1. (1) Responsibility for Staff.

   1. (a) Owners, directors, and primary educators shall be responsible for:

      1. 1. Selecting qualified and capable staff;
      2. 2. The supervision, training, and evaluation and performance management of the staff;
      3. 3. The efficient operation of the child care agency’s program; and
      4. 4. Providing written policy to staff that includes job functions, qualifications, lines of authority, staff performance evaluations, and disciplinary process.

   2. (b) Annual Evaluations.

      1. 1. Teaching staff, assistant directors, and directors shall be evaluated on the performance of their duties at least annually.
      2. 2. Records of performance evaluations shall be maintained in the educator’s files and made available to the Department upon request.

2. (2) Organizational Management.

   1. (a) Family and group home child care agencies must notify parents in advance of person(s) in charge during the primary educator’s absence.
   2. (b) The primary educator/director shall identify and notify staff of the person in authority in the event of his/her absence.

   3. (c) The child care agency shall be responsible for all volunteers and service providers/contractors providing services to the child care agency.

      1. 1. Service providers or contractors shall never be alone with children unless:
   4. (i) Written authorization is obtained from a parent/guardian for the child prior to receiving the service;
   5. (ii) Written authorization is obtained from a parent/guardian naming the service provider or contractor as their authorized representative for the purposes of releasing the child to them; and
   6. (iii) The service provider or contractor shall provide identification prior to signing the child out or delivering the service and shall sign the child back in upon completion of service.

   7. (d) The Director shall be on-site for at least fifty percent (50%) of the agency’s monthly hours of operation.

      1. 1. Reasonable time away for a leave of absence, professional development, or community engagement will be accommodated.
      2. 2. This requirement does not apply to licensed drop-in child care centers.

3. (3) General Child Care Agency Staff Qualifications.

   1. (a) Staff involved in transporting children are subject to general qualifications in addition to the requirements and qualifications detailed in the transportation rules found in this chapter.
   2. (b) Every staff person shall be capable of performing his/her duties satisfactorily.
   3. (c) A staff member shall be designated to be in charge of the child care agency in the absence of the primary educator/director and the name of the person in authority shall be communicated to staff. Such person shall be familiar with child care agency policies and procedures.
   4. (d) The primary educator/director or designee shall ensure that the staff person is physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of safely and appropriately providing care for children.

   5. (e) Examinations to Determine Physical, Mental, and Emotional Status.

      1. 1. A child care agency may, upon reasonable cause/suspicion require any persons having significant contact with children to obtain physical/mental health evaluations to determine their ability to satisfactorily perform their job duties.

   6. (f) Prior to having contact with children, each new employee shall receive orientation in, and have a working knowledge of the following items:

      1. 1. Program philosophy and policies;
      2. 2. Job description;
      3. 3. Emergency health and safety procedures;
      4. 4. Behavior management procedures;
      5. 5. Detection, reporting, and prevention of child abuse;
      6. 6. Procedures for receiving and releasing children;
      7. 7. Safe sleep procedures;
      8. 8. Meal service and safe food preparation policies;
      9. 9. Supervision during high risk activities such as eating and outdoor play;
      10. 10. Food allergies;
      11. 11. Expectations for communications with parent/guardian;
      12. 12. Disease control and health promotion, including childhood obesity and the beneficial health impacts of physical activity;
      13. 13. An overview of licensing requirements; and
      14. 14. Information on risks of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) to female employees of childbearing age.

   7. (g) Prior to having contact with children, each new employee shall complete training in the following areas:

      1. 1. Shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma/child maltreatment; and
      2. 2. Pre-service training as recognized by the Department which shall include all federally required components.
   8. (h) Documentation of the requirements in subparagraphs (f) and (g) shall be maintained in the staff file.

4. (4) Substitutes and Practicum Students.

   1. (a) Before a substitute or practicum student has contact with children at the agency, the agency is required to train the substitute or practicum student on the agency policies and procedures regarding emergency preparedness plans, reporting of child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment, and safe sleep practices.

   2. (b) Substitutes and Practicum Students providing services for more than thirty-six (36) hours in a calendar year shall:

      1. 1. Meet the background check requirements prior to beginning their duties;
      2. 2. Meet the same requirements as regular staff for the physical examination required by these rules; and
      3. 3. Have a minimum of four (4) hours of annual training if they acted as substitutes/educators for more than thirty-six (36) hours in the previous calendar year.
   3. (c) Substitutes that do not meet the requirements listed in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above shall never be left alone with children. Practicum students shall never be left alone with children. Documentation of direct supervision of substitutes without such background checks and practicum students shall be maintained in agency files.
   4. (d) Child care agencies shall document and report service hours of every substitute staff or practicum student as may be required by the Department.

5. (5) Volunteers.

   1. (a) Volunteers may not be counted to meet the adult:child ratios and shall never be left alone with children except parents/guardians may be counted in the adult:child ratio at a field trip location.

6. (6) Education/Training Requirements.

   1. (a) This chart provides the educational and training requirements that must be completed by staff prior to having contact with children: Minimum Position Education Training Requirements Age

      1. 1. Child care agency orientation session during the pre-licensure period;
      2. 2. Licensing Rules and Regulations Training, including building and physical premises safety;
      3. 3. Shaken Baby/Abusive Family and Head Trauma/Child Group Homes 18 HS Diploma or equivalent Maltreatment Training Primary Educator prior to contact with children;
      4. 4. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin);
      5. 5. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Training prior to contact with children if the agency provides care for infants.
      6. 1. Licensing Rules and Regulations Training, Family/Group including building and Educator 16 None physical premises safety; Assistant
      7. 2. Shaken Baby/Abusive Head Trauma/Child Maltreatment Training prior to contact with children;
      8. 3. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin);
      9. 4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Training prior to contact with children if the agency provides care for infants. Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or be a registered nurse with less than a 4-year degree and 1 year of full-time experience with children in a group setting; or
      10. 1. Child care agency orientation session during 36 hours of coursework at the pre-licensure period; least 30 of which shall be in business management, child
      11. 2. Licensing Rules and or youth development, early Regulations Training, childhood education or a including building and closely related field or a TN physical premises safety; Early Childhood Administrator Credential; and 2 years of
      12. 3. Shaken Baby/Abusive full-time experience with Head Trauma/Child Child Care children in a group setting; or 21 Maltreatment Training Center Director prior to contact with High School diploma (or children; equivalent as recognized by state law) and Tennessee
      13. 4. Pre-Service Training Early Childhood Training (Before You Begin); Alliance Certificate for 30 clock hours of Administrator
      14. 5. Sudden Infant Death Orientation training or the Syndrome Training prior equivalent as recognized by to contact with children if the Department and 4 years the agency provides care of full-time experience with for infants. children in a group; or Continuously employed as an on-site child care director or a child care agency owner as of the effective date of these rules.
      15. 1. Licensing Rules and Regulations Training, including building and Child Care Current enrollment in physical premises safety; Center Student 16 technical child care Assistant educational program
      16. 2. Shaken Baby/Abusive Head Trauma/Child Maltreatment Training prior to contact with children;
      17. 3. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin);
      18. 4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Training prior to contact with children if the agency provides care for infants.
      19. 1. Child care agency orientation session during the pre-licensure period;
      20. 2. Licensing Rules and Regulations Training, including building and physical premises safety;
      21. 3. Shaken Baby/Abusive Child Care Head Trauma/Child HS Diploma/equivalent and 2 Center Assistant 18 Maltreatment Training years of experience Director prior to contact with children;
      22. 4. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin);
      23. 5. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Training prior to contact with children if the agency provides care for infants.
      24. 1. Licensing Rules and Regulations Training, including building and physical premises safety;
      25. 2. Shaken Baby/Abusive Head Trauma/Child Maltreatment Training None or HS prior to contact with Child Care Diploma/equivalent if only 18 children; Center Educator educator for group or to meet group requirement
      26. 3. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin);
      27. 4. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Training prior to contact with children if the agency provides care for infants. Drop-In Child 1. Child care agency HS Diploma/equivalent and 1 Care Center 21 orientation session during year of experience Director the pre-licensure period;
      28. 2. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin).
      29. 1. Licensing Rules and Regulations Training, Drop-In Child including building and Care Center 18 HS Diploma/equivalent physical premises safety; Educator
      30. 2. Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin).
   2. (b) This chart provides the training requirements and expectations for educators, primary educators, assistant directors, and directors for each class of licensed care during the provisional licensure period. These training requirements also apply to new employees. Please note that all hours earned during the provisional licensure period count towards the first-year hourly training requirements. Provisional Licensing Period (first 120 days) Training Requirements (These requirements are also applicable to new employees hired after Position the provisional licensure period, to be completed within the first four

7. (4) months of employment.)

   1. 1. 3 hours on developmental learning standards (TN-ELDS);
   2. 2. New Director Training;
   3. 3. Transportation Training (if applicable at the agency) before providing transportation. Training will include anyone responsible for the transportation of children; Family and Group Homes 4. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment); Primary Educator
   4. 5. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);
   5. 6. Personal Safety Training (one representative from the agency);
   6. 7. Small Business Academy;
   7. 8. Additional training hours as determined by the Department.
   8. 1. 3 hours on developmental learning standards;
   9. 2. Transportation Training (if applicable at the agency) before providing transportation; Family/Group Home Educator 3. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment);
   10. 4. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);
   11. 5. Additional training as identified by the Department.
   12. 1. 3 hours on developmental learning standards (TN-ELDS);
   13. 2. New Director Training; Child Care Center Director
   14. 3. Transportation Training (if applicable at the agency) before providing transportation. Training will include anyone responsible for the transportation of children;
   15. 4. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment);
   16. 5. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);
   17. 6. Personal Safety Training (one representative from the agency);
   18. 7. Small Business Academy;
   19. 8. Additional training hours as determined by the Department. Child Care Center Student Additional training hours as determined by the Department. Assistants
   20. 1. 3 hours on developmental learning standards (TN-ELDS);
   21. 2. New Director Training;
   22. 3. Transportation Training (if applicable at the agency) before providing transportation. Training will include anyone responsible for Child Care the transportation of children; Center Assistant Director 4. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment);
   23. 5. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);
   24. 6. Personal Safety Training (one representative from the agency);
   25. 7. Additional training hours as determined by the Department.
   26. 1. 3 hours of applicable developmental learning standards (TN-ELDS). If an educator has a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in child development or a related field, or a CDA or CCP credential recognized by the Department, that educator shall instead comply with the training requirements for experienced educators during the 1st year.
   27. 2. Transportation Training (if applicable at the agency) before providing transportation. Training will include anyone responsible for Child Care the transportation of children; Center Educator
   28. 3. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment);
   29. 4. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);
   30. 5. Personal Safety Training (one representative from the agency);
   31. 6. Additional training hours as determined by the Department.
   32. 1. In the first 3 months, Department Rules Training and Pre-Service Training (Before You Begin); Drop-In Child
   33. 2. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment); Care Center Director
   34. 3. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);
   35. 4. Additional training hours as determined by the Department. Drop-In Child 1. First Aid Training (within 90 days of employment); Care Center Educator 2. CPR Training (within 90 days of employment);

   36. 3. Additional training hours as determined by the Department.

       1. (c) This chart provides the first-year and ongoing training requirements and expectations as defined by your role as educators, primary educators, assistant directors, substitutes, and directors for each class of licensed care. During the first year, any hours earned during the provisional licensure period count towards the hourly requirements. Primary Educator – Family or Group Home Training Hours/Notes Annual Training 18 hours total Health and Safety At least 6 of the 18 total hours Pre-Literacy and Literacy Skills and Education At least 3 of the 18 total hours Implementation Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 4 hours of the 18 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Hours earned during the pre-licensure and provisional licensure period may count towards these total hours. Educator – Family or Group Home Training Hours/Notes Annual Training 12 hours total Health and Safety At least 6 of the 12 total hours Pre-Literacy and Literacy Skills and Education At least 3 of the 12 total hours Implementation Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 4 hours of the 12 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Hours earned during the pre-licensure and provisional licensure period may count towards these total hours. Director – Single-Site Center Training Hours/Notes Earn credit during the year in 1 academic course (in administration, child development, early childhood education, health/safety or related field) from accredited academic institution, or Annual Training At least 24 total hours Health and Safety At least 6 of the 24 total hours Pre-Literacy and Literacy Skills and Education At least 3 of the 24 total hours Implementation Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 4 hours of the 24 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Assistant Director – Center Training Hours/Notes Earn credit during the year in 1 academic course (in administration, child development, early childhood education, health/safety or related field) from accredited academic institution, or Annual Training At least 18 total hours Administration, Management or Supervisory At least 4 hours of the 18 total hours training Pre-Literacy and Literacy Skills and Education At least 3 of the 18 total hours Implementation Health and Safety At least 6 of the 18 total hours Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 4 hours of the 18 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Hours earned during the pre-licensure and provisional licensure period may count towards these total hours. Educator – Center Training Hours/Notes Annual Training 12 total hours Pre-Literacy and Literacy Skills and Education At least 3 of the 12 total hours Implementation Health and Safety At least 6 of the 12 total hours Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 4 hours of the 12 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Educators who hold one of the following degrees/credentials as recognized by the Department shall instead comply with the training requirements for experienced educators after the first year: Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in child development or a related field; CDA credential; Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) credential. Substitute – Center Training Hours/Notes Health and Safety At least 4 total hours Director – Drop-In Center Training Hours/Notes Annual Training At least 6 total hours Health and Safety At least 3 of the 6 total hours Administration, Management, or Supervisory At least 3 of the 6 total hours Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 2 hours of the 6 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Hours earned during the pre-licensure and provisional licensure period may count towards these total hours. Educator – Drop-In Center Training Hours/Notes Annual Training – Health and Safety At least 3 total hours Adverse Childhood Experiences Every 5 years – length not specified 1 hour of the 3 total hours may be earned by conducting training. Hours earned during the pre- licensure and provisional licensure period may count towards these total hours. Clarifications: Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Health and Safety Training Topics: Family, Group, and Center Staff cycle through the requisite topics every three years. Drop-in staff cycle through the topics every 4 years. Required topics: prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunization); SIDS and use of safe sleep practices; administration of medication; prevention/response to food allergies; building and physical premises safety; prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment; emergency preparedness and response planning; storage of hazardous materials and biocontaminants; precautions in transporting children (if applicable); first aid and CPR; recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect; child development, including the major domains (cognitive, social, emotional, physical development and approaches to learning).

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 37-1-603(b)(1)(A); 71-1-105(a)(5) and (a)(12); 71-3-501, et seq.; 71-3-502(a)(2); and 71-3-507. Administrative History: Original rule certified June 10, 1974. Amendment filed March 16, 1978; effective April 17, 1978. Amendment filed June 7, 1982; effective September 30, 1982. Repeal and new rule filed December 6, 1983; effective January 5, 1984. Emergency rules filed July 1, 2016; effective through December 28, 2016. Amendments filed September 28, 2016; effective December 27, 2016. Amendments filed May 1, 2018; effective July 30, 2018. Amendments filed March 31, 2022; effective June 29, 2022. Amendments filed November 10, 2025; effective February 8, 2026.