NYS OCFS Training Requirements

Staying up to date with your training and education is an important part of being a licensed or registered child care provider. Check below to see which regulations you are required to follow for your specific program:

New York State OCFS Requirements:

Child Care Centers:

  • 15 hours within the first 6 months of employment
  • 30 hours every 2 years in the 9 required training topics areas
  • Medication Administration Training (MAT) is optional except for programs that choose to administer medications or as otherwise required
  • Each program must have at least 1 person on site who is certified in CPR/First Aid during all hours of operation

Family or Group Family Day Care Home Provider:

  • 15 hours within the first 6 months of employment
  • 30 hours every 2 years in the 9 required training topic areas
  • 15 hours pre-licensing
  • Medication Administration Training (MAT) is optional except for programs that choose to administer medications or as otherwise required
  • Each program must have at least 1 person on site who is certified in CPR/First Aid during all hours of operation

School-Age Child Care (Director/Staff/Volunteers):

  • 15 hours within the first 6 months of employment
  • 30 hours every 2 years in the 8 required training topics areas (Shaken Baby is not required. It can be taken but will not count as credit towards the 8 required topics).
  • Medication Administration Training (MAT) is optional except for programs that choose to administer medications or as otherwise required
  • Each program must have at least 1 person on site who is certified in CPR/First Aid during all hours of operation

Family or Group Family Day Care Home Assistant(s):

  • 15 hours within the first 6 months of employment
  • 30 hours every 2 years in the 9 required training topics areas
  • Medication Administration Training (MAT) is optional except for programs that choose to administer medications or as otherwise required
  • Each program must have at least 1 person on site who is certified in CPR/First Aid during all hours of operation

Family or Group Family Day Care Home Substitute(s):

  • 5-Hour Health & Safety Course (new as of 2017)
  • Each program must have at least 1 person on site who is certified in CPR/First Aid during all hours of operation

Family or Group Family Day Care Home Volunteer(s):

  • 5-Hour Health & Safety Course (new as of 2017)

Verifying Training Requirements

As you complete training and courses, be sure to keep track of everything, including dates you attended and completed, certifications, grade reports, and transcripts. To stay in compliance, proof must be available for review during your inspection. OCFS has developed two forms to help you track your program and individual hours. While not required to be filled out, they can be helpful in keeping track of your training hours.

Individual Training Tracking Form (OCFS-4880)

Day Care Training Tracking Chart (LDSS-4879)

 

 

What are the 10 required training topic areas?

1. Principles of childhood development, focusing on the developmental stages of the age groups for which the program provides care

Principles of childhood development include such things as meeting the physical, social and developmental needs of children, including those with special needs; behavior management and discipline; promoting play and physical activity; individual development variation and learning styles; infant and toddler brain development and cross-cultural skills and knowledge.

2. Nutrition and health needs of infants and children

Nutrition and health needs of infants and children include such things as healthy menu planning, obesity prevention, benefits of and how to encourage breastfeeding for mothers returning to work, training in infectious diseases, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid, health and safety practices, preventive techniques in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), medication administration training.

3. Child day care program development

Child day care program development topics include such things as the benefits of continuity of care practices, staff supervision and coaching, program variety and activity; infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age quality programming, promoting children’s language development and social and emotional skills, and establishing nurturing, stimulating environments; rest time policies and procedures, including meeting the needs of children who do not nap; hand washing; meeting the program needs of mixed age groups in family day care and group family day care homes.

4. Safety and security procedures

Safety and security procedures include such things as communication between parents and caregivers, emergency preparedness and response practices and procedures, fire safety, pool and water sports safety, playground safety, supervising daily activities and family engagement techniques.

5. Business record maintenance and management

Business record maintenance and management includes such things as training in New York State and federal requirements as a business owner and employer, child day care record keeping and documentation requirements, time maintenance, organizational skills, scheduling and coverage, staff supervision and coaching.

6. Child abuse maltreatment identification and prevention

Child abuse and maltreatment identification and prevention includes such things as reporting protocol; how to make a report to the state central register; documenting incidents and daily health checks; child abuse policy/procedure including safety plan.

7. Statutes and regulations pertaining to child day care

8. Statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment

Statutes and regulations pertaining to child abuse and maltreatment includes such things as Mandated Reporter training; responsibilities of a mandated reporter.

9. Education and information on the identification, diagnosis and prevention of shaken baby syndrome

This topic is not required for school-age program staff; however, credit will be given if taken.

10. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

As of January 2021 NYS OCFS has released a new training topic Adverse Childhood Experiences. We are expecting more information on this new topic from OCFS soon. We will update as soon as it becomes available.

For more information on training, education, and required topic areas, please contact our education department at 716-877-6666 ext. 3061 or visit the NYS OCFS website.