Child Care VA
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A skilled and well-trained workforce is essential to providing high-quality early care and education services to children and their families. Through professional development, child care providers acquire knowledge and skills needed to plan and implement quality early learning experiences. If you are a child care provider looking for professional development opportunities, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) collaborates with partners to provide training opportunities throughout the state for child care providers in both classroom-based and distance learning formats. VDOE offers a variety of training, education, and resources to help you earn the continuing education and training needed to be successful in the early childhood and school-age care workforce which are described here.
Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff
Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff - 10 hour course
This free On Demand orientation course provides an overview of basic health and safety requirements and best practices in ten of the topic areas outlined in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Re authorization; and was specifically created for professionals who work with children and families in Virginia.
This free 10-hour course was created to introduce child care staff to important health and safety information critical for professionals to know for working in a child care setting. The Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff, sponsored by the Department of Education, is required for prospective vendors to complete prior to approval as a Subsidy Vendor. Once the program is an approved vendor, current staff that work directly with children shall complete this training within 90 days of the program becoming a Subsidy Vendor. New staff hired, that work directly with children, shall complete this training within 90 days of employment.
Effective October 13, 2021 this course is also required for staff who work in Licensed Child Day Centers and shall be completed within 90 days of employment.
The free, 10-hour course covers the following topics:
- Emergency Preparedness
- Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease
- Food and Allergic Reactions
- Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma
- Safe Sleep and SUIDS Prevention
- Access to Physical Activity
- Transportation Safety
- Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
- Medication Safety
- Inclusion of All Children
- Water Safety
- Recognition and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
- Pediatric first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Introduction to Virginia’s Child Care Subsidy Program and Benefits of Program Licensure
To access the course, click on the following "Start Training" link. If you already have an account with Better Kid Care, sign in to On-Demand, and select "Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff" at the bottom of the alphabetical listing. If you have not used Better Kid Care" website before, you will need to register as a new user first, and then choose the Virginia Preservice Training from the alphabetical listing.
Virginia Training Course Flyer
If you have any issues accessing the training, please contact call the Better Kid Care HELP line at (800) 452-9108.
Virginia's Health and Safety Training Course
Virginia Health and Safety Update Training - 3 hour course
Guidance on how to be in compliance for the Virginia Annual Health and Safety Update Training for Child Care Staff:
- For a person who completed the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff in 2023, they will complete the Virginia Annual Health and Safety Update Training for Child Care Staff within one year of taking the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff. Example: If a person completed the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff on June 13, 2023, they shall complete this update training by June 12, 2024.
Annual Virginia Health and Safety Update Training Information Flyer
The Virginia Department of Education partners with Pennsylvania State University's Better Kid Care Program to bring this course to you. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have any issues accessing the training, please contact Better Kid Care HELP Line at (800) 452-9108.
Are there Scholarships to Help Me Pay for Education?
The Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (VAAEYC) is an organization that serves, supports, and advocates for all who care for and educate young children. The organization has established scholarships for members to assist providers working with young children to obtain their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential as well as other educational opportunities. Click here for more information on scholarships available.
Information about scholarships to pay for college courses can be found HERE.
MAT Training Program - Medication Administration Training Program
The MAT Program trains and certifies Virginia child day program providers and private school employees to safely give medications to children (ages infant through high school graduation) in their care. The MAT Program does not certify providers who work in a residential care setting or who provide care for adults.
First Aid / CPR Free Training
Child Care Aware provides First Aid and CPR training on behalf of the Virginia Department of Education. There is no cost to Child Care Providers that participate in the Child Care Subsidy program or provide child care for infants and toddlers. More information about Free Child Care Provider Trainings
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
Better Kid Care Directors’ Training
Better Kid Care offers lessons designed specifically to address the professional development needs of center directors with content on program leadership and administration. Better Kid Care Directors’ Training
Classroom-Based Courses
Virginia’s Community Colleges offer short term certificate programs and 2-year Associate Degrees in Early Childhood Development.
- Early Childhood Certificate
A certificate is a short term educational program consisting of a minimum of 30 semester hours. - Early Childhood Development Degrees
The Virginia Community Colleges offer an Associate of Applied Science degree for child care providers.
Other Training and Development Opportunities
Child Abuse and Neglect – Recognizing, Reporting and Responding for Educators
This training module prepares Virginia teachers who are mandated by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect.
Child Care Aware of Virginia
CCA of Virginia offers a variety of professional development opportunities for professionals that include training sessions that can be used to obtain a CDA credential or as in-service training hours; offered in-person or online.
Preparedness for Child Care Providers
This course from FEMA will provide child care providers, in a variety of settings, with the information they need to identify, assess, and plan for hazards at their child care site.
First Aid and CPR
The American Red Cross offers training in First Aid, CPR, and/or AED.
Virginia Early Intervention eLearning Center - Social Emotional Development of Young Children
The VA EI eLearning Center is designed to provide practitioners with high quality, interactive professional development on early intervention topics. Each module is available as a free resource and results in a certificate of completion.
Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
CCWA, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, offers childcare provider training classes to support the professional development and training needs of the early care and education workforce across the state. Effective July 1, 2021, VDOE will offer two free online classes: Health Screening for Childcare Professionals, and Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognition and Reporting.
Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network (VA ITSN)
The VA ITSN offers a variety of professional development opportunities, both virtually and in-person, for professionals caring for infants and toddlers (0-36 months). Follow-up support after attending a VA ITSN training and support to earn a credential, certificate or endorsement are also available.
Virginia Association for Education of Young Children (VAAEYC)
VAAEYC produces an Annual Conference each year with training courses to meet the needs of early childhood educators and early care providers.