UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Maryland - post

Maryland-Approved Child Care Training You Can Trust (CKO-380)

If you work in child care in Maryland, keeping up with training requirements is essential for licensing, employment, and professional growth. ChildCareEd is a Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)–approved training organization, recognized by the Office of Child Care (OCC). Our Training Organization Approval Code: CKO-380 appears on every Maryland-approved certificate you earn, so you can feel confident your training is valid and accepted statewide.

ChildCareEd courses are approved to meet Maryland’s child care licensing and continued training requirements for:

• Child care centers
• Family child care homes
• Large family child care homes

We also hold IACET Accreditation, which means your CEUs meet ANSI/IACET standards and are respected not only across Maryland, but nationally as well.

What Maryland Approved Training Does ChildCareEd Provide?

We provide self-paced online training and instructor-led classes that fulfill Maryland requirements including:

Pre-Service Training for New Hires

• 6 Hour Medication Administration
• First Aid & CPR Blended
• Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
• Including All Children and the Americans with Disabilities Act 
• Basic Health & Safety and Breastfeeding Awareness
• SIDS: Saving Babies: A Change of Position, A Change in Tradition 
• 9 Hour Communication Course

Lead Teacher Qualification

To qualify as a Lead Teacher in a Maryland child care center, MSDE requires 90 clock hours of approved coursework:

• 45-hour Growth and Development
• 45 hours in Curriculum Planning

ChildCareEd offers all MSDE approved 45-hour trainings online, including:

• 45-hour Growth and Development Birth-age 12 ONLINE
• 45-Hour Infant and Toddler Curriculum 
• 45-Hour Preschool Curriculum 
• 45-Hour School Age Curriculum

Director & Administrator Training

If you are (or plan to become) a Child Care Center Director, Maryland requires an additional:

• 45 Hours Director-Administration

ChildCareEd’s Director Training Program meets all MSDE/OCC standards for centers serving 20 or more children, helping you qualify confidently and efficiently.

Family Child Care & Large Family Child Care Providers

Maryland family and large family child care providers must complete preservice and renewal training aligned with Core of Knowledge areas. ChildCareEd offers approved online options such as:

• 24 Hour Family Child Care Pre-Service Training
• 18-Hour Family Child Care Renewal Training

These trainings cover required COK areas, including Child Development, Curriculum, Health & Safety, Special Needs, Professionalism, and Community.

Annual 12-Hour Continued Training

All Maryland child care professionals must complete 12 hours of continued training every year, including:

• 6 hours Core of Knowledge
• 6 hours elective training

ChildCareEd makes this simple with 200+ MSDE-approved online courses, so you can pick topics that match your classroom needs and career goals.

CDA Credential & Bridge Courses

ChildCareEd supports Maryland providers pursuing the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential or renewal fully online. Options include:

• Birth to Five CDA Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Infant/Toddler Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Preschool Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Family Child Care Credential with Portfolio Review
• CDA Home Visitor Credential Birth to 5
• CDA Infant/Toddler Renewal
• CDA Preschool Renewal
• CDA Family Child Care Renewal

We also offer CDA Bridge Bundles for Maryland professionals who already hold a 90-hour certification. These bundles provide the remaining 30 hours needed to meet CDA prerequisites and align with MSDE and Council for Professional Recognition standards.

• CDA Bridge Bundle: Preschool
• CDA Bridge Bundle: Infant/Toddler
• CDA Bridge Bundle: Family Child Care

Maryland Licensing Contact Information

Training requirements can change, so it’s always wise to confirm your current standards directly with licensing:

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) 

Division of Early Childhood — Office of Child Care (OCC)

• Phone Number: (410) 767-0100 or 1-888-246-0016
• Email: licensingocc.msde@maryland.gov
• Child Care Licensing Website