Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Alberta

If you work in childcare in Alberta — 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 frameworkEarly Learning and Child Care Regulation (Alta Reg 143/2008), Schedule 1, s.25 — at least one in every two primary staff members must hold first aid certification acceptable to the statutory director (s.25(1)(b)), and at least one staff member with such certification must be on duty at all times (s.25(3)).
Governing authorityGovernment of Alberta — Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade (Child Care Licensing)
Min. certified staffAt least one in every two primary staff members must be first aid certified, and at least one certified staff member must be on duty at all times.
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Online courses accepted

What Alberta requires

In Alberta, the Early Learning and Child Care Regulation requires at least one in every two primary staff members to hold first-aid certification acceptable to the statutory director, and at least one certified staff member to be on duty whenever children are present. Licensing falls under the provincial ministry responsible for child care, which reviews these qualifications as a condition of operating. The practical result is that a trained responder is always part of the team on the floor.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

The regulation permits medication only with the parent's written consent and in its original labelled container. Medication needed to prevent a medical emergency — an epinephrine auto-injector, for instance — is handled under a plan agreed with the parent that keeps it readily accessible to staff and to the child while out of other children's reach, whereas all other medication must be stored in a locked container. Staff are expected to know which children are at risk and exactly where the emergency medication is.

How our courses meet these requirements

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

Don't wait for renewal day

When a toddler chokes on a bite of food or goes limp without warning, the first responder is whoever is already in the room — and calm, practised hands change the outcome. A recognized, standards-based certification gives educators exactly that composure while meeting the province's staffing requirement. It is also the quiet reassurance parents are hoping for when they leave their child at the door each morning.