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Policy Manual: Entry Level Requirements

Reviewed/Updated April 2026

Individuals working in licensed childcare programs are required to meet specific initial Child Care Licensing requirements within 90 days of employment. Application to The Nevada Registry is the final step in this process.

Entry-level requirements are defined as: Signs and Symptoms of Illness (SOI) with Bloodborne Pathogens, Infant/Child/Pediatric CPR/First Aid, Recognition and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect, Child Development, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Lifelong Wellness, Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), Building and Physical Premises Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Medication Administration/Food Allergies and Transportation and Field Trip Safety. SIDS and SBS/AHT are only required for caregivers working with infants and Transportation and Field Trip Safety training is only required for designated drivers.

If upon application to The Nevada Registry, an individual has not submitted documentation verifying the completion of formal education, verification they have met the initial requirements of Child Care Licensing is necessary for placement on the Career Ladder at Level 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3*. Applicants with at least eight ECE college credits, a degree in the field of ECE (Early Childhood Education, Child Development, etc.), a degree in another field with at least 30 credit hours of ECE coursework, a current CDA certificate or a high school diploma with 120 hours of approved training are not required to submit the items considered initial licensing requirements. The entry level requirements are also not required for individuals who do not work in licensed childcare settings and/or meet the criteria for a licensed-exempt provider (see below).

*A minimum of 1000 hours of direct work experience in ECE is required to place on the Career Ladder. Individuals with less than 1000 hours of direct work experience in ECE at the time of application will receive a Certificate of Participation (Pre-Level) until the necessary hours have been accrued. Members at this level are considered active members of The Nevada Registry and are compliant with Child Care Licensing, despite not yet having an assigned level on the ladder.

License-Exempt Providers

Most active Registry members work in childcare programs licensed by Child Care Licensing. Individuals working in licensed programs are required to meet specific entry level and ongoing requirements for training. These entry-level requirements are the basis for placement at Level 1.1 on the Career Ladder. However, there is a subset of members working in programs that are license-exempt* and other types of early childhood related programs not involving the direct care of children (e.g., Resource and Referral Agencies). Because these individuals are not subject to the entry level and ongoing requirements of Child Care Licensing, they cannot meet the Level 1.1 requirements of the Career Ladder (when they do not possess a degree that would place them at Levels 4 – 7 of the Career Ladder). For this reason, alternative forms of documentation, as indicated below, are accepted for Career Ladder placement.

*License-exempt programs are childcare programs not licensed by Child Care Licensing but operating legally and other types of early childhood-related programs that do not involve the direct care of children (e.g., Resource and Referral Agencies).

Note: A minimum of 1,000 hours of direct Early Childhood work experience is still required for placement on the Career Ladder. Individuals with less than 1,000 hours of direct Early Childhood work experience in ECE at the time of application will receive a Certificate of Participation (Pre-Level) until the necessary hours have been accrued. Members at this level are considered active members of the Registry and are compliant with Child Care Licensing, despite not yet having an assigned level on the ladder.

  1. Native American Tribes
  • Tribal ID, or
  • Letter from Director of Tribal Center verifying employment or letter verifying completion of a background check from the Tribal investigative department (often referred to as an adjudication letter)
  1. School District Employees (not working in a licensed facility)
  • School District ID card
  1. Charter School Employees (not working in a licensed facility) – School District and State Sponsored
  • School District ID OR ID issued from charter school
  1. School Age Programs (Non-Licensed Before and After Care) (required as per NRS 432A.620 )
  • Background check
  • Child Abuse and Neglect training (does not need to be Registry approved)
  1. ECE students who are required to apply as part of a college course. (Only applies to those who are not working in a licensed center. Students working in licensed programs are subject to the requirements of Child Care Licensing.)
  • Email or letter from professor detailing that they are required to apply for membership as a class assignment
  1. Underage Caregivers (16 & 17 years of age)
  • All initial training required by Child Care Licensing.
  1. Indirect ECE professionals (do not work in childcare programs)
  1. Registered Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) Providers
  • All initial training required by Child Care Licensing.
  1. Unlicensed Kith and Kin Providers
  1. Nellis/Creech Air Force Base Family Child Care Providers
  • The certificate issued by the AFB for the New Provider Orientation, FCC Provider Modules and annual AF- required training is automatically accepted by Child Care Licensing/The Nevada Registry without a Registry-issued approval code or letter.

First Aid/CPR

CPR/First Aid training will be recognized by Child Care Licensing and The Nevada Registry for Career Ladder placement ONLY when it is taken from an instructor issuing an official certification card* from one of the following agencies:

  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross
  • HSI (parent agency for American Safety and Health Institute, Medic First Aid and EMS Safety Services brands)

Per State Child Care Licensing:

  • CPR training must include an infant/child/pediatric component. Cards indicating adult only instruction or that do not clearly indicate that infant/child/pediatric CPR was included will not be accepted.
  • CPR training must include an in-person skill demonstration component. Blended instruction combining online learning with skill demonstration is permitted. A CPR course offered 100% online will not be accepted, even when taken from one of the recognized agencies.
  • First Aid training may be completed in person or online, but must be specific to infant/child/pediatric. Cards indicating adult only instruction or that do not clearly indicate that infant/child/pediatric First Aid was included will not be accepted.