field trips—at all times while children are in care. If you work in an infant or toddler room at a licensed center, all caregivers assigned to those rooms must maintain active pediatric CPR certification.
• Renewal Timelines: Standard AHA and Red Cross certifications remain valid for two years, though specific center policies or annual I-LEAD orientation checks require you to ensure your card never lapses.

Why Local, Hands-On Training Matters for Indianapolis Providers

When an emergency happens in a classroom or home daycare, muscle memory takes over. Practicing infant chest compressions, pediatric choking relief, and proper EpiPen or first aid responses on realistic manikins gives child care workers genuine confidence—not just a piece of paper for a compliance binder.

Get Certified at Rescue Mission CPR Indianapolis

Whether you are a new hire completing your initial FSSA orientation requirements or a seasoned daycare director renewing certifications for your entire staff, Rescue Mission CPR Indianapolis makes getting compliant simple and stress-free.

• FSSA & OECOSL Compliant: Our Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED classes include the mandatory hands-on skills evaluation required by Indiana licensing inspectors.
• Flexible Scheduling: Choose from convenient local classes in Indianapolis or blended learning options that let you finish the online portion at your own pace before coming in for a quick skills check.
• Group Training for Centers & Homes: Need to certify your whole team at once? We offer on-site group training at your Indianapolis-area center or home daycare so your staff can train together without disrupting classroom ratios.

Ready to renew your certification or schedule a class for your team?

Visit Rescue Mission CPR Indianapolis today to view upcoming Pediatric CPR and First Aid class dates or request a group training quote!