Certificates

Certificates offer the possibility to study a concentrated area without the expense or time commitment of seeking an entire degree. If you are ready to advance your career or become an expert in an emerging field, a certificate program can open the door for you to pursue your goals.

Residential Interiors Certificate »
Learn the principles of residential interiors, principles of design, and functional knowledge for evaluating interiors.

Child Care Training

The state of Colorado requires certification for all child care center directors and substitute directors. The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Division of Child Care, oversees licensure for directors of child care centers. Certification requires both experience working with young children and specific education.

Colorado State University is proud to offer courses that satisfy some of the educational requirements; other states may have different educational requirements. Please contact the appropriate agency in your area for complete details.

Certification Requirements

The educational requirements for the director of a large center must be met by completion of courses that meet the criteria set forth by the CDHS:

  • A bachelor's or master's degree with an emphasis in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education, including the minimum course requirements below. No additional experience is required.
  • A bachelor's degree in elementary education from an accredited college or university, including course credits in: Child Growth and Development or Child Psychology, Methods and Techniques of Teaching Preschool Age Children, Health and Nutrition, Administration.
  • A two-year college degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college or university including the minimum course requirements below.

Colorado State offered exactly what I needed to complete my preschool director qualifications for the State of Colorado. These classes not only met my needs they exceeded them. But beyond that they sparked the motivation and energy in me that I thought was gone. I heard the philosophies of early childhood again in a fresh and inspiring way. The distance education instructors were so helpful and were always just a phone call away if I needed them. I believe people should keep moving forward because you get out of life exactly what you put into it.

- Leslie Hanson

Program Requirements

All individuals submitting official transcripts for review and/or completing necessary college course work to become qualified as a director must complete one 3-semester hour course (24-semester hours total) in each of the following categories:

  • Introduction to Early Childhood Professions
  • Introduction to Early Childhood Lab Techniques
  • Guidance Strategies for Children
  • Health, Nutrition, and Safety
  • Administration of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs
  • Curriculum Development: Methods and Techniques
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions

Approved Courses

Colorado State Continuing Education offers the following courses which the CDHS has verbally approved as qualifying for the certification:

For more courses that satisfy requirements for this program but are not offered by Continuing Education, visit Colorado Community Colleges Online.

More Information

About distance education, registration, and approved courses:

Michele Sterling
(970) 491-2520
msterling@learn.colostate.edu

About the certification and requirements:

Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)
(303) 866-5958

Certificate at a Glance

Delivery

Correspondence

Tuition

$223 per credit

Designed For

Directors and substitute directors of child care centers whom require certification or re-certification as required by their state.

What you will earn

Certification is overseen by the CDHS. Colorado State University does not issue certification for this program.