.png)
Nevada Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Guide for Providers
If you're starting a career in childcare, opening a daycare, or running a home-based child care business in Northern Nevada, understanding the state's licensing requirements is one of the first steps. Below is an overview of what's involved, including the CPR and First Aid training that's required of nearly every caregiver in the state.​
✓ Infant & Child CPR Included
✓ Same-Day Certification Cards
✓ We Come to Your Facility
✓ Meets Nevada Licensing Requirements
Hands-on CPR training brought directly to your location
​Fast, simple, and stress-free certification
Who Regulates Childcare Licensing in Nevada?
-
As of July 1, 2024, childcare licensing in Nevada is fully unified under one statewide authority: the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, Child Care Licensing Program (DWSS CCL).
Washoe County previously managed its own licensing program, but it has since been absorbed into the state system, meaning Reno, Sparks, and the rest of Washoe County now follow the same regulations as the rest of Nevada.​​
Who needs a license?
Nevada requires a license from anyone who provides care to more than four unrelated children, or who receives compensation for childcare, regardless of setting size. This low threshold means most organized child care - from large centers to small in-home providers - falls under state regulation.
Basic Qualifications for Childcare Providers
Before applying for a license or work permit, providers generally need to:
-
Be at least 18 years old (caregivers may start at 16, with restrictions)
-
Hold a high school diploma or GED
-
Pass a background check, fingerprinting, and Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) registry check
-
Be able to read and write in English for record-keeping and communication
-
Complete required entry-level training within 90 days of employment
CPR and First Aid: A Core Licensing Requirement
CPR and First Aid certification is one of the non-negotiable requirements for anyone working directly with children in a licensed Nevada childcare facility. Here's what Child Care Licensing requires:
-
Your certification must cover Adult, Child, and Infant (Pediatric) CPR, AED use, and First Aid. A card that only documents adult CPR will not be accepted - it must clearly show that infant and child CPR were included.
-
Nevada Child Care Licensing requires a practical, in-person skills demonstration as part of CPR training. Fully self-paced online courses, with no in-person component, are not accepted for licensing purposes.
Accepted training providers
Your certification card must come from one of these recognized agencies:
-
American Heart Association (AHA)
-
American Red Cross
-
HSI (parent organization of the American Safety and Health Institute, Medic First Aid, and EMS Safety Services)
Staffing requirement: At least one CPR-certified caregiver must be on duty at all times whenever children are present.
Renewal
CPR certification must stay current. Licensing requires it to be renewed as often as it lapses. Up to two hours of CPR training can typically be counted toward your annual continuing education hours.
​
Childcare licenses in Nevada are generally renewed every two years, with at least half of the required annual training hours completed in each year of the licensing period.
​Other Entry-Level Training Requirements
Beyond CPR and First Aid, Nevada requires new caregivers to complete training in:
-
Signs and Symptoms of Illness (SOI) and Bloodborne Pathogens
-
Recognition and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
-
Child Development
-
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) prevention
-
Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and Abusive Head Trauma (AHT)
-
Building and Physical Premises Safety
-
Emergency Preparedness
-
Medication Administration and Food Allergy awareness
-
Transportation and Field Trip Safety
Most facilities require at least 15 hours of initial training under the Nevada Administrative Code, with ongoing annual training required to maintain licensure.
Get CPR and First Aid Certified in Northern Nevada
CPR certification must stay current. Licensing requires it to be renewed as often as it lapses. Up to two hours of CPR training can typically be counted toward your annual continuing education hours.
​
​Childcare licenses in Nevada are generally renewed every two years, with at least half of the required annual training hours completed in each year of the licensing period.
Course Options
Course
CPR & AED
Adult
Adult, Child & Infant
CPR, AED & First Aid
Adult
Adult, Child & Infant
First Aid
Fee (per student)
$75
$85
$85
$95
$70
Class Length
1.5 -2 Hours
3.5 Hours
3.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
2.5 Hours
Certification
AHA CPR & AED
AHA CPR & AED
AHA CPR AED & First Aid
AHA CPR AED & First Aid
AHA First Aid
BLS
For Healthcare Providers
$80
3.5-4 Hours
AHA BLS
Bloodborne Pathogens
OSHA Approved
$45
1 Hour
Bloodborne Pathogens
Schedule CPR Training for Your Childcare Team
We’ll come to your facility, train your staff on-site, and have everyone certified the same day. Flexible scheduling available- no travel required for your team.
​​
​
*This page is intended as a general informational guide and is not a substitute for official guidance from the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, Child Care Licensing Program. Requirements can change - always confirm current rules with DWSS CCL or your employer before relying on this information for licensing purposes.