Colorado Childcare Licensing
Colorado Childcare Training Hour Requirements (2026)
Colorado childcare staff must complete both pre-service (orientation) training before working with children and ongoing annual training each year. All staff who work with children must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) clock hours of ongoing professional development each year, of which at least three (3) clock hours per year must be in the focus of social-emotional development (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213(M)).
Licensing Agency
Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamColorado Training Hour Requirements: The Specifics
Colorado does not set a single numeric pre-service clock-hour total
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213
instead, before working with children staff must complete a Department-approved standard-precautions training (Section 2.213(B)), plus child-abuse-prevention training within 30 calendar days of employment (Section 2.213(G)) and at least one (1) hour of child-development training within 90 days of employment (Section 2.213(L)) (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213
Not a fixed statewide pre-service hour count. [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source the claim that infant/toddler-program staff aides each require 8 hours of orientation
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213
this requirement was not found in Section 2.213.]
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213
All staff who work with children must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) clock hours of ongoing professional development each year, of which at least three (3) clock hours per year must be in the focus of social-emotional development (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213(M)).
8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213(M)
Colorado Training Hour Requirements at a Glance
| Pre-service training | Colorado does not set a single numeric pre-service clock-hour total; instead, before working with children staff must complete a Department-approved standard-precautions training (Section 2.213(B)), plus child-abuse-prevention training within 30 calendar days of employment (Section 2.213(G)) and at least one (1) hour of child-development training within 90 days of employment (Section 2.213(L)) (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213). Not a fixed statewide pre-service hour count. [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source the claim that infant/toddler-program staff aides each require 8 hours of orientation; this requirement was not found in Section 2.213.] |
|---|---|
| Annual training | All staff who work with children must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) clock hours of ongoing professional development each year, of which at least three (3) clock hours per year must be in the focus of social-emotional development (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213(M)). |
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Colorado Training Hour Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How many pre-service training hours does Colorado require?
Colorado does not set a single numeric pre-service clock-hour total; instead, before working with children staff must complete a Department-approved standard-precautions training (Section 2.213(B)), plus child-abuse-prevention training within 30 calendar days of employment (Section 2.213(G)) and at least one (1) hour of child-development training within 90 days of employment (Section 2.213(L)) (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213). Not a fixed statewide pre-service hour count. [Could not verify against Colorado .gov source the claim that infant/toddler-program staff aides each require 8 hours of orientation; this requirement was not found in Section 2.213.]
How many annual training hours does Colorado require?
All staff who work with children must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) clock hours of ongoing professional development each year, of which at least three (3) clock hours per year must be in the focus of social-emotional development (8 CCR 1402-1, Section 2.213(M)).
Does CPR/First Aid count toward Colorado training hours?
States differ on whether CPR and First Aid certification counts toward required training hours. Confirm with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) before relying on it for your annual total.
Colorado childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Colorado administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), Division of Early Learning and Licensing and Administration (DELLA) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.