Training Information
Required Initial Trainings
The Family Day Home operator must complete the trainings below prior to licensure.
Penn State (Better Kid Care): Virginia Pre-Service Training for Child Care Staff – 10 hours
This free on demand orientation course provides an overview of basic and health and safety requirements and best practices in ten of the topic areas outlined in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization; and was specifically created for professionals who work with children and families in Virginia.
Penn State (Better Kid Care) Health & Safety Updates for Childcare Staff – 3 hours
This free on demand annual training is a follow-up to the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff training*. This training course is required for all staff that work directly with children in childcare program (center-based and family) that participate in the Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program. This training is to be taken annually, with the first update completed within one year after completing the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff.
*If you have completed the 10-hour training during the current year, you are not required to complete the 3-hour training until the following year.
Penn State (Better Kid Care) Safe Sleep Practices for Caregivers: SUID – 1 hour
Providing high quality sleep environments and understanding Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) is an essential part of a childcare provider’s job. This course focuses on defining SUID and identifying behaviors that affect and reduce the risk of sleep related SUID.
VDSS: Recognizing & Reporting Abuse and Neglect (for Educators) – 1 hour
This training module prepares Virginia teachers who are mandated by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect.
NDHS: Mandatory Reporting – 2 hours
Home-Based Childcare providers have a legal responsibility to report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The purpose of mandated reporter training is to inform on how to identify suspected abused and neglected children or vulnerable adults as soon as possible so that they can be protected from harm. Attendees will also learn the steps to take for reporting suspected abuse and/or neglect. This training is facilitated by Norfolk Department of Human Services staff.
*This training is held online. The next scheduled training will be held on 2/24/26 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Please use the information below to access the training. There is no registration required to attend. Please join on time and plan to attend for the full time scheduled; late/partial attendees may not receive credit for attending the training.
Click here to join: Mandatory Reporting
Meeting ID: 215 074 180 105 64
Passcode: sv9wK9et
Dial in by phone
+1 804-404-9860,,940674808# United States, Richmond
Phone conference ID: 940 674 808#
NDHS: Home & Family Readiness – 2 hours
Home & Family Readiness training prepares Family Day Home operators for home inspection procedures. The training covers education, training, and resources essential to maintain compliance with the standards set forth by Norfolk City Code Chapter 15.1. This training is facilitated by Norfolk Department of Human Services staff.
*This training is held online. The next training will be held on 3/24/26 at 6:30pm. Please use the information below to access the training. There is no registration required to attend. Please join on time and plan to attend for the full time scheduled; late/partial attendees may not receive credit for attending the training.
Click here to join: Home & Family Readiness Training
Meeting ID: 222 364 713 725 37
Passcode: N8Be93nK
Dial in by phone
+1 804-404-9860,,86878976# United States, Richmond
Phone conference ID: 868 789 76#
NDHS: Norfolk City Code Chapter 15.1 – 2 hours
This training will cover some of the information available in Norfolk City Code Chapter 15.1. Information Family Day Home operators can expect to learn, includes information about requirements, the types of licenses issued, appeals procedures, and operational responsibilities.
*This training is held online. The next training will be on 2/10/26 from 6:30 pm - 8:30pm. Please use the information below to access the training. There is no registration required to attend. Please join on time and plan to attend for the full time scheduled; late/partial attendees may not receive credit for attending the training.
Click here to join: Norfolk City Code Chapter 15.1 Training
Meeting ID: 281 547 293 920 29
Passcode: Qm6K2yD9
Dial in by phone
+1 804-404-9860,,122579680# United States, Richmond
Phone conference ID: 122 579 680#
First Aid & CPR
First Aid* and CPR** training gives you the information and skills you need to help adults and children during many emergency situations. In this training, you will learn the latest CPR method; how to respond when choking occurs; and basic First-Aid techniques.
* A Family Day Home operator must have a current certification in first aid from an organization such as the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, or National Safety Council.
**A Family Day Home operator must have or obtain a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as appropriate to the age of the children in care from an organization such as the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, American Safety and Health Institute, or National Safety Council. The training shall include an in-person competency demonstration.
A Family Day Home operator may obtain certification from any organization that meets the requirements noted above.
There are fee training opportunities s available through Child Care Aware of VA, click here to learn more. Search the training calendar for an upcoming classroom training. Please adjust the dates to ensure you can identify classes within an appropriate range. If the class you are searching for does not on the appear the list, it may not be available during these dates. Please continue to check frequently to see when a class is added.
Recommended Trainings
*These trainings are not required for NHCN licensure.
OpenLearn: Supporting Children’s Development Sections 1 – 6 (15 hours)
This training will help you to develop a deeper understanding of children’s development from early years up to the age of 17. You will focus on topics including the development and management of relationships, encouraging reading, behavioral management, special education needs and the importance of reflective practice.
Click here to access this training (create an account and login)
Childcare Aware VA: Strengthening Business Practices: Family Child Care Module I – 2 hours
This training series is designed to support family day home providers hone their administrative skills and offer strategies to encourage business growth. Module I of this training will cover Budgets, Projections, and Planning. In Module I, you will learn: a process for building a budget and how to use it for decision making; how to project business costs, generate additional income, and plan strategically for future goals. *Modules I and II must be taken together.
Click here to access this training (Search the training calendar for an upcoming online training. Please adjust the dates to ensure you can identify classes within an appropriate range. If the class you are searching for does not on the appear the list, it may not be available during these dates. Please continue to check frequently to see when a class is added.)
Childcare Aware VA: Strengthening Business Practices: Family Child Care Module II – 2 hours
This training series is designed to support family day home providers hone their administrative skills and offer strategies to encourage business growth. Module II will cover Financial Reports and Internal Controls. In Module II, you will learn how to create financial reports to help you better manage your program’s finances; the concept of internal controls and how they can strengthen your program’s financial health. *Modules I and II must be taken together.
Click here to access this training (Search the training calendar for an upcoming online training. Please adjust the dates to ensure you can identify classes within an appropriate range. If the class you are searching for does not on the appear the list, it may not be available during these dates. Please continue to check frequently to see when a class is added.)
Childcare Aware VA: Strengthening Business Practices: Family Child Care Module III – 2 hours
This training series is designed to support family day home providers hone their administrative skills and offer strategies to encourage business growth. Module III of this training will cover Marketing. In this module, you will learn: the definition and value of external and internal marketing; how to articulate your program’s features and values and how to use them as marketing tools; and how data can inform marketing efforts to better utilize time and money. *Modules I and II must be taken together.
Click here to access this training (Search the training calendar for an upcoming online training. Please adjust the dates to ensure you can identify classes within an appropriate range. If the class you are searching for does not on the appear the list, it may not be available during these dates. Please continue to check frequently to see when a class is added.)
Medication Administration Training (MAT) Program
The MAT program trains and certifies Virginia child day program providers and private school employees to safely give medications to children (ages infant through high school graduation) in their care. The MAT program does not certify providers who work in a residential care setting or who provide care for adults.
Mandated Reporting for Child Abuse and Neglect: A Refresher Training
In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Social Services Division of Family Services, the VDOE Office of Child Child Care Health and Safety created this refresher training that reviews laws related to mandated reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect and provides resources for caregivers. This training is recommended for anyone involved with a child day program or family day system.
Click here to access this training
Preparedness for Child Care Providers
This course from FEMA will provide childcare providers in a variety of settings with the information they need to identify, assess, and plan for hazards at their childcare site.
Click here to access this training
Virginia Early Intervention eLearning Center - Social Emotional Development of Young Children
The VA EI eLearning Center is designed to provide practitioners with high quality, interactive professional development on early intervention topics. Each module is available as a free resource and results in a certificate of completion.
Click here to access this training
Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) CHLD 2015 - Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognition and Reporting 2 hours
Under Virginia law, teachers and child care providers are mandated to report child abuse and neglect. Participants will learn to identify indicators in young children and ways to elicit from the child what occurred that makes this a reportable incident. The child protective services response will be discussed. Trainees will learn strategies for dealing with these suspected child victims and their families.
Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) CHLD 2015 - CHLD 2016 - Health Screening for Childcare Professionals 2 hours
This course satisfies requirements for the daily health observation training required in the Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers.
Training and Professional Development Resources
Virginia Early Intervention eLearning Center
The VA EI eLearning Center is designed to provide practitioners with high quality, interactive professional development on early intervention topics. Each module is available as a free resource and results in a certificate of completion.
Child Care Aware of Virginia
Child Care Aware of Virginia offers a variety of professional development opportunities for professionals that include training sessions that can be used to obtain a CDA credential or as in-service training hours; offered in-person or online.
To learn more about their organization click here Version OptionsTraining InformationHeadline; for information specific to professional development click here Version OptionsTraining InformationHeadline
Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
CCWA, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia, offers childcare provider training classes to support the professional development and training needs of the early care and education workforce across the state. The following online classes meet regulatory and statutory requirements for child day programs, are available in English and Spanish, and are made available for free through this partnership:
Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network (VA ITSN)
The VA ITSN offers a variety of professional development opportunities, both virtually and in-person, for professionals caring for infants and toddlers (0-36 months). Follow-up support after attending a VA ITSN training and support to earn a credential, certificate or endorsement are also available.
Virginia Association for Education of Young Children (VAAEYC)
VAAEYC offers professional development opportunities and produces an annual conference each year with training courses to meet the needs of early childhood educators and early care providers.