Preservice Training Requirements for Child Care Providers in North Dakota - post

If you run or hire staff at a child care program in #NorthDakota, you need to know which trainings must be done before staff work with children. This short guide explains the main preservice courses, who must take them, when they are due, and how to track them. We link to helpful resources from ChildCareEd and the state so you can plan training without stress. 

What preservice courses does North Dakota require?

1. New Provider Orientation: This must be finished by new owners or operators before license or self-declaration approval. New directors and supervisors must finish it within 30 days of hire. See the overview at Training Requirements for Child Care Providers in North Dakota.

2. Getting Started (15-hour basic child care course): All staff must finish this within the first 3 months of licensing or employment. This course counts toward annual #training hours and is described at What Do You Need to Work in Childcare in North Dakota?.

3. Safe Sleep / SIDS training: Anyone caring for infants must finish 1 hour before working with infants and then annually. North Dakota requires this training through state-approved sources; see details in the ChildCareEd training overview: ND Training Requirements.

4. Mandated Reporter training: Required for all staff. North Dakota commonly requires this through the state portal.

5. Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid: Staff who care for children must be certified within 90 days of hire and before unsupervised access. Online learning may be allowed but an in-person skills check is required. See guidance at Annual Training Hours in North Dakota.

Who must complete preservice training and when?

🔹 New owners/operators: complete New Provider Orientation before license approval. This orientation explains laws, processes, and expectations for licensed or self-declared providers.

🔸 New directors/supervisors: finish orientation within 30 days of hire and complete Getting Started within 3 months.

🔹  All staff who work with children. Must complete Getting Started (15 hours) within 3 months. 2. 🔸 Must complete SIDS/Safe Sleep before caring for infants and annually after.

Staff who provide hands-on care Must get pediatric CPR/AED and pediatric first aid certification within 90 days and demonstrate hands-on skills.

Note: Some state-required preservice trainings (for example Safe Sleep and Mandated Reporter) may need to be taken through the North Dakota state system rather than a private provider. For details and exact timing, check the ChildCareEd ND resources and the state guidance at What Do You Need to Work in Childcare in North Dakota?. 

How do I document and track preservice training for staff?

Create a simple training tracker for each staff person. Track these items at minimum:

🔹 Name of course

🔸 Date completed

Provider (for example ChildCareEd)

Certificate number or file copy

Submit Growing Futures registry IDs where required. ChildCareEd is an approved sponsor and uploads completions when you add your Growing Futures ID to your account. See ND Growing Futures and ChildCareEd for details.

Keep paper and digital copies. Licensing specialists review training records during visits. Keep a copy in each staff file and in a central licensing binder.

Use scheduled reminders. Plan trainings across the year to avoid end-of-year rush. For annual training hour rules by license type and staff hours, review Annual Training Hours in North Dakota.

Verify special rules: some trainings cannot be repeated for credit within 3 years, so track history to avoid duplication.

Why does preservice training matter and how do we avoid common mistakes?

Why it matters:

1. Training keeps children safe. Courses like SIDS prevention and CPR teach life-saving skills. This supports your program’s #safety culture.

2. Training builds staff confidence. When staff know the rules and practices, they make better choices and communicate well with families. That helps protect children and supports strong relationships with parents.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. 📌 Waiting until the last minute. Fix: schedule required preservice and early trainings as part of onboarding.

2. 📁 Losing certificates. Fix: scan and store digital copies in a staff folder and keep paper copies in the personnel file.

3. ⚠️ Taking the wrong provider. Fix: confirm the course is approved for North Dakota (ChildCareEd is an approved sponsor for many ongoing trainings; some preservice courses must be done through the state). See What Do You Need to Work in Childcare in North Dakota?.

4. 🔁 Repeating courses too soon. Fix: track a 3-year history to avoid duplicate credit where rules apply.

Summary

1. Key steps to stay compliant:

1. 🔹 Complete required preservice courses on time (orientation, Getting Started, SIDS, Mandated Reporter, CPR/First Aid). 2. 🔸 Document each completion and add Growing Futures IDs where needed. 3. 🔹 Use trusted providers like ChildCareEd for approved annual trainings and the state for mandatory preservice items.

2. Helpful links: Training Requirements for Child Care Providers in North Dakota, Annual Training Hours in North Dakota, and ND Growing Futures and ChildCareEd.

Keeping training organized protects children and helps your program run smoothly. You are doing important work — planning preservice training well makes the job easier for everyone. #preservice #training #providers #safety #NorthDakota