Training requirements for family child care providers

This 4-page fact sheet, Training Requirements for Licensed Family Child Care Providers DHS-7672 (PDF), answers questions providers may have, including requirements for different roles, initial training requirements, ongoing training requirements, definition of "annual," training not required annually, and resources.

Sixteen hours annually must be completed. "Annual" or "annually" means the 12-month period beginning on the license effective date or the annual anniversary of the effective date and ending on the day prior to the annual anniversary of the license effective date.

Child Development and Learning or Behavior Guidance is required each licensing year. You can choose one or the other from the following to meet this requirement:

1. Knowledge and Competency Framework KCF I
2. Knowledge and Competency Framework KCF II.C

Active Supervision (also known as Supervising for Safety) is required by completing a two-hour course annually. Although it is KCF VII.B., not all courses in this KCF meet this requirement. Course titles that start with "Active Supervision" and the courses Health and Safety I or Health and Safety II count toward this requirement in the year the course was taken.

Health and Safety I (KCF VII.A and KCF VII.B) must be completed once every five years.

Health and Safety II (KCF VII.A and KCF VII.B) must be completed once every five years.

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) training and Abusive head trauma (AHT) training (KCF VII.B) is required for all license holders, staff persons, caregivers, and helpers who assist in the care of infants. 

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) videos

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families has approved the following series of videos to meet the SUID component when individuals are not receiving face-to-face, classroom, or online SUID training.

Please note: The videos below include portrayals of infant sleep environments in private, non-licensed homes that are not subject to the requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 142B.46. Licensed child care providers must comply with statutory safe sleep requirements for sleeping infants, including nothing in the crib except for an infant’s pacifier. In addition, attachments or modifications to the crib are prohibited.

• Safe Sleep (produced by Hennepin County, 4:17)
• Sleep On It - Preventing Unsafe Sleep Practices (produced by Dakota County, 6:28)
• Safe Sleep for Childcare Providers (produced by the city of St. Louis, 4:19)
• Safe Sleep for Your Baby (produced by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 9:56)
• Clear the Crib to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Death (produced by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 1:59)

Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) videos
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families has approved the following series of videos to meet the AHT component when license holders are not receiving face-to-face, classroom, or online AHT training.

• Never Shake: Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome (produced by the Missouri Children's Trust Fund, 7:48)
• Forever Shaken (produced by the Brain Injury Association of Nebraska, 33:17)
• Jippson & Sapp Family (produced by Never Shake Minnesota, 13:49)

Training verification
While no specific method of verification is required, you may print and sign the Family Child Care SUID/AHT 'Off-year' Video Training Verification DHS-3803 (PDF) to document that you watched each of the videos to fulfill your training requirement

Pediatric CPR (KCF VII.B) every two years that must include techniques for infants and children.

Pediatric first aid (KCF VII.B) every two years

Child Restraint Systems (C.A.R.S.) training (KCF VII.B) must be completed every five years if transporting children under the age of eight. If you are not transporting children, you do not need to complete this course.

Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes (KCF II.B) is required for substitutes or adult caregivers every three years. This four-hour course must be completed before caring for children.  

Intro text here

Second adult caregivers that work for a cumulative total of more than 500 hours annually are required to:

• Complete a background check   
• Complete a Physician’s Report Form   
• Training on the program’s drug and alcohol policy   
• Training on the program’s emergency preparedness plan
• Training on the allergy prevention and response plan for all children that it applies to
• Complete pediatric CPR and pediatric First Aid within the past two years
• Complete approved Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) & Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) training in person, face-to-face, in a classroom, or on-line once every two years. On the off year you must view all six of the videos approved by Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
• Complete four hours of training in Child Development and Learning & Behavior Guidance initially and two hours annually ongoing
• Complete the six hour in person (or 8 hour online) Supervising for Safety – Family Child Care training initially and two hours of Active Supervision annually ongoing
• Complete child passenger restraint (CARS) training every five years if placing a child under age 8 in a passenger restraint
• Complete a total of sixteen hours training annually.

Adult caregivers that works for a cumulative total of less than 500 hours annually are required to:

• Complete a background check   
• Complete a Physician’s Report Form   
• Training on the program’s drug and alcohol policy   
• Training on the program’s emergency preparedness plan
• Training on the allergy prevention and response plan for all children that it applies to
• Complete pediatric CPR and pediatric First Aid within the past two years   
• Complete approved Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) & Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) training in person, face-to-face, in a classroom, or on-line once every two years. On the off year you must view all six of the videos approved by Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
• Complete child passenger restraint (CARS) training every five years if placing a child under age 8 in a passenger restraint
• Complete the four-hour Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes course every three years

Substitute means an adult at least 18 years of age who assumes the responsibility of the license holder for a cumulative total of not more than 500 hours annually.

• Complete a background check
• Training on the program’s drug and alcohol policy   
• Training on the program’s emergency preparedness plan
• Training on the allergy prevention and response plan for all children that it applies to
• Complete pediatric CPR and pediatric First Aid within the past two years   
• Complete approved Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) & Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) training in person, face-to-face, in a classroom, or online once every two years. On the off year you must view all six of the videos approved by Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
• Complete child passenger restraint (CARS) training every five years if placing a child under age 8 in a passenger restraint
• Complete the four-hour Basics of Licensed Family Child Care for Substitutes course every three years. 

Helper means a person at least 13 years of age and less than 18 years of age who assists the provider with the care of children. A helper can never be left alone with children. Helpers are required to:

• Complete a background check
• Training on the program’s drug and alcohol policy
• Complete approved Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) & Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) training in person, face-to-face, in a classroom, or on-line once every two years. On the off year you must view all six of the videos approved by Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
• A helper who assists with care on a regular basis (at least monthly) must complete six hours of training within one year after the date of initial employment.