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Education and training for child care providers

Many classes and trainings offered below are free but some have costs associated with them. Check the individual websites for fees, courses offered in multiple languages, and type of training (live, virtual, or pre-recorded).

  • DCYF requires licensed child care providers to complete specific trainings including certain health- and safety-related trainings before a provider can care for children and throughout their career. Some can be found through their MERIT TRAINING PORTAL.
    • Bloodborne pathogens training
      Early learning providers who directly care for children must complete a Bloodborne Pathogen Prevention training that meets Washington State Department of Labor and Industries' (L&I) requirements (WAC Chapter 296-823; WAC 110-300-0106). For child care and early learning programs, this training must be:
      • Provided at no cost to employees
      • Conducted during compensated working hours
      • Taken prior to being granted a license or working with children
      • Repeated at least annually
      • Within one year of the previous training

    The information in the training materials below applies to all workplaces. However, employers are also required to include information about specific conditions that exist at their workplace (i.e. providing first aid treatment to a child, picking up discarded syringes in public places before children can safely play outdoors, or cleaning surfaces contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials [OPIM]). Only using the training module without the workplace-specific information will not satisfy all training requirements. Several slides indicate where workplace-specific information should be included.

    Tailor these trainings to help meet the L&I training requirements

  • Best Starts for Kids offers many equity-centered workshops for King County early childhood providers. Visit the Best Starts Workshops website to browse workshop topics, register, and see which workshops offer STARS credits.
  • The Snohomish County Health District offers STARS-approved trainings on a variety of health and safety topics. Any child care provider, regardless of county of residence, may receive STARS credits for these online classes. Please select SIGNUP and then "Login" anytime to take the classes.
  • The Washington State Department of Health's Nourished and Active in Early Learning website offers trainings, materials, and resources on best practices in nutrition, physical activity, infant feeding, and more. All classes are free, online, and participants can earn between one and two STARS credits. Some classes are available in Spanish.
  • Northwest Center Kids IMPACT offers STARS-approved online on-demand courses and live trainings for infant through pre-K educators on supporting young children with challenging behaviors and disabilities. Topics include autism, sensory strategies, inclusion in early learning, challenging behaviors, and more. For more information, visit the NW Center Kids IMPACT's course webpage.
  • The University of Washington Haring Center for Inclusive Education provides early childhood education to children with and without disabilities to advance inclusive learning. Professional development opportunities for early learning educators include live and recording trainings, access to resources and guides, coaching, and other consultation. If you have questions or comments, please contact the Haring Center Professional Development and Training team at haringpd@uw.edu.
  • Get your King County Food Worker Card online
    This Washington state-required certification for food workers is available in an online format where you can take the course and test when it is convenient for you. In-person classes are also available.
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