I'm an Early Learning Provider

Washington uses the Early Care and Education and School Age Core Competencies to define what professionals need to know and be able to do when providing high quality care for children. These competencies are used in the creation of job postings, professional development plans, knowledge assessments and more. 

Qualifications

Licensing regulations and changes to the law have brought forth updated education requirements for early learning professionals. For a list of staff qualifications to meet WAC requirements, view General Staff Qualifications.

ECEAP providers must meet their licensing requirements and the ECEAP Performance Standards. For questions about your education requirements, please reach out to the ECEAP team at eceap@dcyf.wa.gov.

Equivalencies

Providers can meet education requirements for WAC 110-300 in a variety of ways. 

Experience - DCYF is implementing a process to recognize experience for existing providers that have, or will have, at least 7 years of experience by August 1, 2024. This will be an option that will only meet new licensing education requirements outlined in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 110-300-0100. It does not apply for Early Achievers rating or ECEAP requirements. Read more about this experience-based competency demonstration.

Related Credentials - You may meet your staff qualifications (education requirement) by completing a department recognized alternative. This alternative may include related credentials or degrees. For a list of related credentials to meet staff qualifications, check out the Chart of Related Credentials.

Training

Early learning child care providers are responsible for completing trainings both before they provide care and throughout their career. For a list of required trainings, click on your role:

Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • Child Restraint (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • Child Restraint (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • Child Restraint (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Licensing Orientation (if applicable)
  • Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • Child Restraint (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • Child Restraint (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Child Care Basics
  • First Aid/CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
  • Enhancing Quality of Early Learning
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Child Care Basics
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Food Handlers Permit (if applicable)
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • 10-hour Annual In-service Training
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • Safe Sleep (if applicable)
  • Health and Safety Trainings – Recognizing and Reporting Abuse, Emergency Preparedness, Serving Children Experiencing Homelessness, Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome (if applicable)
  • N/A
Training Requirements In-Service Requirements
  • N/A
  • N/A
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