Mississippi Childcare Licensing
Mississippi Childcare Training Hour Requirements (2026)
Mississippi childcare staff must complete both pre-service (orientation) training before working with children and ongoing annual training each year. All child care staff, directors, director designees, and caregivers must complete 15 contact hours of staff development accrued during each licensure year, of which no more than five contact hours may be in-service training provided by the facility itself, and hours must be approved by the licensing agency (MSDH center Rule 1.5.8(2)-(4); home Rule 2.5.8(2)-(4), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8).
Licensing Agency
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Child Care Facilities Licensure Branch (Bureau of Child Care Facilities) →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamMississippi Training Hour Requirements: The Specifics
Before a new license is issued, owners, directors, and director designees must each complete mandatory training covering Child Care Regulations, Director Orientation, and Playground Safety (no fixed total clock-hour count is specified)
no fixed total clock-hour count is specified
separately, students in a field-study/practicum placement must have documentation of a minimum of one hour of orientation within one week of placement covering child-abuse reporting, emergency, discipline, and transportation policies (MSDH home Rule 2.5.8(1) and Rule 2.5.6(2)(f)
f
center Rule 1.5.8(1), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8).
Miss. Code Ann. § 4
All child care staff, directors, director designees, and caregivers must complete 15 contact hours of staff development accrued during each licensure year, of which no more than five contact hours may be in-service training provided by the facility itself, and hours must be approved by the licensing agency (MSDH center Rule 1.5.8(2)-(4)
4
home Rule 2.5.8(2)-(4), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8).
Miss. Code Ann. § 4
Mississippi Training Hour Requirements at a Glance
| Pre-service training | Before a new license is issued, owners, directors, and director designees must each complete mandatory training covering Child Care Regulations, Director Orientation, and Playground Safety (no fixed total clock-hour count is specified); separately, students in a field-study/practicum placement must have documentation of a minimum of one hour of orientation within one week of placement covering child-abuse reporting, emergency, discipline, and transportation policies (MSDH home Rule 2.5.8(1) and Rule 2.5.6(2)(f); center Rule 1.5.8(1), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8). |
|---|---|
| Annual training | All child care staff, directors, director designees, and caregivers must complete 15 contact hours of staff development accrued during each licensure year, of which no more than five contact hours may be in-service training provided by the facility itself, and hours must be approved by the licensing agency (MSDH center Rule 1.5.8(2)-(4); home Rule 2.5.8(2)-(4), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8). |
Go Deeper
Generate a Mississippi-Compliant Handbook
TotReady builds a fully compliant parent handbook for your Mississippi childcare center in minutes — every required section, your branding, and regulatory citations included.
Mississippi Training Hour Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
How many pre-service training hours does Mississippi require?
Before a new license is issued, owners, directors, and director designees must each complete mandatory training covering Child Care Regulations, Director Orientation, and Playground Safety (no fixed total clock-hour count is specified); separately, students in a field-study/practicum placement must have documentation of a minimum of one hour of orientation within one week of placement covering child-abuse reporting, emergency, discipline, and transportation policies (MSDH home Rule 2.5.8(1) and Rule 2.5.6(2)(f); center Rule 1.5.8(1), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8).
How many annual training hours does Mississippi require?
All child care staff, directors, director designees, and caregivers must complete 15 contact hours of staff development accrued during each licensure year, of which no more than five contact hours may be in-service training provided by the facility itself, and hours must be approved by the licensing agency (MSDH center Rule 1.5.8(2)-(4); home Rule 2.5.8(2)-(4), Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-20-8).
Does CPR/First Aid count toward Mississippi training hours?
States differ on whether CPR and First Aid certification counts toward required training hours. Confirm with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Child Care Facilities Licensure Branch (Bureau of Child Care Facilities) before relying on it for your annual total.
Mississippi childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Mississippi administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Child Care Facilities Licensure Branch (Bureau of Child Care Facilities) before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.