The State of Florida defines the minimum pre-service requirements for practitioners entering the early childhood education field. The Florida Department of Children and Families offers a snapshot of the state-mandated minimum training requirements in the links below, along with other child care personnel requirements.
Child Care Facility
Facilities Serving Only School-Age Children
Licensed Family Day Care Home
Large Family Child Care Home
Operator
Employee
Substitutes
Exemptions from Introductory Training
Competency Exams
The required preservice classes, known as “40 + 5” classes (or “30 + 5” for family child care home providers) are available online through the Florida Early Childhood Professional Development Registry free of charge. These classes are also offered as an instructor-led model periodically for a small fee. All of these require monitored competency exams to complete. Contact Venise Duchesne at 1-866-470-1905 for more information.
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 is available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm (Eastern) to answer questions concerning Florida Child Care Professional Certificates, Director Credentials, and other training concerns. The CCTIC can be reached at (888) 352-2842.
