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Initial and ongoing training improves your program as you increase your skills and apply new information to your work with young children.
Initial training often happens before starting work as a child care provider. At a minimum, initial training normally occurs before you provide direct care to children without supervision. Initial training should cover health and safety training, and child development information at a minimum. In addition to initial training you will want to include an orientation to your program policies and procedures. Check with your state licensing requirements to find out how much training is required. NACCRRA's State Licensing Information Map provides you with direct links to the office in your state that is responsible for child care licensing.
In addition to your orientation, initial preparation can include:
Annual training reviews and reinforces child care best practices and helps you learn new information and skills. Annual training should cover the following topics:
Additional information about health and safety training is here.
NACCRRA recommends that all child care providers be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of initial training in child development and guidance and other basic health and safety practices prior to working alone with children. Family child care providers should have this training before opening their doors to unrelated children. NACCRRA recommends that all child care providers be required to complete at least 24 hours of annual training that will lead to a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
The Council for Professional Recognition awards the CDA Credential to individual child care providers in both child care centers and family child care homes. After completing 120 hours of required formal training in eight content areas, candidates must pass the CDA Competency Goals assessment. Additional information from the Council for Professional Development is at www.cdacouncil.org.