Childcare providers in Georgia are facing new regulatory changes, with the most significant update requiring CPR & First Aid certification within 45 days of employment, a reduction from the previous 90-day window. These changes, proposed by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), aim to enhance child safety and align with federal requirements.

Key Changes to Certification Timelines

The most impactful change for childcare learning centers and family child care learning homes is the accelerated timeline for obtaining pediatric first aid and CPR certification. Previously, new hires had 90 days to secure these vital certifications. Now, that window has been shortened to 45 days. This shift, as stated by Jennifer Bridgeman, Process and Policy Initiatives Director with the Childcare Services Division at DECAL, is “to strengthen CPR requirements to better protect children in care.” – DECAL Child Care Services Proposed Rule Changes July 1, 2025.

It’s important to note that while your certification card may not explicitly say “pediatric,” if it indicates training for infants and children, you will be compliant. We offer comprehensive CPR and First Aid training that meets these new requirements, including pediatric protocols. Our CPR cards do explicitly say “pediatric” and indicate that training was given for adult, child, and infant.

New Classroom and On-Premise Requirements

Another crucial update mandates that at least one staff person with current pediatric first aid and CPR certification must be present in each classroom where children are present at all times. For family childcare learning homes, this applies to the home’s premises whenever any child is present. This rule also extends to any staff member supervising children on field trips or during transportation. This new requirement is now a core rule, meaning non-compliance will have significant consequences.

Annual Training Requirements and Language & Literacy Focus

Annual training requirements have also seen updates, particularly concerning the 10 hours of annual diverse training. While the 10-hour total remains, specific allocations have been introduced:

• Two hours in evidence-based, developmentally appropriate language and literacy training. This is a new mandate stemming from House Bill 538, the Georgia Early Literacy Act. DECAL is working to ensure ample approved training content is available through the Georgia Professional Development System (PDS) by July 1st. Look for courses with a specific book icon in the PDS system or language on the certificate indicating compliance.
• Two hours in ongoing child development, health, and safety-related topics. This continues to emphasize the importance of these critical areas.

The remaining six hours of annual training can be in other approved topics, with no more than two hours dedicated to business-related subjects. Additionally, DECAL now officially permits programs to use the Georgia PDS system to house training certificates electronically, moving beyond the previous paper-copy-only requirement.

Other Notable Changes

Several other adjustments aim to clarify regulations and improve compliance:

• Criminal Background Check Definition: The definition of a criminal background check has been broadened to comply with House Bill 175 and align with FBI requirements. This change primarily updates official language and should not affect your current background check processes.
• Operational Policies and Procedures: New requirements for program operational policies and procedures include providing information about suspension and expulsion policies. Language has also been added to program practices around the prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, including recognition, response, and reporting.
• Program Orientation for Volunteers and Other Staff: Program orientation, which covers policies, emergency preparedness, and age-group interaction, will now explicitly include volunteers, students in training, and independent contractors who meet the employee definition.
• SIDS Category Broadening: The SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) category in orientation has been broadened to include SUIDS (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome) for consistency.
• Child Development Training Enhancement: Language for training in child development has been enhanced to include major domains such as cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and approaches to learning, aligning with Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS).

Staying Training Compliant

These changes, effective July 1, 2025, reflect DECAL’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in Georgia’s childcare facilities. At the moment, the proposed rule changes aren’t yet on the site, but you will be able to find them on the DECAL website. You can find them now in their recent webinar, which you can watch below.

We are here to help your childcare facility navigate these new regulations. Our on-site training across Georgia and online blended courses are designed to ensure your staff are fully compliant with the latest Georgia DECAL requirements. We also offer administrative relief by helping track certification cards and navigate complex certification systems.

Do you have questions about how these changes affect your specific childcare operation or would like to book a class? Contact us and we would be glad to help.