The rule in one sentence

If a person works at a licensed Ontario child care centre and spends any meaningful time in direct contact with children, they need a current Standard First Aid + CPR Level C certificate. That includes the supervisor, full-time educators, part-time educators, RECEs and non-RECE assistants, supply staff doing direct-contact work, and home child care providers.

This requirement comes from Ontario Regulation 137/15 under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA) — Ontario’s licensing framework for child care. It’s stricter than the general workplace standard (Regulation 1101), which only requires one qualified first aider per shift.

Who specifically needs the certificate

Standard First Aid + CPR C required for

  • The centre supervisor
  • Every RECE on staff in a direct-contact role
  • Every non-RECE assistant or non-qualified staff in a direct-contact role
  • Supply, casual, or relief staff doing direct-contact work
  • Home child care providers operating under a licensed agency
  • In-home visitors from a home child care agency who provide care

Administrative-only staff (a centralized bookkeeper at head office, for example) typically don’t need the certificate unless they cover ratios during breaks. The trigger is direct contact with children, not job title.

Which course satisfies the requirement

You need a Standard First Aid course that includes CPR Level C with AED, delivered by a WSIB-recognized agency. The recognized agencies in Ontario are:

  • Canadian Red Cross
  • Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
  • Lifesaving Society
  • St. John Ambulance

Emergency First Aid (the shorter, one-day version) does not satisfy the CCEYA requirement — the licensing standard is specifically Standard First Aid. Online-only courses also don’t qualify because hands-on practical assessment is required.

For the difference between Standard and Emergency, see Standard vs. Emergency First Aid. For why online doesn’t count, see What “WSIB-Approved” Actually Means.

Renewal cycle

Standard First Aid certificates are valid for 3 years from the date the course is completed. The CPR Level C portion shares the same expiry. A lapsed certificate puts the centre out of compliance immediately — there is no grace period under the CCEYA.

Best practice for centres:

  • Maintain a single spreadsheet or HR-system field with each staff member’s expiry date
  • Set automatic reminders 90 days before each expiry
  • Build recerts into your annual training budget — not as a surprise expense
  • Block a fixed training week each year for everyone whose card expires that quarter

Documentation inspectors look for

Ministry of Education program advisors typically check first aid compliance during licensing inspections. They will verify:

  • A current certificate on file for every applicable staff member
  • The certificate is from a recognized agency (name on the card)
  • Certificate hasn’t expired
  • Certificate includes CPR Level C — not just CPR Level A or B
  • The supervisor’s certificate specifically

Most centres keep PDF copies in a shared HR folder, organized by staff name. Some maintain a printed binder at the front desk. Either is fine — what matters is that the inspector can verify quickly.

What if a staff member’s card expires mid-week?

This is the most common compliance problem and the easiest to avoid. The day after expiry, that staff member is technically no longer compliant for direct-contact work. Options:

  • Move them temporarily to admin or non-contact duties (rare in small centres)
  • Get them into a recertification class within the validity window before expiry
  • Schedule a group on-site recert for everyone expiring in the same quarter

The third option is usually the most cost-effective for centres with 5+ staff.

Home child care providers

Home child care providers operating under a licensed home child care agency need the same Standard First Aid + CPR Level C certificate. Independent unlicensed home care providers aren’t covered by the CCEYA — but most parents now ask to see certificates as a hiring criterion regardless.

How most daycare groups handle training

Open public classes work for one or two staff but become impractical past that. Most licensed centres book private on-site group training — the instructor comes to your centre after closing or on a PA day, brings the manikins and equipment, and certifies your team in one session.

Life Safe runs group sessions for licensed centres across Ontario — Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, Welland, Guelph. We can structure the schedule around your PA days, evening shifts, or weekend availability. The certificates come from Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Red Cross, or Lifesaving Society depending on the format.

Note: This article is a plain-language overview. The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and Ontario Regulation 137/15 are the legal sources — review the regulation or consult your Ministry of Education program advisor for compliance specific to your centre and licence type.

Train your whole centre in one session

On-site Standard First Aid + CPR for daycare staff, scheduled around your PA days or evenings. WSIB-approved through Heart and Stroke and Canadian Red Cross.

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