Topic outline

  • IDHS Required Training for License-Exempt Non-Relative Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Providers

    The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), through the Division of Early Childhood (DEC), partners with child care providers like you to serve families through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). To ensure the health and safety of children, federal regulations require providers who receive CCAP payments to complete orientation and annual training based on specific health and safety topics.
    Illinois is out of compliance with these federal regulations. To come into compliance, all License-exempt Non-relative child care providers (centers and homes) must complete trainings to continue to receive CCAP payments.

    This page provides comprehensive resources to answer questions you may have about the training requirements for License-Exempt Non-Relative (home and center) Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) providers and how to meet them.  Please review this page carefully before contacting DHS, your local CCR&R, INCCRRA, Gateways i-learning, or Gateways to Opportunity. 

    Click a question to link directly to the answer you need:

    What is my Gateways Registry username and password?

    Who must complete the training?

    What trainings do I need to complete?

    What trainings have I completed and what do I still need to take?

    Where do I find the trainings?

    How is training tracked in the Registry? 

    • What is my Gateways Registry username and password?

      A Gateways Registry membership with an online username and password is needed to efficiently and confidently complete the IDHS CCAP Provider training and reporting requirements.
      License-exempt Non-relative child care providers receiving CCAP payments MUST be members of the Gateways Registry and enter their training, Credentials, and certifications in the Registry. Registry membership is free and must be renewed every year. 

      To become a Registry member or retrieve your username and password visit: https://registry.ilgateways.com

      Return to top.

      • Who Must Complete the training?

        License-Exempt Centers

        • Director(s) – individual(s) who has primary responsibility for the daily operations management of the center
        • Teacher(s) – includes lead teachers, teachers, teacher assistants or teacher aides who are employed by a License-exempt child care center for compensation on a regular basis
        • Support Staff – individual(s) who has responsibility in a classroom, working directly with children, on a regular basis
        • Student workers, part-time employees, substitutes, and migrant/seasonal/summer camp providers

        Licensed Family Child Care Homes, Group Homes, and License-Exempt Family Child Care Homes
        (License-exempt Non-relative Family Child Care Homes includes friend and neighbor care)

        • The primary caregiver is required to complete all trainings. The primary caregiver is the person who signs the CCAP application asking to be an approved provider. This applies to non-relative providers only.
        • If the primary caregiver has substitutes or assistants, they are also required to complete all trainings.

        Return to top.

        • What trainings do I need to complete?

          Visit the CCAP Provider page on Gateways to Opportunity to view the most complete information available regarding the IDHS CCAP provider required trainings.  There are several options for completing the health, safety, and child development portions of these requirements through the i-learning system. 

          • Become a Gateways to Opportunity Registry member and renew your membership every year. 
          • Complete Pediatric First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification by an approved training entity
          • Complete Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter training
          • Complete Child Development, Health, and Safety Basics course - OR - obtain ECE Credential Level 1 Training, -Tier 1
          • Enter your completed trainings in the Gateways Registry and print and keep a copy of your certificates and First Aid/CPR card.


          TO CONTINUE RECEIVING CCAP PAYMENTS, TRAININGS MUST BE COMPLETED BY September 30, 2022

          Current License-exempt Non-relative Providers: License-exempt Non-relative home providers, their assistants/substitutes and license-exempt center providers (including directors, teachers, aides and staff with access to children) caring for children prior to July 1, 2022 must complete orientation trainings by September 30, 2022, to receive payment for new, or continue to be paid for current, families after their next redetermination.

          New License-exempt Non-relative Providers (approved July 1, 2022 and later): License-exempt Non-relative home providers and license-exempt center providers who are new to CCAP after July 1, 2022, must complete all orientation trainings and enter them onto their Gateways to Opportunities Registry within 90 days of approval for a CCAP family to continue to receive payment for any CCAP cases.

          Providers who do not complete the Health and Safety Orientation Training Requirements within the time frame and are removed from CCAP can be approved once all required training is completed and entered into Gateways.

          Have you already taken training? Don’t start over, check the last page to see other trainings, like the ECE Credential Level 1 Training, that meet the requirements.



          Return to top.

          • What trainings have I completed, and what do I still need to take?

            Professional Development Record

            For a list of all previous training you have taken, visit the Gateways Registry and view your Professional Development Record (PDR). Visit

            https://inccrra.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204693825-Print-Your-Professional-Development-Record-PDR- for instructions to access your PDR.



            Return to top

            • Where do I find the trainings?

              Child Development, Health, and Safety Basics Training


              ECE Credential Level 1 Training, -Tier 1


              Child Abuse and Neglect/Mandated Reporter Training


              CPR/First Aid Certification


              Return to top.


              • How is training tracked in the Registry?

                > Child Development, Health, and Safety Training – Tracked automatically in the Registry.


                > ECE Credential Level 1 Training, -Tier 1 – Tracked automatically in the Registry.


                > Child Abuse and Neglect/Mandated Reporter – This training must be self-reported to the Registry.

                • Go to MY REGISTRY > LEARN
                • Click the “Add New” Button at the bottom of the listing
                • Enter Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter as the training name, DCFS as under the trainer name, 2 for the contact hours, and the Issued Date on your certificate of completion.
                • Click the “Save” button. For more details about how to self-report Mandated Reporter visit https://inccrra.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003611006.
                • Keep your Child Abuse and Neglect/Mandated Reporter training certificate in a file. You must be able to produce a copy when requested by IDHS.


                > CPR/First Aid Certifications – These certifications must be entered as a certification to the Registry.

                • Go to MY REGISTRY > UPDATE and click the “Credentials” tab.
                • Select “CPR” from the drop-down, click “Add”, and enter the required information.
                • Then, select “First Aid” from the drop-down, click “Add”, and enter the required information.
                • Click the “Save” button at the bottom of the screen. For more detail about how to enter CPR/First Aid visit https://inccrra.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003123043.
                • Keep your CPR/First Aid Certifications in a file. You must be able to produce a copy when requested by IDHS.


                Return to top.