Opportunity for FREE Pediatric First Aid/CPR Training for ECE Providers

NOTE: At this time, the ERT project has received an extremely high volume of requests and is now operating on a waitlist. While they cannot guarantee new training placements, you may still submit a request to be added to the waitlist. If additional training opportunities become available, requests will be reviewed based on program needs, location, and instructor availability

All staff working in Department of Human Services (DHS) certified child care programs are required to maintain current Pediatric First Aid/CPR certification (55 Pa. Code §§ 3270.31, 3280.31 and 3290.31).

Funding has become available through the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to support the provision of free training opportunities during the limited timeframe of March-June 2026. OCDEL is partnering with the Early Childhood Education Linkage System (ECELS) program at the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) to coordinate these free Pediatric First Aid/CPR training offerings as part of the Emergency Response Training (ERT) project.

Child care workers are eligible for free training if they are currently employed by a licensed early childhood education (ECE) center in Pennsylvania, AND if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

• their Pediatric First Aid/CPR certification has expired or is set to expire within the next 12 months*;
• they are a newly hired employee that must complete their initial certification within 90 days of employment start date; or
• their certification is out of compliance due to a program citation.

*Priority for class assignment will be based on certification expiration date. Waitlists will be created if requests exceed project capacity.

Classes from approved instructors using the HSI Pediatric First Aid | CPR AED curriculum will be scheduled to take place through the middle of June 2026 or until funds are exhausted. Training can be requested as either an ECE Program (minimums apply, classes will take place on-site) or individual participant (training locations TBD). Requests will be approved on a rolling basis; accepted applicants will be contacted directly regarding next steps. Please note that follow-up communication may be delayed at the start of the project window.

To request training or search the FAQs, please visit the ERT page on the ECELS website.

Additional questions can be directed to the ECELS program at ecels@paaap.org.

NOTE: Child Care providers may continue to access PQAS approved Pediatric First Aid/CPR training outside of the ERT project offerings, but they may have a cost associated with them. OCDEL will NOT reimburse for any Pediatric First Aid/CPR training taken outside of the ERT project.