Childcare CPR & first aid requirements
First Aid & CPR Arizona
If you work in childcare in Arizona — 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.
What Arizona requires
Arizona Administrative Code R9-5-403, enforced by the Department of Health Services' Bureau of Child Care Licensing, requires a staff member to hold first aid and CPR training specific to infants and children, and that person must be present both in the center and on field trips. The rule is unusually clear that the CPR demonstration may be completed virtually, making Arizona one of the most explicit states in accepting online and blended training. Certification is refreshed on the certifying program's cycle, generally every two years.
Anaphylaxis and medication administration
Arizona rules (R9-5-516) require written parental authorization for any prescription or nonprescription medication and storage in a locked, leak-proof cabinet out of children's reach. A child may carry and self-administer an epinephrine auto-injector with a prescription and parental approval. For a child with a known severe allergy, keeping the auto-injector accessible and a care plan on file lets staff act the instant anaphylaxis appears.
How our courses meet these requirements
A recognized, standards-based certification — online theory paired with a hands-on skills check — meets Arizona’s requirement and keeps your team ready to act.
Don't wait for renewal day
When a child chokes on a snack or goes still and silent, the caregiver nearby becomes the first responder, and confident hands in those seconds change everything. Certification protects the children, reassures their families, and keeps your program squarely within Arizona's requirement. Because the state accepts a virtual skills demonstration, a recognized course that blends online learning with a guided skills check meets the rule without pulling you away from the classroom for long.