Childcare Programs and Certificates

Child Care Center Management Specialization

This 12-credit hour College Certificate recognizes the completion of a series of courses needed by childcare center directors who wish to pursue college-credit study to build a strong foundation as a childcare center director. The Department of Children and Families requires all center directors to have certain educational qualifications to hold a position as a director of a licensed center or family daycare home. 

• View the courses in this program
• Review the Early Childhood Education Department schedule for course availability.

Early Childhood Education Infant/Toddler Specialization

This 12-credit hour College Certificate recognizes the completion of a series of courses needed by early childhood teachers who wish to complete the college-credit National Infant Toddler CDA Certificate to work in group care settings with children under the age of three. 

• View the courses in this program

Early Childhood Education Preschool Specialization

This 12-credit hour College Certificate recognizes the completion of a series of courses needed by early childhood teachers who wish to pursue college-credit study to complete educational requirements for a Florida Staff Credential (FCCPC) or a National Preschool CDA. The Department of Children and Families requires all childcare centers to have teachers in their center who hold a Florida recognized staff credential. The certificate requirements meet the educational criteria to apply for the National CDA certificate or Florida Staff Credential, and the courses are designed to help students complete the necessary education requirements.

• View the courses in this program
• Review the Early Childhood Education Department schedule for course availability

Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC)

FCCPC is an approved training program by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that has been determined to meet or exceed the requirements of the National Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. The FCCPC is earned by completing 15 credit hours in the following course work: EEC 1000, EEC 2200, EEC 1603, EEC 2732, and EEC 1011 with a "C" or higher. Students must have standard high school diploma or GED, be at least 18 years of age, and currently work in a child care center. The student must have earned 480 hours of work experience before completing the academic program. Students wishing to obtain this staff credential should contact the Early Childhood Office to learn of any additional requirements that would be necessary to complete the credential.

National CDA Staff Credential

The National CDA is an approved training program by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) that has been determined to meet the requirements of the Florida Staff Credential, as well as, recognized as a valid staff credential throughout the United States. The National CDA is earned by completing 15 credit hours in the following course work: EEC 1000, EEC 2200, EEC 1603, EEC 2732, and EEC 1011 with a "C" or higher. Students must have standard high school diploma or GED, be at least 18 years of age, and currently work in a child care center. The student must have earned 480 hours of work experience before completing the academic program. Students wishing to obtain this national credential should contact the Early Childhood Office to learn of additional requirements that would be necessary to complete the credential. The Council for Professional Recognition has additional requirements that may be accessed at https://www.cdacouncil.org/educator-pathways/preschool/. Students who complete these five courses also earn the Seminole State College Preschool Certificate.

Staff Credential

The Staff Credential ensures individuals in child care programs have advanced their education and experience to provide developmentally appropriate care to young children. Individuals must apply for the staff credential by completing the Florida Child Care Staff Credential Verification Application. 

To qualify for a Staff Credential, individuals must have a minimum of one the following: 

• Active National Early Childhood Credential (NECC)
• Active Birth Through Five Child Care Credential
  which can be met by one of the following:
  • Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC)
  • Florida Department of Education Child Care Apprenticeship Certificate (CACC) or 
  • Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC)
• Formal Education:  2-year, 4-year, or an advanced college degree in early childhood education.  Other degree fields will be accepted if individuals earn 6 or more college credits in early childhood education. The six-credit hours (2 courses) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development are offered every term at Seminole State College: EEC1000, EEC 2200 and EEC 2732.
• Completion of 480 hours of experience working with children birth through eight years of age in the last five years plus 40 hour child care training. 

For more information, please review the Florida Department of Children and Families' Staff Credential worksheet.

Florida Director Credential

The Florida Director Credential is the educational requirement of all administrators/directors of early childhood centers or licensed family child care homes. Students who meet the Department of Children and Families requirement for the Foundation Level Director Credential must successfully complete EEC 1523.

Staff and Director's Credential Renewal

For information on Staff Credential Renewal, please visit the Florida Department of Children and Families' Staff Credential webpage. Individuals will need to look at the renewal requirements listed in Section 5 of the Florida Child Care Staff Credential Verification Application (PDF). Students may take any Early Childhood course to renew the Staff Credential Renewal. The Director Credential may be renewed by completing one of the following courses at Seminole State College: CHD 2330, EEC 2521, EEC 2527, EEC 2226, EEC 2262.