Calling all Massachusetts child care providers!! - post

H&H Child Care Training Center is here to help you complete your annual professional development hours and to obtain your CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $400.00 or CDA Infant/Toddler Credential Buy Now $400.00. These ChildCareEd courses provide the CDA coursework component and issue a training certificate after you finish the required modules. Acceptance for licensing or QRIS credit can depend on your role and program type; confirm acceptance with Massachusetts EEC before relying on any single course for compliance.

Start by choosing the course that matches the age group you serve. If you work across ages, consider the Birth to Five CDA Buy Now $399.00$299.00 pathway or contact our CDA Professional Development Specialists for guidance on portfolio preparation and state-specific documentation.

What training does the Massachusetts EEC accept for professional development?

All H&H courses are accepted by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) toward yearly professional development requirements for licensed center and family child care staff, including directors, lead teachers, assistant teachers, certified assistants, and volunteers. Acceptance can vary by license type, staff role, and the age group you serve. Always confirm acceptance with your EEC licensing specialist or your state's professional development registry before counting a course toward a specific regulatory requirement.

Courses that grant 5 clock hours or more may be used to meet QRIS requirements.

H&H offers coursework in all 8 Massachusetts Core Competency areas:

• Area 1 Understanding the Growth and Core Development of Children and 
• Area 2 Guiding and Interacting with Children and Youth 
• Area 3 Partnering with Families and Communities 
• Area 4 Health, Safety, and Nutrition 
• Area 5 Learning Environments and Implementing Curriculum
• Area 6 Observation, Assessment, and Documentation
• Area 7 Program Planning and Development 
• Area 8 Professionalism and Leadership 

If you want to work in a Group or School Age Child Care program licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care, as either a Teacher, Lead Teacher, or Director, you need a Professional Qualification Certification from EEC. The CDA Credential can fulfill most if not all of the requirements for the Professional Qualification Certification.

What are the benefits of having a CDA Credential in Massachusetts?

• Having a CDA (plus additional college credits and experience) qualifies you to work as a Director I or Director II in a childcare center.
• Having a CDA (plus additional experience) qualifies you to work as a lead teacher for infants and toddlers or preschoolers in a childcare center.
• Having a CDA qualifies you to work as a teacher in a childcare center.

H&H offers the CDA in Preschool, Infant/Toddler, and Family Child Care completely online. We also have an approved CDA Council Professional Development Specialist on staff! H&H is your one stop shop for the CDA.

How does the CDA support Massachusetts Professional Qualification Certification?

The Massachusetts EEC Professional Qualification Certification (PQC) recognizes a range of documented education and experience. In many cases a completed A Simple Guide to the CDA Credential plus verified college coursework and supervised experience will be used by EEC when awarding PQC. Do not assume automatic acceptance: confirm how your CDA, transcripts, and years of verified experience map to the PQC levels with your EEC licensing specialist.

1. Request official verification from the CDA Council for your credential.
2. Collect college transcripts and employer verification letters that document required supervised experience.
3. Submit documentation to EEC following the PQC instructions and keep copies for your personnel file and QRIS application.

For a practitioner-focused discussion of why the CDA matters for career steps, see Why do I need a CDA Credential?.

What documentation and portfolio steps does EEC expect when using a CDA for licensing or PQC?

EEC expects verifiable documentation: your official CDA certificate or council verification, portfolio artifacts (when applying through the CDA pathway), transcripts, and verified work history. The portfolio must show competency in practice and is often reviewed alongside other credentialing paperwork. If you are preparing a portfolio, the ChildCareEd article When Is the Right Time to Earn Your CDA offers practical preparation tips.

Actionable steps:

1. Assemble your CDA verification and all certificates issued by H&H or other training providers.
2. Prepare employer letters that specify dates, supervised hours, and duties.
3. Contact your EEC licensing specialist to confirm whether additional documentation is required for your license type or for QRIS credit.

Which H&H courses best map to Massachusetts Core Competency areas and QRIS needs?

H&H offers courses that align with Massachusetts' eight Core Competency areas (growth and development; guiding interactions; family partnership; health, safety, nutrition; learning environments; observation and assessment; program planning; professionalism). To match courses to competencies, first identify which competency area your EEC or QRIS coach prioritizes, then choose H&H modules in that area. The course pages linked at the top of this article (Preschool, Infant/Toddler, Birth-to-Five) are designed to be used together with portfolio work when appropriate.

For guidance on career paths that leverage coursework and credentials, see Pathways to Career Advancement in ECE and the practitioner-focused director guide The Ultimate Guide to Running the Show.

How do I get QRIS or licensing credit for H&H courses?

QRIS and licensing credit decisions are made by state and local authorities. H&H issues training certificates after course completion; courses of five clock hours or more are commonly considered for QRIS credit, but final acceptance depends on your license type, role, and program. Before enrolling:

1. Confirm with your EEC licensing specialist or QRIS coordinator that the H&H course title and clock hours meet the requirement you intend to satisfy.
2. Complete the course and retain the official H&H certificate and any learning artifacts required by EEC—for example, reflections, lesson plans, or observation notes.
3. Submit the certificate and supporting documentation to your registry or EEC contact following their submission guidelines (retain copies for audits).

For more on how CE and credentialing support professional practice and compliance, read Child Development and the Role of the CDA.

What should I do next?

Summary: Verify the specific requirement you need to meet (PQC level, annual professional development, or QRIS credit) with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care licensing specialist, assemble the required verification (official CDA verification, transcripts, employer letters), and enroll in the H&H course(s) that best match the relevant Core Competency areas. The ChildCareEd article A Simple Guide to the CDA Credential and Why do I need a CDA Credential? are good starting reads for planning your pathway.

This page supports your #ProfessionalDevelopment as a Massachusetts #MA early childhood professional pursuing a #CDA for #QRIS credit and career growth in #ECE.