Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Virginia

If you work in childcare in Virginia — 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 framework8VAC20-780 (Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers), sec. 8VAC20-780-530, administered by the Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety. At least two staff members with current CPR and first aid certification (appropriate to ages) must be present during hours of operation, on field trips, and wherever children are in care, with at least one certified per classroom/area. The CPR skills competency demonstration must be done in person; the didactic portion may be online (blended). Accepted providers: Red Cross, AHA, ASHI, National Safety Council.
Governing authorityVirginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Child Care Health and Safety
Min. certified staffAt least two staff certified in current CPR and first aid present during hours of operation and wherever children are in care, plus at least one certified in each classroom. Licensed RN/LPN staff are exempt from first aid. In family day homes: CPR certification within 90 days of employment.
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Online courses accepted

What Virginia requires

Virginia sets one of the higher bars in the country under 8VAC20-780-530, enforced by the Department of Education's Office of Child Care Health and Safety: at least two staff members with current CPR and first aid certification, appropriate to the ages served, must be present during operating hours, on field trips, and anywhere children are in care — with at least one certified person in each classroom or area. The CPR skills demonstration must be done in person, though the classroom portion may be completed online in a blended format. Accepted certification comes from recognized national first-aid and CPR providers.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

Under 8VAC20-780-510 and -550, Virginia requires written parental authorization — and a physician's order for over-the-counter or long-term medications — before staff administer anything. At least one nurse or a prescriber-authorized, trained staff member must be able to reach weight-based undesignated stock epinephrine, stored in a locked or otherwise inaccessible container, and parents must be notified immediately of any suspected allergic reaction. That framework keeps epinephrine both secure and reachable by the right person at the moment it counts.

How our courses meet these requirements

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

Don't wait for renewal day

Virginia's two-person rule reflects a simple truth: in a real emergency, one caregiver holds the child while another gets the epinephrine, calls for help, or begins CPR. Certification gives your team that coordinated readiness — and gives families the assurance that comes from knowing every classroom has trained hands. A recognized, standards-based course with an in-person CPR skills demonstration and online theory meets the state's requirement, keeps your center license-ready, and honors the trust parents place in you each day.