Child Care

To meet the 99-hour child care certification requirements to work as a director or a senior staff in a child care center, students must complete:

• Child Growth and Development (45 hours), AND
• Communication Skills for Child Care professionals (9 hours)

AND one of the following 45 hour courses depending on the age of the child you work with:

• Infant and Toddler (45 hours) OR
• Preschool Curriculum and Activities (45 hours) OR
• School Age Child Care Curriculum (45 hours)

If you are interested in opening a licensed day care in your home, you need to:

• Take Family Child Care Pre-Service (registration for this course closes December 1)
• Contact Maryland State Department of Education
  (MSDE) Office of Child Care (OCC) Region 9 (Lower
  Shore office) at occ9wic.msde@maryland.gov or call
  410-713-3430.

These classes take three to five hours and have been identified by MSDE in the staff credential modifications for levels two, three and four. The course starts once you login for the first time. Most courses have a required textbook, which can be purchased online. You may register for and begin a class anytime between 9/1 and 12/1.