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How do I get a Child Care Certificate?

Carol Francois
Carol Francois

A child care certificate is required by law for a person to work in a day care center. This type of certificate is available from community colleges and is typically one to two years in length. It is important to note that students must complete all applicable course work, meet experience requirements, and have a clean criminal record to obtain a child care certificate.

The child care industry is experiencing continued growth and is forecast to continue to grow for the next 10 to 15 years. When looking for a position in the child care industry, look at the reputation of the different companies. Physically visit each site to learn what type of service it provides and evaluate its organizational structure.

Find out which post-secondary educational institutes offer child care certificates. This type of program is available at community and career colleges. Look at the program details to find out what the application requirements are and how to apply.

People who work at child care facilities must take courses in order to obtain a certificate.
People who work at child care facilities must take courses in order to obtain a certificate.

All child care certificates have a specific practical experience requirement that must be met. The amount of experience required varies by institution. Most programs include an internship or cooperative portion to allow students to gain the necessary experience in a supervised environment.

Upon successful completion of the child care certificate, candidates are able to apply for positions with a range of child care service providers. Some people use this certification to obtain a position in a private home as a nanny or child care supervisor. Other positions include recreational supervisor, program coordinator, and child care program inspector.

First aid courses are required for anyone getting a child care certificate.
First aid courses are required for anyone getting a child care certificate.

The courses required to complete a child care certificate can be divided into four categories: child care, first aid, child development, and psychology. The child care courses are focused on the physical needs of children and infants. First aid courses include CPR for infants and children, as well as training in responding to accidents and emergencies. The ability to determine when a doctor is required is very important for someone who is responsible for children.

All child care certificates have a practical experience requirement that must be met.
All child care certificates have a practical experience requirement that must be met.

Child development courses focus on the different types of exercises and techniques used to encourage the mental and physical development of infants and preschool children. The work in this field has continued to grow and has resulted in huge shifts in education theory and the activities that day care centers encourage. These courses can be very complex and involve a significant amount of theory.

Discussion Comments

suntan12

Subway - I know that the CDA license that allows you to work as a childcare employee requires 40 hours of training. Thirty hours have to come from courses involving child supervision, detecting child abuse, and various forms of screenings involving developmental and behavioral milestones in young children.

There is an additional ten hours that is also required which involves the study of literacy programs for young children.

The State of Florida requires childcare training of an additional five hours of continued study for the development of language and early literacy among young children.

subway11

Cafe41 - That does sound like a good idea. I know that Miami Dade Community College offers childcare courses for various certifications.

The CDA is available online which makes it a fantastic option if you are considering going into this field but currently have a full time job.

Also, the Florida Department of Children and Families offers courses pertaining to other childcare courses for the staff and director levels.

Their website provides information on the requirements of starting a daycare and how the Gold Seal awards are given to various daycare centers.

If you are looking for work at a daycare or want to find daycare for your child, a Gold Seal is considered the top honor among these childcare providers.

cafe41

I had a friend that pursed childcare training courses in order to work in a daycare. She was considering going into education, but before she pursued her degree she wanted to see what it was like to work with small children.

She loved it and then went on to major in Early Childhood education.

She added that getting her CDA certificate allowed her to move into a teaching position almost immediately after graduation because of her previous experience working in a daycare.

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    • People who work at child care facilities must take courses in order to obtain a certificate.
      By: DNF-Style
      People who work at child care facilities must take courses in order to obtain a certificate.
    • First aid courses are required for anyone getting a child care certificate.
      By: Leah-Anne Thompson
      First aid courses are required for anyone getting a child care certificate.
    • All child care certificates have a practical experience requirement that must be met.
      By: Rob
      All child care certificates have a practical experience requirement that must be met.
    • A person must have a clean criminal record to obtain a child care certificate.
      By: diego cervo
      A person must have a clean criminal record to obtain a child care certificate.
    • Someone with a child care certificate might work in preschools.
      By: sdenness
      Someone with a child care certificate might work in preschools.