Prepare for a Career in Child Development

Penn Foster Career School's Child Development certificate allows you to take classes at home and at a pace that’s right for you. This certificate fulfills the 120 hours of formal education in eight subject areas related to professional child care that is required in order to apply for the CDA credential.

Why Become a Child Care Professional?

Penn Foster Career School can help you gain applicable knowledge and skills so you can take the first step toward a rewarding career in child development.

Why Choose Penn Foster Career School?

Start and Study When You Want

Learn at home or on the go through our custom-designed, mobile-friendly student portal, available 24/7.

Dedicated Success Coaches

You're guided by Certified Instructors, Success Coaches, Teaching Assistants, and Student Support Staff — all working to help you succeed.

Curriculum for Success

Get the skills and knowledge you need to help you prepare for a career as a child care professional.

Set Your Goals and Pace

Customize your study and exam schedule with progress-tracking and goal-setting tools that keep you moving forward.

Proven Reputation

With 45,000 graduates in 2016 from our regionally and nationally accredited High School and Career School and nationally accredited College, you're in good hands!

Connect with Other Students

Connect in real-time with other Child Development certificate students in the Penn Foster Community.

A Customized Learning Experience

With mobile-friendly coursework, progress-tracking and goal-setting tools, virtual simulations, informative videos, and personal coaches to help you succeed, the Penn Foster Experience (PFx) is online learning like no other.

Child Development Certificate Course Details

You will complete courses covering the fundamentals of early childhood education, assessment and observation, child growth and development, and health, safety, and nutrition for young children. Penn Foster Career School's child development training also ensures that upon graduation you will have completed the formal education hours necessary to apply for the CDA credential.

Curriculum

Enroll today!

Save up to

Tuition

With flexible, affordable payment options, you can get started on your Child Development training online today.

Tuition

I am so happy that I made a career change with the help of Penn Foster. Penn Foster makes it easy, and they are always supportive and encouraging to you. Whenever I had a question, I just gave my instructors a call, and they were very helpful and easy to talk with. The online testing made it convenient, and my shipments always arrived right on time.

Christina R.
Penn Foster Graduate

Where Can I Get a Job as a Child Development Professional?

Early childhood educators work in preschools, child care centers, nursery schools, public or private schools or programs, and in-home child care programs. The median pay for a preschool teacher is $28,990 annually.¹

Ready to Enroll?

Get started today on your path toward helping others as a professional child care provider with Penn Foster Career School’s accredited, online program.

Enroll Now

Hundreds of leading employers and workforce organizations partner with Penn Foster to attract, develop, and retain talent for today’s in-demand middle skilled occupations.

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¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, "Occupational Outlook Handbook," 2017 Edition, Preschool Teachers, on the Internet. Statistics found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are based on national data, so job growth and salary in your area may be different.

The completion of a certificate-level program does not typically qualify a student for employment. Completion of this program may assist students who have previous academic or work related experience improve their chances for promotion or entry-level employment.