State-Approved Trainings in Minnesota: A Clear Guide for Child Care Professionals - post

Whether you’re a child care teacher, family child care provider, assistant, or director in Minnesota, understanding state-approved training requirements is essential for licensing, compliance, and professional growth. This article explains how state-approved trainings work in Minnesota, what kinds of trainings are required, how online options fit into the picture, and where you can find quality courses.

What Does “State-Approved Training” Mean?

In Minnesota, trainings for #early-childhood professionals are reviewed and approved through the Minnesota Center for Professional Development (MNCPD) system called Achieve and tracked in the Develop Registry. Courses that appear in the Develop Registry count toward your required training hours for licensing and ongoing professional #development.

Approved trainings are designed to:

• Meet Minnesota’s #health, safety, and professional standards.

• Provide clock hours that count toward annual training requirements.

• Support licensing requirements for child care centers and family child care #homes.

• Expand your knowledge in child development, behavior guidance, health & safety, and more.

Minnesota accepts face-to-face, online, and relationship-based training (like mentoring or coaching) if the trainings are approved by MNCPD.

Core Training Requirements in Minnesota

Initial License Training

Before becoming licensed in Minnesota, child care providers must complete certain core trainings, including:

• Child development and behavior guidance

• Pediatric first aid and CPR

• Health and safety training

• Supervising for safety

• Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) (for infant care)

• Abusive Head Trauma (AHT) (for infants and #toddlers)

These training areas help ensure caregivers are ready to keep children safe and supported from day one.

Ongoing / Annual Training

After initial licensing, Minnesota requires continuing training every year:

• Family child care providers must complete 16 hours of ongoing training annually.

• Child care center #staff must complete ongoing in-service training; the specific number of hours depends on role and program type.

Annual training can be completed in many topic areas, including curriculum planning, child growth and learning, #health-and-safety, professional development, family engagement, and more.

Approved Online Trainings: A Flexible Option

Online training has become a popular and convenient way to meet Minnesota’s training requirements without sacrificing your work schedule. Many reputable online providers offer Minnesota-approved courses that automatically report hours to the Develop Registry when you add your Registry ID to your account.

Example Online Training Provider: ChildCareEd

ChildCareEd.com is a Develop-approved Training Sponsor Organization for Minnesota (TSO #142735), meaning many of their online courses are recognized for state credit.

Here are examples of what you can find on their platform:

🔗 Training offered at ChildCareEd.com:
👉 Minnesota approved trainings offered at ChildCareEd

🔗 Resource offered at ChildCareEd.com:
👉 Free Resource Center 

🔗 Article posted on ChildCareEd.com:
👉 A Complete Guide to ChildCareEd Courses for Providers in Minnesota — a helpful overview of using the platform for your professional development.

📸 Follow ChildCareEd on Instagram for updates, tips, and new training announcements

What Types of Trainings Count?

Health & Safety

State-approved trainings often include topics that help keep children safe in everyday and emergency situations:

• CPR and First Aid

• Health & Safety basics

• Injury prevention

• Sanitation and hygiene

These trainings are essential for meeting licensing requirements and protecting children’s well-being.

Child Development and Behavior

Understanding how children grow physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively is a cornerstone of quality care. Trainings in this area:

• Introduce #developmental-milestones

• Teach positive behavior guidance strategies

• Help providers tailor learning environments to child needs

Curriculum and Classroom Management

Approved trainings can help you design meaningful learning experiences:

• Early literacy and math foundations

• Designing engaging play environments

• Supporting social-emotional learning

These courses contribute to high-quality programs that support children’s overall development.

Professional Development

Trainings in professionalism help you grow as an #educator and #leader:

• Team #leadership and communication

• Time management and organization

• Career pathways and credentialing

How to Ensure Your Training Counts

To make sure your training hours are accepted in Minnesota:

1. Choose courses approved by the Minnesota Center for Professional Development and listed in the Develop Registry.

2. Add your Develop Registry ID to your online provider profile before starting training so hours can be reported.

3. Track your certificates carefully in case you need them for licensing or audits.

4. Check with your licensor if you have questions about specific requirements or credit.

Tips for Choosing Trainings

Use these tips when selecting trainings:

• Match trainings to your role. Some are designed specifically for directors, while others are geared to family child care or #classroom- #teachers.

• Plan ahead. Spread required hours throughout the year so you’re not rushed near renewal deadlines.

• Mix topics. A combination of health & safety, child development, and professional growth makes your learning well-rounded.

Final Thoughts

Minnesota’s state-approved training requirements are designed to improve the quality of child care and ensure providers have up-to-date skills grounded in research and best practices. By using trusted training sources like ChildCareEd and staying current with the Develop Registry, you can confidently meet your licensing requirements and continue to grow professionally.