A skilled and well-trained workforce is essential to providing high-quality child care, education and operational services to children and their families. Through professional development Childcare Educator Operators (CEO) acquire knowledge and skills needed to plan and implement quality early learning experiences the Virginia way. If you are a CEO looking for professional development opportunities, the U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes collaborates with partners to provide training opportunities throughout the state for CEOs in both classroom-based and distance learning formats. U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes 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.

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Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff 

Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff - 10 hour course

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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 January 1, 2026 this course is also required for CEOs and their staff who work in an Approved Childhood Development Home shall be completed within 90 days of approval and/or employment.

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The free, 10-hour course covers the following topics:

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• 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.

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Start Training

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Virginia Training Course Flyer

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If you have any issues accessing the training, please contact call the Better Kid Care HELP line at (800) 452-9108.

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Virginia's Health and Safety Training Course

Virginia Health and Safety Update Training - 3 hour course

 

This free On Demand annual health and safety update training is a follow-up to the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff training. This training course is required for all staff that work directly with children in a child care program (center-based and family) that participates in the Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program (aka subsidy vendors). This training is to be taken annually, with the first update completed within one year after completing the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff.

 

Guidance on how to be in compliance for the Virginia Annual Health and Safety Update Training for Child Care Staff:

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• 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.

 

Start Training

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Annual Virginia Health and Safety Update Training Information Flyer

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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.

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If you have any issues accessing the training, please contact Better Kid Care HELP Line at (800) 452-9108.

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Are there Scholarships to Help Me Pay for Education?

 

The Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program (VCCPSP), managed by VDOE, is available for child care educators to help pay for college courses that improve the quality of early care and education for children and families. VCCPSP scholarships are available for fall, spring, and summer semesters.  Can be found HERE.

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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.

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Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Training

 

VDSS 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.

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Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) - CCWA in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, offers CHLD 2015 - Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognition and Reporting to support the professional development and training needs of the early care and education workforce across the state. This online class meets regulatory and statutory requirements for child day programs, is available in English and Spanish, and is made available for free through this partnership.

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Mandated Reporting for Child Abuse and Neglect: A Refresher Training - In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Social Services Division of Family Services, the VDOE Office of Child Care Health and Safety created this refresher training that reviews laws related to mandated reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect and provides resources for caregivers. This training is recommended for anyone involved with a child day program or employed by U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Home.

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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 CEOs that participate in the Child Care Subsidy program or provide child care for infants and toddlers. More information about Free Child Care Provider Trainings

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U-LAUNCH: Virginia Childhood Development Credential (VCDC)

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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

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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.

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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. The following online classes meet regulatory and statutory requirements for child day programs, are available in English and Spanish, and are made available for free through this partnership:

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• CHLD 2015 - Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognition and Reporting

• CHLD 2016 - Health Screening for Childcare Professionals

 

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. 

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Virginia Alliance for Family Child Care Association

The Virginia Alliance for Family Child Care Association produces an Annual Conference each year with training courses to meet the needs of home-based early childhood educators and early care providers.

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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.

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VAAEYC also presents and records free online professional development workshops which are available for viewing on their YouTube Channel - VAAEYC Learning Lounge. The link is here: https://www.youtube.com/@vaaeyc

 

Square One
Square One offers prevention and early intervention (PEI) professional development training to child care providers and early childhood educators who work with children birth through 8 years of age and their families.