The CEO Apprentice 

Childcare Educator Operator Apprenticeship Program

 

The Childcare Educator Operator (CEO) Apprenticeship is a United States Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship designed to prepare competent Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs) to launch and operate Approved Childhood Development Homes within the U-LAUNCH licensed Family Day System.

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Through paid on-the-job training (OJT), Related Technical Instruction (RTI), competency-based workforce development, and entrepreneurship support, apprentices gain the skills, experience, and operational guidance needed to build sustainable home-based childcare businesses while serving families within their communities.

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The CEO Apprenticeship combines workforce development, supervised learning, business ownership, and system-supported childcare operations into a structured career pathway focused on long-term professional growth, quality childcare, and community impact.

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Successful completion of the apprenticeship, required training, and approval process leads to eligibility for operation as an Approved Childhood Development Home under U-LAUNCH system oversight and support.

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What Is the CEO Apprenticeship?

Your Workforce Pathway to Becoming an Approved Childhood Development Home

The CEO Apprenticeship is the official workforce and training pathway into the U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes system.

Designed as a United States Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship, the program combines paid on-the-job training (OJT), Related Technical Instruction (RTI), competency-based professional development, and entrepreneurship support to prepare Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs) for successful operation within the U-LAUNCH licensed Family Day System.

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Through the apprenticeship, participants will:

• Complete paid on-the-job training (OJT) and Related Technical Instruction (RTI)

• Develop competencies aligned with the Virginia Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals

• Meet health, safety, operational, and quality standards

• Prepare their home and business for operation within the U-LAUNCH system

• Progress through workforce and leadership development pathways

• Become eligible for approval as an Approved Childhood Development Home

• Earn a National Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship upon successful completion

 

Approval is not automatic — it is earned through demonstrated competency, successful program participation, and compliance with U-LAUNCH system standards.

The CEO Apprenticeship is more than a training program. It is a structured workforce pathway designed to support long-term career growth, entrepreneurship, and high-quality home-based childcare leadership across Virginia.

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​This is not a single course—it’s a career pathway and business launch plan.

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Who It’s For

The CEO Apprenticeship is designed for:

• Aspiring home-based childcare operators

• Career changers seeking a stable, purpose-driven profession

• Workforce participants who want an earn-while-you-learn pathway

• Entrepreneurs who want a compliant, supported way to start a home-based program

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What You Get

As a CEO Apprentice, you receive:

• 3,712 hours of Paid On-the-Job Training (OJT)

• 288 hours of Related Technical Instruction (RTI) with stackable, competency-based learning

• A National Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship

• Guided support toward approval and launch as an Approved Childhood Development Home within U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes

• Entry into the Approved HOMES system for ongoing oversight and support

For eligible participants, there is no out-of-pocket tuition for training.

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The Approval Pathway

Training Structure: RTI CEO I & RTI CEO II

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Your classroom and technical training is embedded into the apprenticeship in two stages:

RTI CEO I – Core Foundations (Required)

RTI CEO I cover the core training requirements aligned to Virginia Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals, including:

• Health, safety, and nutritional practices

• Child growth and development

• Observation and assessment

• Learning environments and effective interactions

• Family and community engagement

• Program management

• Best business practices and record keeping

• Compliance, professionalism, and operations

This stage builds the educational, operational, and compliance foundation required to operate a high-quality home-based program.

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RTI CEO II – Choose Your Pathway

After completing RTI CEO I, apprentices may choose one of two options:

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1. College Coursework Pathway: The following college coursework pathway aligns with the Career Studies Certificate (CSC) in Child Development offered through participating Virginia Community Colleges and includes courses recognized through Project Pathfinders and aligned with the Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program (VCCPSP). 

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• Approved 3-credit college courses may be utilized to substitute for portions of the CEO II Related Technical Instruction (RTI) requirements within the U-LAUNCH Childcare Educator Operator (CEO) Registered Apprenticeship Program.

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• Pre-approved course options include:

   

  • CHD 120 – Introduction to Early Childhood Education

  • CHD 145 – Teaching Art, Music, and Movement to Children

  • CHD 165 – Observation and Participation in Early Childhood / Primary Settings

  • CHD 205 – Guiding the Behavior of Children

  • EDU 235 or HLT 135 – Child Health and Nutrition

  • CHD 118 – Language Arts for Young Children

  • CHD 216 – Early Childhood Programs, School, and Social Change

  • CHD 146 – Math, Science, and Social Studies for Children

  • PSY 235 – Child Psychology

 

• Virginia Community College Alignment

  • These courses are commonly included within Early Childhood Education and Child Development pathways offered throughout the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), supporting stackable workforce credentials, apprenticeship alignment, and continued educational advancement opportunities for Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs).​

• Coursework Requirement

  • Only four (4) approved college courses are required to satisfy the college coursework substitution pathway for CEO II RTI eligibility.

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    2. Apprenticeship Continuation Pathway:

         Continue advanced training and specialization within the U-LAUNCH: CEO                             Academy while building experience and credentials on the job.

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        Both pathways allow apprentices to deepen their credentials, strengthen practice,                and advance their careers while remaining fully aligned with the Registered                              Apprenticeship.