Illinois Child Care Hiring Requirements for Directors and Staff - post

Getting the right people matters for children, families, and your program. This guide explains hiring rules for #Illinois child care centers and homes in simple steps. It covers who can be a director or teacher, what checks and trainings you must do, and how to keep good records. 

Strong hiring systems help programs stay compliant, reduce stress, and build family trust. One easy tip is to keep a small binder or digital folder for each employee with their training records, background checks, and licenses.

What are the age and education rules for directors and teachers?

Directors must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED as a start. See the official rule in Section 407.130.

Directors hired on or after July 1, 2017 usually need an associate degree in child development or early childhood education, or a related equivalent pathway like college hours plus a director credential. See details in Section 407.130.

Teachers and school-age workers must usually be at least 19 and have a high school diploma or GED. Many teacher roles require college credits or approved credentials such as CDA or Gateways credentials. See Section 407.140 for teacher rules.

Montessori or Gateways credentials can count toward education requirements. For a helpful summary aimed at directors, read What Training Is Required to Be a Childcare Director in Illinois? on ChildCareEd.

What background checks and hiring steps must I follow?

All staff and many household members or volunteers who have access to children usually need child abuse/neglect checks and sex offender registry checks. The DCFS background system explains who must be screened in detail: DCFS Background Check Portal.

Fingerprint-based criminal checks are required in many cases. The rules and how to submit fingerprints are described by DCFS and in subsidy rules: Section 50.430 Provider Background Checks.

 Practical hiring steps:

📝 Have new hires sign required forms (CFS 689 or CFS 718-B where needed). See Background Checks for Unlicensed Providers for the 689 form process.

📅 Schedule fingerprinting early. Use the DCFS portal to track status: DCFS Background Check Portal.

👀 Do not let staff work alone with children until they are cleared. If you must have them start, supervise closely and document the supervision.

ChildCareEd explains common steps and tips to manage checks in Illinois Background Checks Explained.

What training and yearly hours do directors and staff need?

Annual in-service hours:

The rule calls for 15 clock hours of in-service training each licensing year for directors and staff in day care centers. See Illinois Child Care Training Hours for an easy explanation.

New staff must complete some life-safety trainings before working unsupervised (for example: Mandated Reporter, pediatric CPR/First Aid, safe sleep and shaken baby prevention). ChildCareEd breaks down the pre-service vs 90-day training plan: New to Illinois Childcare?.

DCFS offers training resources and an online Learning and Development Center: DCFS Learning and Development Center. Many centers use the ChildCareEd Illinois hub to find Gateways-approved courses.

Keep records:

📁 Put certificates in each personnel file and track them in a simple spreadsheet or calendar.

🔁 Review training before license renewal and keep Gateways registry entries updated. ChildCareEd offers trackers and course lists to help: DCFS Rule 407 Updates Explained.

How can I avoid common hiring mistakes and be inspection-ready?

Common mistakes to avoid:

⏳ Waiting too long to start background checks or training. Start at hire.

📂 Losing training certificates or not entering them in Gateways.

👥 Letting staff work unsupervised while checks are pending without close monitoring.

Inspection-ready checklist:

✅ Maintain a personnel file with: application, ID, diploma/GED proof, background check results, training certificates, and designation of alternate director. Refer to Section 407.130 for who may be designated.

✅ Keep a visible staffing and clearance sheet for daily use. It helps during licensing visits and emergencies.

✅ Use a training tracker and set reminders for renewals (background checks and yearly training). ChildCareEd provides sample trackers and tips in Illinois Child Care Training Hours.

Extra help:

📚 Use DCFS training and forms pages: DCFS Forms and DCFS LDC.

🧭 Read practical guides from ChildCareEd for step-by-step help: Lead the Way: How to Become a Childcare Director and DCFS Rule 407 Updates Explained.

Summary

Know who must be hired: check age and education rules in Section 407.130 and Section 407.140.

Start background checks and fingerprints right away using the DCFS portal.

Complete required pre-service trainings before staff work alone and track the 15 hours yearly. Read ChildCareEd guides for practical tips: Mandatory Training Topics.

Use clear files and simple trackers so you are always ready for licensing visits. For more tools and course options visit the ChildCareEd Illinois hub: Illinois hub.

You're doing important work. Take these steps one at a time, keep good records, and reach out to your local licensing office if you need help.