Childcare is a vital component of a child's early development. The quality of care children receive during their formative years can significantly impact their growth and learning. Recognizing the importance of #early-childhood-education and childcare, the state of Maryland has established the Maryland Child Care Credentialing Program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing the qualifications and skills of childcare professionals.
The Importance of Quality Childcare
High-quality childcare plays a crucial role in a child's physical, cognitive, and emotional development. It provides a safe and nurturing environment for children to explore, learn, and build social skills, all of which are essential for their overall development. When childcare providers are well-trained and educated in child development, they can create an environment that fosters a child's growth and prepares them for success in school and life.
The Maryland Child Care Credentialing Program
The Maryland Child Care Credentialing Program is a quality initiative that distinguishes child care providers who exceed the minimum requirements set by State licensing regulations. This program serves as a career progression ladder, guiding individuals to progressively enhance their knowledge and skills, from basic training to advanced levels of education. This systematic professional development journey is rooted in extensive research and best practices, tailored to meet the specific needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, aligning with foundational and specialized competencies to elevate the quality and stability of the child care workforce. Providers are mandated to partake in training that encompasses all aspects of child development across various domains, as well as cultural competencies.
The program is structured around seven staff credential levels and four administrator levels, each of which recognizes a child care provider's achievement of specific training, experience, and professional activities that are integral to delivering high-quality child care programs. It is important to note that participation in the Maryland Child Care Credentialing Program is voluntary. However, it is open to and actively encouraged for all registered family child care providers, licensed child care center staff, and administrators.
Key Program Goals
Well-Qualified Workforce: The foremost objective of the program is to foster a highly qualified workforce. By offering a structured path for professional development, it empowers child care providers to continually enhance their knowledge and expertise, thereby ensuring they are better prepared to offer top-notch care.
Enhanced Child Care Quality: A primary goal of the program is to elevate the overall quality of child care programs. This not only benefits children's early development but also ensures that all children are better prepared to succeed when they enter school.
Improved Status and Compensation: The program seeks to improve the status and compensation of child care providers. Recognizing their dedication and efforts in the form of credentials, the program aims to elevate the professional standing of child care providers and provide them with more competitive compensation.
Recognition of Career Preparation: The Maryland Child Care Credentialing Program acknowledges both for-credit and non-credit career preparation, ensuring that it accommodates various pathways towards becoming a proficient child care provider.
Professional Growth through Competencies: By focusing on professional competencies, the program provides a structured framework for career advancement. It encourages child care providers to continually develop their skills and knowledge, fostering a culture of lifelong learning.
The Core of Knowledge Areas
Theories and practices that are essential for individuals working with children in child care programs are divided into six major core of knowledge areas:
- C-Curriculum
- D-Child Development
- H-Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- L-Community
- P-Professionalism
- S-Special Needs
Credential Levels
Each credential level recognizes the completion of education, experience, and professional activities.
- Level 1 – State licensing requirements.
- Level 2 – 45 clock hours of core of knowledge training and one PAU.
- Level 3 – 90 clock hours of core of knowledge training, one year of experience or one year of college and two PAUs.
- Level 4 – 135 clock hours of core of knowledge training, two years of experience and three PAUs.
- Level 4 Plus – Level 4 requirements and either NAFCC accreditation or 15 college credit hours of approved college coursework for option 2 or 3.
- Level 5 – Associate's Degree with 15 semester hours of approved coursework for option 2 or 3, two years experience and four PAUs.
- Level 6 – Bachelor's Degree or higher in an approved major for option 2 or 3, two years experience and five PAUs.
Eligibility
Registered family child care providers, child care center directors, infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age teachers, assistants and aides working part-time or fulltime in a licensed facility are eligible to participate in the credentialing program.
Application
Individuals interested in participating in the credentialing program should submit a complete application packet via fax or mail to: Fax Number 410.229.0145 Child Care Central PO Box 598 Baltimore, MD 21203
For more information call 1-877-355-1229 or email MCCCredential@conduent.com
#maryland-child-care-credential
#early-childhood
Courses & Classes related to Maryland
Online Trainings
- 1,2,3, Eyes on Me: Classroom Safety
- 18-Hour Family Child Care Renewal Training
- 18-Hour Train the Trainer
- 1-Hour Abuse and Neglect Training
- 24 Hour Family Child Care Pre-Service Training ONLINE
- 3 Hour Aide Orientation
- 45-Hour Coaching and Mentoring
- 45 hour Growth and Development Birth-age 12 ONLINE
- 45-Hour Infant and Toddler Curriculum
- 45-Hour Preschool Curriculum
- 45-Hour School Age Curriculum
- 45 Hours Director-Administration ONLINE
- 9 Hour Communication Course
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- Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Reporting
- Access for All: Inclusion and the ADA
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- A Closer Look into Developmental Theories
- Admin as Mentors in Early Education
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- A Great Place for Education Includes All ONLINE
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- Allergies and Medication in Childcare
- Anxiety: Signs & Strategies
- Appropriate Precautions in Transportation of Children
- A Thoughtful Approach to Children's Mental Health
- Autism Awareness in Child Care
- A Watchful Eye: Supervision in Early Childhood
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- Baby Steps to Milestones ONLINE
- Balance Act: Teacher & Child ONLINE
- Balancing Act: Record Keeping & Supervision
- Balancing Act: Schedules and Routines
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- Beautiful Junk: Using Recycled Materials in the Classroom
- Behind the Scenes: Baby Routines ONLINE
- Be Loud, No Bullying Allowed
- Brain Building
- Brain Injury Awareness in Young Children
- Bridging Intent and Response: Communication
- Brighter Futures: Social Emotional Development
- Building a Community of Families
- Building and Physical Premises Safety
- Business Planning: Family Child Care
- CDA #1: Health & Safety
- CDA #7: Observe & Assess
- CDA #8: Child Development/Learning
- CDA: A Closer Look at Assessments
- CDA: Approaches to Learning
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Family Child Care
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Family Child Care without Portfolio Review
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Infant/Toddler
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Infant/Toddler without Portfolio Review
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Preschool
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Preschool without Portfolio Review
- CDA: Communication: Keep It Simple
- CDA: Creating the Outdoor Classroom
- CDA: Curriculum Alignment & Materials
- CDA: Essential Tools for Record Keeping
- CDA Family Child Care Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Family Child Care Renewal
- CDA Home Visitor Credential Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 1 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 1 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 1 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 2 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 2 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 2 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 3 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 3 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 3 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 4 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 4 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 4 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 5 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 5 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 5 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 6 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 6 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 6 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 7 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 7 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 7 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 8 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 8 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 8 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requisites
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Benefits to Observing
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Brain Development and Gene Expression
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Classroom Setup
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Health and Safety
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Importance of Consistent Care
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Individualized Learning and Inclusion
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Lesson Planning Made Easy
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Smart Nutrition & Feeding
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Stages of Development
- CDA Infant/Toddler Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Infant/Toddler: Parent Relationships
- CDA Infant/Toddler Renewal
- CDA Introduction
- CDA Preschool Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Preschool Renewal
- CDA: Special Needs: Understanding the Whole Child
- CDA: Stand With Respect and Professionalism
- Character Development for Childcare Professionals
- Chef's in the Classroom
- Childcare Management
- Child Care Orientation
- Children at the Wheel ONLINE
- Children's Keepers: Building Childhood Resilience
- Classroom Arrangement: The Second Teacher
- Classroom Designers ONLINE
- Classroom Management is Collaboration!
- Classroom Positivity
- Classroom Setup for Child Care
- Classroom Tools for Emergent Literacy
- Coaching and Mentoring Techniques
- Coaching/Mentoring DEI
- Collaboration for the Win
- Communication in Coaching and Mentoring
- Community and Family Engagement in Childcare
- Community Partnerships
- Confidentiality Is a Must!
- Coordinating with Community in Child Care
- Creating the Natural Outdoor Classroom
- Cultures in the Classroom
- Curriculum Planning
- DAP for Family Child Care
- DAP for Preschool
- Day 2 Day: Provider Responsibilities
- Designing Your School-Age Classroom ONLINE
- Developing a Successful Workshop
- Developing Program Tranquility
- Developmental Screening in Early Childhood
- Diverse Perspectives in Child Care
- Early Learning with Infants and Toddlers
- ECE Programs Through History
- Effective Coaching & Mentoring in ECE
- Emergency and Disaster Preparedness- Online
- Emergent Learning & Development
- Engaging Indoor Activities for Inclement Weather
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- Enriching Education: Field Trips
- Ethical Responsibilities for Trainers
- Evaluating Performance
- Expect the Unexpected: Infants and Toddlers
- Family (or Parent) Conferencing: Developing Trust ONLINE
- FAS in Early Childhood
- Financial Assistance for Child Care
- Fragile X Syndrome in Young Children
- Getting on the Right Path to Teaching
- Going Head-to-Head with Challenging Behavior
- Grow with Me: Child Development for Mixed Ages
- Guiding School-Aged Children
- Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
- Healing Young Hearts: Stress and Grief
- Health and Nutrition
- Healthy Habits from the Start
- Heart-to-Heart Communication: Challenging Behaviors
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Depression in Young Children
- How Preschoolers Develop
- How To Keep A Healthy Class for Infants/Toddlers
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- Identifying ADHD in Child Care
- IEPs and IFSPs in Family Child Care
- Implementing the Montessori Curriculum
- Inclusive Lessons for Preschoolers
- Inclusive Montessori: Supporting Diverse Learners in the Classroom
- Individual Needs & IEPs for School Age
- Injury Prevention: Their Safety Is In Your Hands
- Intentional Safety for Infants/Toddlers
- Introduction to Coaching & Mentoring
- Intro to Cerebral Palsy
- Intro to Montessori: Philosophy, Principles, and Practices
- It's All About the Timing
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- Key Elements of an After School Age Program ONLINE
- Lesson Planning for Preschoolers
- Lesson Planning to Meet School Age Needs
- Let’s Talk: Effective Communication
- Letter & Number Planning in Child Care
- Mandated Reporters
- Mastering Observation Techniques in the Montessori Classroom
- Matchmaking for Mentors
- Meaningful Lesson Planning for Infants/Toddlers
- Meeting Adult Learners' Needs
- Mental Health in Early Childhood
- Mentoring Professional Etiquette in Child Care
- Milestones: By Leaps & Bounds
- Mind's Medicine: Music in Early Childhood
- Montessori Assistant Training
- Montessori Essentials: Mixed-Age Mastery
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- Montessori Unveiled: Demystifying the Method for Parents
- More than One Way to Look at it: Types of Early Childhood Education Programs
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- No Such Thing as Boring Math
- Observations And Goal Setting in Childcare
- Observing & Assessing in Child Care
- On My Plate: Children's Nutrition
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- Open Heart, Open Art
- Opportunity for Growth: Emotional Development
- Ouch! Biting & Hitting Hurts
- Pillars of Health and Safety in Child Care
- Playful Spaces for Infants & Toddlers
- Playing with a Purpose: Infant/Toddler Lesson Planning
- Play, Learn, Grow Online Version
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- Positive Attention: Infants and Toddlers
- Positive Attention: Interactions & Supervision of Infants & Toddlers
- Potty Training Made Simple
- Power of Art: Bldg Self-Esteem & Positive Behavior for ALL Abilities ONLINE
- Preschool Assessments & Observations
- Presentation Strategies & Training Techniques
- Preventative Health and Safety
- Prevention of and Response to Allergic Reactions
- Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Use of Safe Sleep Practices
- Professional ABC's: Attitude, Behavior, Communication
- Professional Integrity in Child Care
- Professional Partnerships & Practices
- Project-Based Learning for Children
- Raising Peaceful Learners: The Montessori Advantage
- Requirements of Trainers
- Resources: Building Blocks to Excellence
- Roadmapping Preschool Curriculum
- Role of Play in Learning
- Rooted in History: Early Childhood
- School Age Regs and Professionalism ONLINE
- Self-Regulation & Change: Helping Children Cope
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Shifting Gears to Respect
- Shoo, Germs! Don't Bother Me!
- SIDS: Saving Babies: A Change of Position, A Change in Tradition
- SMART Goals in Coaching & Mentoring
- Solutions NOT Punishments
- Spaces that Support Discovery
- Special Babies
- Special Needs: From Referral to Inclusion
- Spicing Up the Classroom: Learning Centers
- Staff Supervision, Observation & Feedback
- Stay Alert! Steps to Emergency Prep Online Version
- Staying Positive: Guidance for Preschoolers
- Strength in Differences: Cultural Diversity
- Student Success: Expectations & Independence
- Success in Safety for Babies
- Super Special School Agers ONLINE
- Supervision with Intent for Admin
- Supporting Breastfeeding Practices In Child Care
- Supporting Children's Independence
- Supporting Children with Hearing Loss
- Supporting Little Hearts: Divorce and Separation in the Child Care Setting
- Supporting School Age Development ONLINE
- Supporting Skill Development: Children with Special Needs
- Supporting Social Learning: Creating Classrooms that Care
- Tailoring Instruction to Children's Needs
- Teacher/Child Interactions in the School-Age Classroom
- Teacher Mentoring in ECE
- Teacher & Me Playtime
- Teachers, Assemble! Building Up Staff in Child Care
- Teach with Respect ONLINE
- Technology as a Classroom Tool
- The Balancing Act for Administrators: Managing Responsibilities
- The Best Promotion is Play
- The Ethical Code of Child Care
- The First Year: Feeding Infants
- The Foundations of Coaching & Mentoring
- The Montessori Assistant's Toolkit
- Theories on How I Grow
- Theory of Learning
- Theory of Mentoring and Coaching in Early Childhood
- The Prepared Environment: Montessori Class Design
- The Right Kind of Influence for Young Children
- The Super Hero in Us All
- Toddlers and Theories
- Tomorrow's Einsteins: Infant and Toddler Science
- Training Guide for Families from Diverse Language and Cultural Backgrounds
- Transportation Safety
- Typical & Atypical Development in ECE
- Understanding Developmental Disabilities
- Understanding Montessori's Approach to Child Development
- Understanding Print Knowledge in Preschool
- Understanding the Coach's Role
- Universal Language of Coaching & Mentoring
- Using AI Language Models for Trainers
- Using Toys to Support Learning
- Viewing Guidance in a Positive Light
- Watch Me Grow: School Age Development ONLINE
- Ways to Serve: Leadership
- Working Together: Teachers & Preschoolers
- Working With Mixed Age Groups
- Writing Training Goals & Objectives
- Writing Workshop Proposals & Assessments
- You're Not My Friend Anymore: Learning Conflict Resolution
In-person/blended trainings
- 24-Hour Family Child Care Pre-Service Training
- 45 Hour Child Growth and Development
- 45-Hour Director-Administration
- 45 Hour Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials
- 45 Hour Preschool Methods and Materials
- 45 Hour School Age Methods and Materials
- 6 Hour Medication Administration Training (MAT)
- A Better Space For All
- Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Reporting
- Access for All: Inclusion and the ADA
- Active Supervision: A Strategy That Works
- Addressing Bullying Among School Age Children
- Administering Basic Health and Safety Overview
- A Great Place for Education Includes ALL
- An Introduction to Child Development Theorists
- An Overview to Implementing MSDE Center Based Licensing Regs
- Are They Ready for Kindergarten?
- Art from the Heart for Preschoolers: Open Ended Art Projects that Build Self-Esteem
- Assessing through Observation
- Asthma, Allergy and Anaphylaxis Prevention and Management Training for Early Education Providers
- Authentic Montessori in Action
- Baby Steps to Milestones
- Balancing Act: Teacher & Child
- Basic Health & Safety and Breastfeeding Awareness
- Basic Science in Early Childhood
- Beautiful Junk: Using Recycled Materials in the Classroom
- Behind the Scenes: Baby Routines
- Best Practice: Supervising Children
- Bridging Intent and Response: Communication
- Building a Community of Families
- Building Bridges for Dual Language Learners
- Business Planning: Family Child Care
- Bye-Bye Bullies: Preventing and Addressing Bullying in Early Childhood
- CDA Preparation: From Training to Application
- Chef's in the Classroom
- Child Care Orientation
- Childhood Basics: Discipline, Curriculum and Development
- Children at the Wheel: Emergent Curriculum
- Classroom Arrangement: The Second Teacher
- Classroom Designers
- Classroom Positivity
- Classroom Tools for Emergent Literacy
- Cooking up Success in the Preschool Curriculum
- CPR, AED & FIRST AID
- Creating Routines for Love and Learning
- Curriculum Planning
- DAP for Family Child Care
- DAP for Preschool
- Designing Your School Age Classroom
- Developing Program Tranquility
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education
- Educational Evolution-The History of Early Childhood Education
- Effective Supervision in Child Care
- Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- Emergent Learning & Development
- Engaging Families During a Pandemic
- Engaging Indoor Activities for Inclement Weather
- Enhancing Life & Development
- Exceptional Children and Early Intervention
- Exclusion of Children with Fevers from Child Care
- Facilitating Learning in the Preschool Classroom
- Family (or Parent) Conferencing: Developing Trust
- First Aid & CPR Blended
- First Aid & CPR: RSV
- Floods, Earthquakes, Tornados Oh My...Tips for Helping Children Cope
- Food Allergies in Child Care
- From Stress to Wellness
- From Tantrums to Triumphs: Equipping Preschoolers with Self-Regulation Skills
- Grow with Me: Child Development for Mixed Ages
- Health and Nutrition
- Healthy Habits From the Start
- Help Me Sleep Safety: SIDS/SUID Prevention
- How Do I Relate and Share Professionally?
- How To Keep A Healthy Class: Six Tips for Germ Control
- Including All Children and the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Introduction to ASQ-3 & ASQ Online
- Key Elements of an After School Program
- Know Me For My Abilities
- Let's Talk: Skills for Effective Communication
- Look What I Can Do! Developmental Disabilities Overview
- Making Families Welcome
- Management Basics: Leadership, Planning and Budgeting
- Mandated Reporters
- Marketing Your Family Child Care
- Math in Early Childhood
- Milestones: By Leaps & Bounds
- Module I - Budgets, Projections, and Planning for Center-Based Child Care Providers
- Module I - Budgets, Projections, and Planning for Family Child Care
- Module II - Financial Reports and Internal Controls for Center-Based Child Care Providers
- Module II - Financial Reports and Internal Controls for Family Child Care
- Module III – Marketing Your Program for Center-Based Child Care Providers
- Module III - Marketing Your Program for Family Child Care
- Module IV – Recruiting and Retaining Staff for Center-Based Child Care Providers
- Money Matters: Free Resources
- Montessori Made Simple: For Today's Teachers
- More than one Way to Look at it: Types of Early Childhood Education Programs
- Moving About the Classroom: Effective Transitions for Everyday
- MSDE Training Voucher Info Session via Zoom
- Nurture Me: Child Development for Young Children
- One World, Many Cultures!
- Ouch! Biting & Hitting Hurts
- Our School Age Family Tree: Children, Staff, & Parents
- Playful Learning: Infant & Toddler Activities
- Playful Spaces: Designing the Infant & Toddler Classroom
- Play, Learn, Grow
- Positive Attention: Interactions & Supervision for Infants & Toddlers
- Potty Training Made Simple
- Power of Art: Bldg Self-Esteem & Positive Behavior for ALL Abilities
- Preventing Childhood Obesity
- Quality Care...Supporting Families with Integrity
- Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Risk Reduction: Infants and Toddlers in Family Child Care
- Safe Haven: Health & Safety in Family Child Care
- School Age Regs and Professionalism
- Seeing All of Me: Overview of Autism and ADHD
- Setting the Stage: Story Time
- Shifting Gears to Positive Discipline
- Shifting Gears To RESPECT
- SIDS: Saving Babies: A Change of Position, A Change in Tradition
- Staff Supervision, Observation & Feedback
- Stay Alert! Steps for Emergency Prep
- Stressbusters: Stress Management for Childcare Providers
- Success in Safety for Babies
- Super Special School Agers
- Supporting Breastfeeding Practices in Child Care
- Supporting Little Hearts: Divorce and Separation in the Child Care Setting
- Supporting School Age Development
- Supporting Social Learning: Creating Classrooms that Care
- Tag Team Approach
- Teach the Montessori Way: A Practical Guide
- Teach with Respect!
- Team: Together Everyone Achieves More
- The Balancing Act for Administrators: Managing Responsibilities
- The Best Promotion is Play
- The Montessori Classroom: Theory to Practice
- Theories on How I Grow
- The Subtle Teacher: Nonverbal Communication in the Classroom
- Toddlers and Theories
- Training Guide for Families from Diverse Language and Cultural Backgrounds
- Transportation and Field Trip Safety
- Turning Behavior Around for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Universal Design and Materials for Children with All Abilities
- Using AI Language Models for Trainers
- Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom
- Using Your Senses to Adapt Environments
- Watching Closely: Supervision and Family Child Care COMAR Regulations
- Watch Me Grow: School Age Development
- What Makes Me Special: An Overview of Autism and ADHD
- Wings of Independence