Child Care Certification

To see all current child care courses, click here.

Medication Administration for Child Care Providers
The purpose of the medication administration training program is to teach child care providers and child care center staff information about administering medication to infants, toddlers, preschool and school-age children.  The goal is to ensure safe and accurate administration of oral, topical, inhaled and emergency medications to infants and children.
PLC 457 K   Sat   May 4   9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.   CPB

Emergency Prep in Child Care
This training is designed for child care center staff, family child care providers, and informal providers.  Successful completion requires a written emergency plan for center room, program, family child care program or informal program. This training will build upon basic child care licensing requirements and address additional areas of concern that are now in the forefront of emergency preparedness planning.  Funding for this project was received by Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD from the Maryland State Department of Education. The grant activities are managed by the Chesapeake Child Care Resource Center. This course provides 3 hours of continuing education in professionalism and 3 hours in health and safety categories.
PLC 689 L   Sat   June 15   9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Continuous Quality Improvement Training: Using the Program Administration Scale (PAS)
This training will help you to be prepared for the new child care quality rating system that was implemented in 2010.  It is designed for center directors responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating early care and education programs.  The PAS is a research-validated child care center management assessment tool designed to reliably measure center-based leadership and management practices that focus on administrative issues.  The training and follow-up technical assistance will enable the director to achieve and measure improvement in administrative operations, as well as improve the skills of key management personnel. 
The two-day training includes using the PAS assessment tool, developing improvement plans, and managing change.  This training will enable directors to implement continuous quality improvement programs and is a key component in Maryland’s efforts to create high quality early learning environments for young children and provide management tools to center directors.  Pre-approval is required.
Tues/Wed   June 18-19   9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Maryland EXCELS is a voluntary quality rating improvement system designed to help you reflect and improve the child care services you provide.  The courses listed below will help you evaluate the areas of focus of this new initiative.

Amy Weaver is the instructor for all of these courses.  All courses are held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. located in the Career Programs Building in room 214.  The fee for each course is $20.

Family and Community Partnerships
Topics include community resources that will benefit children and families; the importance of being an advocate for children and families; and strategies that will increase family involvement.
PLC-833-J     
Friday, April 26, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Observation and Assessment, Birth – 12
Topics include objective vs. subjective observations, tools and methods, and using assessment to plan.
PLC-821-J
April 27, 2013 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Age and Developmentally Appropriate Supervision
Topics include child care regulations and best practices, supervisory strategies for indoor and outdoor environments, and active monitoring.
PLC-822-K
May 4, 2013 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Positive Child Guidance and Discipline Theory
Topics include positive child guidance, discipline, appropriate techniques, internal and external factors that influence child behavior, and ways to partner with families to foster positive child guidance.
PLC-823-K
May 11, 2013 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Topics include national standards, essential components of developmentally appropriate practice, and behavioral strategies to support children’s learning and development.
PLC-824-L
June 1, 2013 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Including All Children and the ADA
Topics include the requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); inclusionary practices based on national standards and best practices; and local state and national resources.
PLC-828-L 
June 8, 2013 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Child Care Pre-service Courses offered online on cooperation with Howard Community College

Remember when you register for these online courses:

• There are no face-to-face meetings.
• Students must provide an email address when they register.
• The Friday before the first class date, students receive an email with log-in instructions.
• There is an (optional) orientation on the first night of class at Howard Community College Columbia Campus in the Hickory Ridge Building at 6:30pm.  This is not mandatory to receive a certificate.
• All students are expected to log in as of the first class date.
• There is a required textbook - one for each class.  Books can be purchased online from Howard Community College - www.howardccbooks.com.

  General Guidelines for online classes: You will need access to a computer, the internet, and email to take these courses; sufficient computer skills are required, including using a word processing program to write and save your work on your computer.  Provide your email address with your registration so we can send you log-in instructions.  Online classes fill up quickly, so please register early!

Child Care Certification II - Curriculum
This certification course satisfies the curriculum half of the MSDE requirement of 90 hours for child care teachers and directors working with preschoolers, and also satisfies the 9-hour Communication Skills requirement.  Discover why play is a child's work!  Examine curriculum materials and teaching methods that stimulate young children, and build communication skills to use with parents, co-workers, and the public.  This course and Child Growth & Development 45 hours are required to complete the 90-hour child care certification.  You must successfully complete class assignments to receive a course certificate.  Purchase books at www.howardccbooks.com or in person at the bookstore.  5.4 CEUs
Total: $230
PLC 807 K   May 22 - July 10

Infant/Toddler Care - 45 hours
Gain the skills necessary to work with infants and toddlers at home or in a child care center and build communication skills to use with parents, co-workers and the public.  Topics include growth and development, curriculum planning, goal setting, selection of age-appropriate materials, and methods for infants and toddlers birth to age 3.  This certification course satisfies the MSDE requirement of 45 hours of infant-toddler training for child care teachers, directors, and family providers working with infants and toddlers, and also satisfies the 9-hour communication skills requirement.  You must successfully complete class assignments to receive a certificate.  Textbook is included and will be provided as a download in the online course.  4.5 CEUs
Total: $230  Fees are not refundable after the first class date.
PLC 576   July 11 - Aug 15

School Age Child Care: Curriculum
Gain the skills necessary to work in school-age child care programs, and build communication skills to use with parents, coworkers, and the public.  Topics include curriculum planning, age-appropriate materials and methods for children age 6-13.  This certification course satisfies the cirriculum half of the MSDE requirement of 90 hours of child care training for teachers, directors, and coordinators working with school-age children, and also satisfies the 9-hour communication skills requirement.  You must successfully complete class assignments to receive a course certificate.  Purchase textbook and supplies prior to class online at www.howardccbooks.com or in person at the bookstore.  5.4 CEUs
Total: $230
PLC 798 L   July 26 - Aug 14

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
PLC 846 A   July 1 - Aug 23

Child Growth & Development
This course covers the child development half of 90 hours coursework plus communication skills. This certification course satisfies half of the MSDE requirement of 90 hours for child care teachers and directors, and also satisfies the 9-hour Communication Skills requirement. Gain a broad overview of the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the child from birth to age 13, and build communication skills to use with parents, co-workers and the public. This course and a 45-hour course in age-appropriate curriculum (preschool infant-toddler, or school-age) are required to complete the 90-hour certification for child care. You must successfully complete class assignments to receive a course certificate. (Required textbook- purchase by first class date- purchase the textbook for Howard Community College course # ZB669 sect 7021 from www.howardccbooks.com)
PLC 575 A   July 17 - Aug 28

Child Care I - Child Development
Study the growth and development of children birth through adolescence. topics include major theories of development, learning domains and positive guidance techniques. 

Child Care Certification I: Growth and Development Online
This certification course satisfies half of the MSDE requirement of 90 hours for child care teachers and directors, and also satisfies the 9-hour Communication Skills requirement. Gain a broad overview of the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the child from birth to age 13, and build communication skills to use with parents, co-workers and the public. 

Infant and Toddler Child Care
This course meets the requirements of the Maryland Child Care Administration to work in a center with children 0-3 years of age. The course focuses on the development of the child 0-3 years of age. (Textbook included)

Child Care III - Communication Skills for Child Care Professionals
Learn the basics of good communication in your child care program. Topics include strategies for dealing with staff, parents and the community in everday situations and difficult circumstances.

Asthma Medication Administration for Child Care Providers
This course provides instruction to center and family child care providers on the proper administration of asthma medications and treatments.  This course provides four Core of Knowledge hours in Health and Safety and 0.4 CEUs for certifications renewal. 

Preschool Child Care II - Activities and Curriculum
This course along with Pre-school Chlid Care I and the 9-hour Child Care Communications course completes the requirements of the Maryland Office of Child Care to become senior staff in a MD pre-school child care center.  Topics include pre-school activities and practices.

Taking Learning Outside
Topics include activity planning, environmental design, and material/equipment selection.

Nutrition and Active Living
Topics include nutritional needs of all children, promoting healthy growth and development, strategies to inform families on providing nutritional food items, developing physical games and large motor activities to promote physical growth.

Playground Safety
Topics include age appropriate and accessible playground equipment and surfacing materials, appropriate playground supervision, and outdoor safety checks.

Supporting Children with Disabilities
Topics include programs, terms and resources that support children with special needs; an understanding of the child care professional’s role in supporting IEP/IFSPs; and how to select materials and adapt both instruction and the environment to motivate learning.

Conflict Resolution Strategies
Topics include situations that may lead to conflict, methods to address professionally, and strategies to promote resolution in the child care environment.

The Child Care Provider as a Professional
Topics include ethical codes of conduct, federal, state and local resources, initiatives and organizations that support professionalism.

Cultural Competencies and Awareness
Topics include the definitions of anti-bias, diversity and inclusion, the value and importance of complex characteristics of a diverse community, promotion of child self-concept and esteem, and multi-cultural activities.

For more information, call registration at 240-500-2236.