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DATE:
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April 24, 2026
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TO:
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Licensed Child Day Centers, Unlicensed Center-Based Subsidy Providers, and Home-Based Subsidy Providers
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FROM:
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Jeffrey S. Williams, Assistant Superintendent, Child Care Health and Safety
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SUBJECT:
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New Virginia Preservice Training Available
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This memo is to inform providers that the newly updated Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff will be available to providers on May 1, 2026. The training has been separated into age-appropriate categories, as required by House Bill 1024, which passed in the 2024 General Assembly. Provider input for these courses was gathered through listening sessions in the summer/fall of 2024 and feedback surveys listed in the Readiness Connections newsletter.
The updated preservice training now includes the following required courses:
- a foundations course for all staff (regardless of program type or age of children in care), and
- program and age specific courses (which will be based on the type of program a staff person works in and the ages of child with whom the staff person works).
Courses currently available:
• Virginia Preservice: Foundations (All Child Care Staff); 3 hours
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (School-Age Care); 1.5 hours
Courses available on May 1, 2026:
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (Birth to Five Care); 3 hours
• Virginia Preservice: Family Day Home Care; 3 hour
The previous 10-hour preservice training course will remain available for 30 days for anyone who is currently enrolled in the course. As of June 1, 2026, the 10-hour preservice training will not be available to complete even if staff were previously enrolled in the course. More information as well as links to the course registration page can be found on the Training and Professional Development webpage on May 1, 2026.
New Virginia Preservice Training Pathways
Staff at a licensed child day center or subsidy child day center who only work with ages birth to five years will take:
• Virginia Preservice: Foundations (All Child Care Staff); 3 hours
AND
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (Birth to Five Care); 3 hours
Staff at a licensed child day center or subsidy child day center who only work with school-age children will take:
• Virginia Preservice: Foundations (All Child Care Staff); 3 hours
AND
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (School-Age Care); 1.5 hours
Staff who work with multiple age groups and directors at a licensed child day center or subsidy child day center who work with both birth to five years AND school-age children will take:
• Virginia Preservice: Foundations (All Child Care Staff); 3 hours
AND
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (Birth to Five Care); 3 hours
AND
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (School-Age Care); 1.5 hours
Subsidy family day home providers will take:
• Virginia Preservice: Foundations (All Child Care Staff); 3 hours
AND
• Virginia Preservice: Child Day Center (Family Day Home Care); 3 hours
If you have any questions after reading this memo, please email childcarelicensing@doe.virginia.gov.
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