90 Hour Certification Training for Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and School Age - post

The 90-Hour Certification is an important training for people who want to work as a lead teacher in child care. It is commonly used for Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and School-Age teachers. This training helps providers learn about child development, lesson planning, safety, and working with families.

Many child care programs and employers look for this training when hiring staff. In Maryland, the 90-Hour Certification connects closely to child care staffing requirements and MSDE rules.

For a helpful Maryland resource, visit Staff Requirements

What is the 90-Hour Certification?

The 90-Hour Certification is usually made up of two parts.

The first 45 hours focus on Child Growth and Development. This part covers how children grow, learn, and develop from birth through age 12.

The second 45 hours focus on Curriculum, Methods, and Materials for a specific age group. You choose the age group that matches your role:

• Infant/Toddler

• Preschool

• School-Age

Together, these two parts help prepare teachers to plan activities, support child development, and create safe, age-appropriate learning environments.

Who needs a 90-Hour Certification?

This training is often needed by lead teachers in child care programs, especially in Maryland. It can also help staff members who want to grow in their careers or qualify for new roles.

In many cases, people who need this training include:

• new lead teachers

• child care staff moving into a higher role

• teachers working toward state qualifications

• providers planning to continue toward a CDA

State rules can be different, so it is always important to check your state licensing agency before registering.

What do the 90-hour courses cover?

The 90 hours cover important topics that child care teachers use every day.

The Child Growth and Development section focuses on:

• developmental milestones

• social and emotional growth

• observation

• assessment

• how children learn

The Curriculum, Methods, and Materials section focuses on:

• lesson planning

• classroom routines

• age-appropriate materials

• learning through play

• creating meaningful activities

This training helps teachers better understand children and build stronger classrooms.

Which 90-Hour course should I choose?

The right course depends on the age group you work with or plan to work with.

If you work with babies and young toddlers, choose the Infant/Toddler option. If you work with children in preschool classrooms, choose the Preschool option. If you work with older children before and after school or in out-of-school-time programs, choose the School-Age option.

ChildCareEd offers age-specific options, including:

• 45-Hour Preschool Curriculum

• 45-Hour School Age Curriculum

• 45-Hour Infant and Toddler Curriculum

Can I take the 90-Hour Certification online?

Yes. ChildCareEd offers self-paced online options, which makes it easier to fit training into a busy schedule.

You can take the course from your phone, computer, or laptop any day of the week, at any time. Because the course is self-paced, you can log in and complete as much or as little as you want each time. There is no daily time limit, so your progress depends on your schedule.

From the day you purchase the course, you have one year to complete it. This gives you plenty of time to work through the training at your own pace.

Can the 90 hours help me work toward a CDA?

Yes. For many teachers, the 90-Hour Certification is a strong step toward earning a CDA.

Since a CDA requires 120 training hours, Maryland allows providers who already have their 90 hours to complete just 30 additional hours to reach the full 120-hour requirement. This makes the 90-Hour Certification a smart starting point for teachers who want to continue growing in their careers.

ChildCareEd offers these additional 30 hours through its CDA Bridge Bundle. There are options with portfolio review and without portfolio review.

Why does the 90-Hour Certification matter?

This training matters because children benefit from skilled, prepared teachers. Programs also run more smoothly when staff have a shared understanding of child development, learning, and safety.

The 90-Hour Certification can help by:

• improving classroom quality

• helping teachers feel more confident

• building family trust

• supporting career growth

• preparing staff for future credentials

It is one of the most useful trainings for people who want to become stronger early childhood professionals.

Do I need to repeat all 90 hours for a new age group?

Not always. In many cases, if you already completed the 45-hour Child Growth and Development course, you may only need the 45-hour Curriculum, Methods, and Materials course for the new age group.

This can save time if you want to add another teaching qualification later.