Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers a wide range of online child care training courses with certificates for providers in the state of Washington. Most of our courses align with the Washington State Core Competencies and are designed for child care providers to meet the developmental needs of children. Upon completion of course modules, pre- and post-assessments, and activities, you will receive a certificate.
Participants interested in completing our courses should submit a Continuing Education Proposal in their MERIT registry accounts to request in-service (STARS) hours for annual continuing education. Information about this process is available on the MERIT Workforce Registry webpage under the ‘Training’ section.
Our courses that DO NOT meet state guidelines and WILL NOT be approved for in-service (STARS) hours include: Health and safety; Federally required topics; Licensing regulations/WAC; Pre-service/Orientation; Texas annual training; and Texas healthy building blocks.
This includes, but is not limited to, the following trainings and topic areas: Blood borne pathogens, First aid/CPR, Food handlers permit, Safe sleep, Recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse, neglect, and exploitation, Emergency preparedness, Prevention and identification of shaken baby syndrome/abuse head trauma, Serving children experiencing homelessness, Safe sleep, Medication management and administration, Exposure to blood and bodily fluids, and Food handling.
For more information, please refer to Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) Procedural Manual:
- Procedure 406. Health and Safety Training
- Procedure 503. Federally Required Training Topics
Online Training Courses
We offer courses that align to the Washington State Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals (click on the competency area below for potential course options):
- Child Development
- Health, Safety, and Nutrition (please refer to Procedure 406 and 503 on topics ineligible for in-service (STARS) hours)
- Developmentally Appropriate Activities
- Observation and Assessment
- Outdoor and Nature Play
- Early Childhood Mental Health
- Guidance and Behavior
- Professional Development and Leadership
Washington CDA Training Courses
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers coursework that assists in meeting the 120 hours of training required to obtain your CDA certification, following the guidelines outlined by the Council for Professional Recognition. These courses are available as a bundle or may be taken individually to meet specific training needs.
To request in-service hours for completing individual CDA training courses, submit a Continuing Education Proposal in MERIT.
To request in-service hours for completing a CDA Credential, submit an Education application in MERIT. The CDA accreditation process is completed with the Council for Professional Recognition.
State Resources:
- MERIT Workforce Registry Information
- MERIT Registry Login
- Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals
- School-aged Child Care and Expanded Learning Professionals
- Nature-Based Learning Competencies
- Washington State University Extension Locations
Washington State Contacts for Assistance:
- Workforce Registry
- In-service eligibility related questions, email training@dcyf.wa.gov
- MERIT related questions, email merit@dcyf.wa.gov or call 1-866-482-4325, option 5
- Child Care Licensing: dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov
Texas A&M AgriLife Contacts:
- AgriLife Learn Help Desk for Training Course System Support
- For any other questions regarding Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Child Care Training Courses, please contact:
- Felicia Sprayberry, felicia.sprayberry@ag.tamu.edu
- Dr. Jodi Nerren, jodi.nerren@ag.tamu.edu
About PEEQ and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Promoting Early Education Quality (PEEQ) is a program of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension dedicated to encouraging the adoption of research- and evidence-based practices in all levels of the early education field. Established in 2004, the program supports early childhood educators by providing professional development training.
Our courses provide research-based content and best-practice, practical strategies for early childhood educators in various settings, such as child care centers, Head Start programs, home care programs, and public schools. We offer online, asynchronous courses that support teachers, directors, administrators, and families.