Training resources
There are many different ways to get professional development training and education services. Here are some resources that can help you and your staff be the best you can be.
Council for Professional Recognition - The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE.
Find trainers to come to your program by searching the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS), use the calendar to see available training in your area, view the Core Competencies that staff should be trained in yearly, and so much more. Directors can also create professional accounts and leverage the Certificate Generation Tool (part of all TECPDS accounts) to create certificates for any training that you deliver to your staff.
Obtain online training hours by viewing diverse modules on the AgriLife Extension Child Care Courses website.
Your local Workforce Board may also offer free or low-cost training opportunities for you and your staff, as well as stipends, grants and or scholarships through their local quality initiatives.
Professional development resources
TWC sponsors various initiatives at a state level in which many early learning programs across the state can participate in. Current initiatives include the following:
Texas Infant Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN): An ITSN is a state-based system that supports and coordinates the work of specialists who serve infant and toddler care early learning programs, by creating a community of professional development and peer support to better the experiences for infants and toddlers in their classrooms. To learn more and potentially participate, visit the Texas ITSN website.
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Supports: HHSC ECI is offering in person and virtual trainings for child care facilities, on the importance of early intervention, brain development and classroom strategies on fostering healthy brain development, identifying developmental red flags and strategies for discussing developmental concerns with parents. Child care programs can contact their local ECI contractor to request the training. To find your local ECI contractor, use the ECI Program Search Tool located on the ECI website.
Additionally, ECI personnel and Workforce Board mentors have received training on the administration of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Developmental Screening. Child care programs can receive training on using the ASQ as their developmental screener through their local Board mentor or ECI staff. Contact your Local Workforce Board or ECI program to request this training.
AgriLife Free Training Series: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is offering free trainings to Texas early childhood educators on the AgriLife Learn Platform. These, along with several other trainings, can be linked to your Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System (TECPDS) Workforce Registry account:
- The Texas Annual Training Series - a suite of 12 online courses (20 hours) aligned with HHSC Child Care Regulation’s annual professional development requirements from the minimum standards.
- The Starting a Home-Based Child Care Business Training Series - a series for prospective family child care programs that includes guidance on starting and managing an effective home-based business.
- “Adding Nighttime Care to Your Early Childhood Program” - a two-hour course that will introduce directors, owners, and other decision-makers to the unmet need for nighttime care and offer practical suggestions for adding nighttime care to existing child care homes and centers.
TWC’s Child Care & Early Learning Division hosts conference style events for Texas Rising Star-certified early learning programs in an effort to assist early childhood educators in obtaining professional development to meet annual requirements. For more information on upcoming events, please visit the TWC Events page and filter by Conferences.