Furthering your education is a big step and one to be proud of. Now you must find the educational piece that will fit with your learning style and your family commitments. You need to find the piece that fits your personal life puzzle.

North Carolina is rich with educational opportunities. To learn more about these, explore this section.

College Credit Course Work

Non-credit Continuing Educational Hours

Compensation

Non-Credit or Continuing Education Work

Licensing Requirements:

Workshops or courses may be taken through seminars, workshops and various conferences across North Carolina throughout the year. There are various associations and organizations that sponsor non-credit courses. Some of the groups that offer classes to help you meet your licensing training requirement and further your knowledge about children include:

• Cooperative Extension -
  
  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/counties
• Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies -
  
  http://ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us/providers/pv_providercontacts.asp
• Local Affiliates of the NC Association for the Education of Young Children -
  
  http://www.ncaeyc.org
• Smart Start Conferences -
  
  http://www.ncsmartstart.org/conference/

Child Development Associate Credential:

The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a national credential consisting of 120 clock hours of training, observations by a national representative, and compiling a portfolio over a two-year period. Clock hours can be counted through college course work in addition to non-credit workshops and seminars. There must be a balance in classes completed between eight functional areas of the child development associate program. The eight functional areas include:

• planning safe, healthy learning environments.
• advancing children's physical and intellectual development.
• positive ways to support social and emotional development.
• strategies to establish productive relationships with families.
• strategies to manage an effective program operation.
• maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
• observing and recording children's behavior.
• principles of child growth and development.

The following colleges offer a track called P3 to obtain the CDA. Inquire by contacting their early childhood development department advisors:

• Catawba Valley Community College - Alexander, NC
• Fayetteville State University - Fayetteville, NC
• Nash County Community College - Rocky Mount, NC
• Shaw University - Raleigh, NC