Subscriptions at ChildCareEd! - post

If you work in #early-childhood-education, you already know that professional #development is not optional—it’s part of doing the job well and meeting ongoing requirements. The challenge is finding training that is easy to access, relevant to your work, and budget-friendly. Subscriptions often include CDA coursework and introductory trainings; popular examples are CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $500.00$400.00 and CDA Introduction Buy Now $0.00, which many educators use toward credentialing and renewal.

That’s exactly what ChildCareEd subscriptions are designed to do. Instead of purchasing one class at a time, you can choose a subscription tier and get unlimited access to select online courses for a full year, with additional perks depending on the plan you select.

Below is a clear, easy-to-follow overview of what ChildCareEd offers on the subscriptions page, how the tiers work, and how you can pick the best fit for your role.

What is a ChildCareEd subscription?

A ChildCareEd subscription is a per-user, per-year membership that gives you access to training in a way that’s simple and predictable. You pay one annual price for the tier you want, then complete training as needed throughout the year. For the official list of inclusions, exclusions, and admin features, see the ChildCareEd subscriptions page: Subscription details.

ChildCareEd emphasizes that these subscriptions were created to give #educators more options and more flexibility—especially for those who need ongoing hours and want to learn online. The subscription page also highlights the breadth of their training library, including 1000+ hours of online training and 100+ instructor-led courses.

What subscription tiers does ChildCareEd offer?

ChildCareEd offers three subscription tiers, each priced per user, per year:

• Basic – $65/year
• Plus – $99/year
• Instructor-Led – $149/year

If you're planning budgets or comparing providers, also see Best Teacher Discounts for Classroom Supplies and Training for cost-saving ideas and How to get a CDA for free to explore low-cost credential options.

All three are built around the same core idea: you get strong value through unlimited training access, and you choose a plan based on whether you also want CDA training options and/or monthly instructor-led learning.

What’s included in each subscription plan?

On the subscriptions page, ChildCareEd lists several features associated with their subscription packages. These benefits are meant to make training easier, faster, and less stressful for educators and administrators.

Here are key features highlighted:

• Unlimited select online courses
• Training history reporting (a history report of trainings)
• Free certificate reprints for the past 4 years
• Immediate access to certificates upon successful completion
• Online training text translated into different languages
• Free expedited Emergency Plan review within 24 hours
• Travel fee waived for onsite training within 10 miles of zip code 20878
• VIP coupons and promotions
• Immediate access to online trainings

These perks are especially helpful if you’re trying to keep your documentation organized, need quick proof of completion, or want extra support services included with your training plan.

How do the subscription plans differ in practice?

Is Basic the best value for continuing education hours?

The Basic plan is positioned as the “best value” option for educators who mainly want unlimited training toward continuing education requirements.

This can be a strong fit if:

• You primarily need yearly training hours for licensing/renewal
• You want the #freedom to take courses as needed without paying per course
• You don’t necessarily need CDA-specific coursework bundled in

Does Plus include CDA online coursework in the subscription?

The Plus plan builds on Basic by adding CDA online (for example, the CDA Preschool Credential) Buy Now $500.00$400.00 access for course requirements, alongside unlimited training.

This can be a smart fit if:

• You’re working toward your CDA Credential (or supporting staff who are)
• You want one subscription that covers both general training and CDA coursework
• You like the simplicity of one annual membership for a bigger training goal

ChildCareEd describes Plus as the “better value” because it includes unlimited online training plus CDA online training for course requirements.

What does the Instructor-Led plan add to a subscription?

The Instructor-Led plan includes everything above and adds the option to attend a virtual class each month, led by an Educational Specialist.

This plan may be ideal if:

• You learn best with live guidance and interaction
• You want a predictable way to add a live class experience to your year
• You’re balancing ongoing requirements with a goal like completing CDA coursework

A related ChildCareEd article also describes instructor-led access as including one instructor-led training per calendar month (for plans that include it).

Can I buy subscriptions in bulk for my staff?

ChildCareEd also shows options to buy subscriptions in bulk, including:

• 3 seats
• 10 seats
• 50 seats

This is helpful for directors, owners, and administrators who want to train a team while keeping #costs predictable.

What important exclusions and policies should I know before purchasing?

Like many training memberships, subscriptions have a few important limitations. ChildCareEd states that First Aid/CPR, 45 Hour Maryland Pre-Service Trainings, and 6-Hr Medication Training are excluded from subscription packages. For the vendor's official explanation of exclusions and administrative details, see the ChildCareEd Subscriptions FAQs: ChildCareEd Subscriptions FAQs

They also note:

• Subscriptions are non-refunded
• Subscriptions cannot be prorated

This is worth keeping in mind if you’re purchasing for staff or planning around a program budget cycle.

How should I choose the best subscription for me or my staff?

If you’re not sure which tier to choose, here’s a simple way to decide:

• Choose Basic if your main goal is continuing education hours at the lowest yearly cost.
• Choose Plus if you want continuing education + CDA online coursework included in the same subscription.
• Choose Instructor-Led if you want CDA + unlimited training and you like the idea of a monthly live virtual class option for added support and structure.

How can I use subscriptions to support staff training and Maryland licensing?

If you operate or staff a program in Maryland, subscriptions can simplify meeting many training needs, but you must consider Maryland's licensing and pre-service requirements. ChildCareEd explicitly notes that certain Maryland-specific trainings (for example, the 45 Hour Maryland Pre-Service trainings) are excluded from subscription packages and must be arranged separately; check the official subscriptions details and FAQ for program-specific policies and administrative options. See the official subscriptions page for the authoritative list of exclusions and the FAQs for group/admin features: ChildCareEd subscriptions page and ChildCareEd Subscriptions FAQs. For official admin and exclusion details see the ChildCareEd Subscriptions FAQs: https://www.childcareed.com/a/vip-subscriptions-q-a.html.

Practical steps for Maryland directors and trainers:

If you are operating in Illinois rather than Maryland, see our state-focused guidance: Your CDA Roadmap in Illinois for Illinois-specific credentialing and training notes.

• Compare the subscription inclusions with Maryland licensing requirements before purchasing; if your staff require the excluded 45-hour pre-service or MAT/First Aid/CPR, budget to buy those separately.
• Use the ChildCareEd Admin Portal to assign seats and track training history for your team; the FAQs describe limits on unfinished courses, auto-renewal, and bulk pricing (ChildCareEd Subscriptions FAQs).
• Combine subscriptions with targeted courses (for example, CDA Bridge Bundles for Maryland providers) to meet credentialing goals while keeping most annual training under a single cost.

Helpful related articles and resources on ChildCareEd:

• How to get a CDA for free
• Online Child Care Training en Español
• Your Guide to the 45-Hour Child Care Courses (example state guidance)
• Child Care Resource Center in North Carolina: What it is and how it helps
• Your CDA Roadmap in Illinois
• Best Teacher Discounts for Classroom Supplies and Training

What is the final takeaway?

ChildCareEd subscriptions offer a predictable, cost-effective way to meet most annual professional development needs—particularly continuing-education hours and, when included in the plan, CDA coursework. Before purchasing, reconcile subscription inclusions and exclusions with your state licensing rules (for example, Maryland's excluded 45-hour pre-service trainings and certain in-person Medication/First Aid requirements) and budget separately for any required courses that are excluded.

For administrators purchasing for staff, subscriptions simplify seat assignment and reporting through the Admin Portal and can lower per-seat costs when bought in bulk. Choose Basic if you primarily need continuing-education hours; choose Plus to include CDA online coursework; choose Instructor-Led if you value a monthly live class for added structure. Use subscriptions for predictable, year-long training while pairing them with targeted purchases for excluded items.

What should I do next to choose and implement a subscription?

Use these steps to pick a plan and get staff set up quickly:

1. Compare your staff licensing needs to subscription inclusions and exclusions; if required trainings are excluded, budget separately for those courses.
2. Buy the subscription tier that matches your goals (Basic for CE hours; Plus to include CDA online coursework; Instructor-Led for monthly live classes) and assign seats via the Admin Portal (Subscriptions FAQs).
3. Track completions using training history reporting, reprint certificates as needed, and pair the subscription with targeted purchases (for example, CDA coursework) to meet credentialing goals.

References

Verified ChildCareEd sources cited in this article:

• ChildCareEd: Subscriptions details — official summary of subscription tiers, per‑user pricing, included online content, and listed exclusions (supports the article's tier and inclusion/exclusion descriptions).
• ChildCareEd: Subscriptions FAQs — admin and group purchase details, account limits, exclusions (for example, courses longer than 6 hours, Medication Administration Training, First Aid/CPR), and instructor-led limits (supports the article's practical and admin guidance).