Understanding the Accreditation Question

Often we have prospective students ask about course accreditation, without knowing exactly what criteria they are trying to meet. It is very important to understand that when it comes to Early Childhood Education that there is not a one-standard-fits-all scenario.  There are many variables to assuring that the courses that you are enrolling in will meet your needs, and will be accepted in your state, and usually the question "Are you accredited?" does not answer that. 

Here are the things that you need to consider when inquiring if the training is valid:

1) What type of training or certificate do you need?

• Do you require annual training?
• The initial basic training?
• The CDA training? 

2) What state do you work in?

• For annual training and initial basic training, the courses must be approved by the state licensing entity.
• For the CDA, the courses must meet the criteria outlined by the Council of Professional Recognition. The training for the CDA is not state specific.

3) Are you intending to use a scholarship or grant to pay for your CDA Training or annual training?

• Some funding sources require specific accreditation. This is generally the only case where the word "accreditation" actually means anything when looking for approved early childhood training.

4) Are you trying to obtain a college degree or earn college credit?

• If this is the case, you will need to contact a college. We are a state approved training organization and we take great pride in providing you with early childhood professional development training to comply with state standards and achieve career goals. 

What most people REALLY want to know is, "Is this legit?" .

The answer is YES! Our courses are approved to meet the intended purpose, in the specific states. Click on the links below for detailed information about specific approvals, accreditation, etc. 

CDA Training

Approval Verification

CDA Professional Development Specialists
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Annual Training by State

IACET Accreditation (CEU'S)

State Specific Trainer Approval

DCYF MERIT Registered STARS Training Organization

Online Educators

Better Business Bureau

BBB Accredited Business

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If you are still wondering about accreditation, then in order to answer that question it is necessary to know what type of accreditation that you are looking for in order to direct you to what will best meet your needs.  

STATE COURSE APPROVALS

Our early childhood courses are accepted or approved to meet the annual training requirements for childcare professionals in many states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota (clock-hour courses only - course must be a min. of 2 hours), Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon (step 1 only), South Carolina (clock-hour courses only), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington (STARS), Wisconsin (clock-hour courses only), Wyoming (STARS) and more! ​
​Please note:  Florida, Idaho, Kansas and Maryland may complete our CEU courses to meet annual requirements.   
​Please contact us for more information.
Phone: (360) 602-0960 * email: support@cdastars.com