🍑 What Training Does DECAL Require Each Year for Georgia Childcare Staff? - post

For every #early-childhood professional in Georgia, compliance is a year-round commitment governed by Bright from the Start: The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). The cornerstone of this compliance is the annual training mandate, which ensures #staff knowledge remains current in #safety, #health, and #developmental best practices.

The core annual requirement for all supervisory and caregiver staff in a licensed program is 10 clock hours of diverse training per calendar year (January through December), following the staff member's first year of employment. However, simply reaching the 10-hour total is not enough; recent changes to the rules mandate specific allocation of those hours, emphasizing key developmental areas like literacy and health. This training must be DECAL-approved and documented through the state's official system, the Georgia Professional Development System (GAPDS).

---

🕒 The Core Annual Mandate: 10 Hours of Diverse Training

DECAL requires all employees providing direct care to children—from #teachers-and assistants to directors—to participate in ongoing professional development. This requirement is in place to support the goals of the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS) and the state's Quality Rated (QR) system.

Defining the Annual Obligation

• Required Hours: 10 clock hours of state-approved, diverse training must be obtained annually.

• Time Frame: The training must be completed during the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). This is distinct from the first-year training, which is based on the staff member's hire date.

• Approval Source: All training must be provided by an accredited college or university, vocational program, or a source approved by DECAL. Using non-approved training may result in non-compliance during a licensing review.

Purpose of Diversity

The 10 hours must be in "diverse training topics" related to the care of children. The purpose of diversity is to ensure staff do not focus exclusively on one area, but rather strengthen knowledge across the spectrum of #early-childhood-education (ECE), including:

• Child Development and Learning

• Health, Safety, and Nutrition

• Guidance and Discipline Techniques

• Administration and Professionalism (Note: No more than two hours can be business-related, such as recordkeeping or management).

---

🎯 Mandatory Content Areas Within the 10 Hours

Recent changes to the DECAL rules have made the annual training requirement more prescriptive, ensuring that staff allocate time to the state's highest developmental priorities. Within the mandatory 10 hours, specific allocations must now be met:

New Mandatory Allocations

1. Language and Literacy Focus: At least two (2) hours of the 10-hour annual training must be in evidence-based, #developmentally-appropriate #language and literacy practices. This emphasis #stems from state initiatives like the Georgia Early Literacy Act, recognizing the foundational role of early #language-skills.

2. Ongoing Health and Safety: At least two (2) hours of the 10-hour annual training must be dedicated to ongoing child development and #health-and-safety related topics. This reinforces the foundational importance of #health-and safety best practices beyond the initial training period.

By prioritizing training that addresses these specific areas, Georgia ensures that its workforce is actively supporting the state's literacy goals and maintaining a high standard of child well-being. Using state-approved online training is often the most flexible way to meet these specific hour requirements: Georgia Approved Child Care Courses.

---

🚨 Training Outside the Annual 10-Hour Mandate

It is critical for #Georgia staff to understand that the 10-hour annual requirement is separate from, and does not replace, several key recurring certification mandates necessary for operation. These courses are essential for life-safety and must be current at all times.

Recurring Life-Safety Certifications

• Pediatric First Aid and CPR: All staff with direct care responsibilities must maintain current certification in Pediatric First Aid (renewed typically every three years) and Pediatric CPR (renewed typically every two years). Note: In Georgia, these training hours generally do not count toward the 10-hour annual requirement, meaning staff must complete them in addition to the annual 10 hours.

• Child Abuse and Neglect (Mandated Reporter): All staff are mandated reporters. While required initial training is comprehensive, ongoing education on this topic is essential and contributes to the overall safety focus of the program.

---

The Importance of Initial Training

New staff members must also complete a specific set of training within their first 90 days of employment, including:

• Initial Program Orientation: Conducted by the program director, covering center policies, #emergency plans, and specific facility procedures.

• 10-Hour Health and Safety Orientation Training: This specialized training covers core topics like SIDS, medication administration, infectious disease control, and child #abuse. This training is only required once, not annually, but must be completed within the first 90 days of employment.

---

📈 Leveraging Training for Professional Growth

The Georgia professional development system is designed to reward #educators for consistent training through the Career Lattice managed within the GAPDS. Viewing the annual 10 hours as an investment, not just a mandate, can dramatically improve an educator's #career trajectory and earning potential.

The GAPDS and Career Advancement

Every hour of approved training completed goes onto the educator's official transcript in GAPDS. This transcript is the primary piece of documentation used by the state to verify credentials and qualifications.

• Credential Attainment: Consistent annual training is necessary to maintain and advance through the ECE professional levels. Educators who strategically choose courses that align with the requirements of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential or college coursework use their annual hours as stepping stones to higher qualifications.

• Quality Rated Impact: Staff with higher credentials and more verified training hours directly increase the center's score in the Quality Rated system. This can #lead to increased subsidy reimbursement rates and grant opportunities for the program, which can then be used to support higher staff wages.

• Career Planning: Understanding how the 10 annual hours connect to the larger ECE career structure empowers staff to plan their professional future strategically. This information is vital for long-term career planning: Earning Credentials and Understanding Career Ladders for Childcare Providers.

By treating the annual training requirement as a driver of skill development, staff can secure better positions and better wages, ultimately leading to greater stability in the Georgia ECE workforce.

---

📝 Administrative Compliance: Tracking in GAPDS

For both staff and providers, ensuring the 10 annual hours are officially recorded is paramount. If training is not documented in GAPDS, it does not count for compliance purposes.

Keys to Successful Documentation

1. Use Approved Trainers: Always choose a trainer whose courses are approved by DECAL, as these providers are authorized to upload completion data directly to GAPDS.

2. Verify GAPDS ID: Ensure your facility director has your correct and active GAPDS ID. Without this number, automatic upload systems cannot credit the training to your record.

3. Review Transcripts: Staff should log into their GAPDS accounts periodically (at least quarterly) to verify that all training hours have been credited correctly, especially toward the end of the calendar year.

Consistency in tracking ensures smooth operations, as highlighted in Georgia's training guides: Georgia Childcare Training Overview Article.

---

📚 Helpful Resources

🔗 Training Resource (Georgia Approved Courses): https://www.childcareed.com/courses_in-GA-georgia.html

🔗 State Overview Article: https://www.childcareed.com/a/united-states-of-america-georgia.html

🔗 Career Ladder Resource: https://www.childcareed.com/r-00187-earning-credentials-and-understanding-career-ladders-for-childcare-providers.html

---

📲 Connect With ChildCareEd

Follow ChildCareEd on social media for updates, tips, and more:

👉 X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/childcareed