Credential and Transcript Information

What Do I Need to Become a Child Care Professional?

The State of Florida defines the minimum pre-service requirements for practitioners entering the early childhood education field. The Department of Child and Families' Training Requirements for Child Care Personnel offers a snapshot of the state-mandated minimum training requirements and licensed facility credentialing requirements, along with other child care personnel requirements. The training overview presents requirements in a succinct format:

 

The required classes, known as “40 + 5” classes (or “30 + 5” for family child care home providers) are available online through the DCF website for a minimum charge. These classes are also offered periodically at Sarasota County Technical Institute for a small fee. The latest SCTI training schedule is available here.

Providers with questions about state-mandated training, educational exemptions, and staff training requirements can contact the DCF Child Care Training Information Center (CCTIC). A team of specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm (Eastern) to answer questions concerning Florida Child Care Professional Certificates, Director's Credentials, and other training concerns. The CCTIC may be reached by phone at (888) 352-2842 or by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

An overview of DCF's online training management system (TMS), which is used to register for classes that are reflected on your training transcript, can be found here.