Running a family child care (FCC) home is more than looking after children — it's operating a licensed small business with regulatory requirements, ongoing training obligations, and professional development expectations. Whether you're just starting out or looking to maintain your existing license, understanding what FCC training programs and FCC classes are required in your state is essential.
This guide covers what training family child care providers typically need, how to find approved programs, and how to structure your professional development as an FCC provider.
FCC training programs are educational courses and workshops designed specifically for family child care providers — individuals who run licensed child care operations in their own homes. These programs cover child development, health and safety, nutrition, business practices, curriculum, and family engagement.
Training requirements vary significantly by state. Most states that license family child care homes require providers to complete a minimum number of training hours annually or biennially as a condition of maintaining their license.
Common topics covered in FCC training programs include:
The annual training hour requirement for family child care providers varies by state. Common requirements:
If you're enrolled in a QRIS program — a tiered quality rating system that many states use — you may need additional training hours to move up quality levels and access associated financial incentives.
Every state has a network of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies that provide training, technical assistance, and referral services to child care providers. CCR&Rs are typically the primary source of free or low-cost FCC training in your area. Search for your state's CCR&R network through Child Care Aware of America.
Many community colleges offer early childhood education (ECE) courses that count toward FCC training requirements. These courses are typically more structured and comprehensive than short workshops, and completing enough credits can lead to a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or an associate degree in early childhood education.
Several online platforms offer approved FCC classes that can be completed on your own schedule. Popular platforms include the ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) and state-specific online portals for licensed providers. Online training is particularly valuable for family child care providers who can't easily attend in-person workshops due to scheduling constraints. Check with your licensor to confirm which online providers are approved in your state.
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) both offer training resources and professional development opportunities relevant to FCC providers. NAFCC also administers a voluntary national accreditation program for family child care homes.
If you participate in the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) — which provides reimbursements for meals served to children in licensed care — you have additional training requirements specific to the program. CACFP training covers meal pattern requirements, record-keeping, documentation, and civil rights compliance.
CACFP training is typically provided by your sponsoring organization or by your state CACFP agency. Annual CACFP training is required to remain in the program and maintain meal reimbursements. The financial value of CACFP participation is significant — providers can receive reimbursement that adds thousands of dollars annually to their income.
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, administered by the Council for Professional Recognition, is the most widely recognised entry-level credential in early childhood care and education. There's a specific CDA credential track for Family Child Care providers.
To earn the FCC CDA, you need to:
The CDA is often required as a baseline for higher-tier quality ratings in QRIS programs and can open doors to higher subsidy rates, grants, and professional advancement. Many states offer scholarship assistance for FCC providers pursuing CDA credentials through T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood programs.
Your state licensor or CCR&R typically maintains a professional development registry where your completed training is recorded. Make sure every course you complete is documented and submitted to your registry — incomplete records create compliance issues at licensing renewal time.
Keep your own records too: certificates of completion, sign-in sheets, and course descriptions. If there's ever a discrepancy in the registry, your personal records provide backup documentation.
Planning your training year in advance helps you avoid the scramble of trying to complete required hours right before your license renewal. Spread your training across the year and prioritise topics that align with your professional development goals as well as meeting minimum requirements.
Professional development isn't just a licensing checkbox — it directly improves the quality of care you provide. Providers who engage actively with training tend to create better environments for children, have lower turnover of enrolled families, and build more sustainable businesses. Our free FCC practice tests help you check your knowledge of key content areas — use them as part of your ongoing professional self-assessment.
With so many training options available, it helps to approach professional development strategically rather than just completing the minimum required hours.
If you're new to family child care, prioritise foundational health and safety training — CPR and first aid certification, safe sleep training, and basic child development content. These are the non-negotiables that every provider needs from the start.
As you gain experience, branch out into areas that address your specific challenges or goals. If you want to work toward CDA credential, plan your training around the required 120 hours and focus on courses that align with the CDA competency areas. If you want to move up quality tiers in your state's QRIS, find out exactly what training hours and topics are required at each level and plan accordingly.
Don't overlook peer learning. Many CCR&Rs facilitate Family Child Care networks or provider associations where experienced providers share knowledge and support each other. These informal learning communities complement formal training in valuable ways that structured courses alone can't replicate.
Our free practice tests cover key content areas in family child care — from child development and nutrition to business practices and professional standards. Use them to identify knowledge gaps you might want to address in your next round of training, and to prepare for any credentialing exams or state competency assessments you're working toward.