Cartoon of preschool teacher and students

Free Child Care Foundational Training Now Available!

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and our training instructor partners have listened to your requests for accessible and affordable training and support. In response to the workforce shortage in child care, we are pleased to announce free Child Care Foundational Training, specifically for new child care professionals, is now available!

The Child Care Foundational Training courses covers the following non-credit trainings delivered in an interactive online, interactive correspondence, and in-person format:

  • Introduction to the Child Care Profession
  • Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care
  • Fundamentals of Family Child Care
  • Skills and Strategies for the Child Care Teacher

See the DCF Approved Training Agencies Offering Noncredit Child Care Courses publication and the Wisconsin Registry Statewide Training Calendar for the list of currently agencies offering these courses.

Find more information in the FAQs below.
 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Free Child Care Foundational Training

How do I sign up for the free training?

You can register for any of the trainings on the Wisconsin Registry Statewide Training Calendar.

Do I have to pay for the training?

No, you do not need to pay for these trainings; there are no fees required, including no registration fees, holding fees, mailing or printing fees, etc. The four foundational courses are being offered for free if taken in-person,  or taken through an interactive online or interactive correspondence model. 

If I enrolled in one of these courses prior to June 1, and I finish after the free training program begins, can I get reimbursed? 

If you begin any of these four courses prior to the launch of this program, you are not eligible for reimbursement. However, if you enrolled prior to June 1, but did not start the course until after this free training program began, you may qualify for reimbursement. 

Are these courses different from the department-approved, noncredit entry-level courses that are currently offered? 

No. These courses are the same courses that are currently being offered by various agencies and meet the requirements for certification and licensing. 

Will I get credit for these courses? 

The four foundational training courses offered are the non-credit courses generally required to enter the child care provider field.

Will they be online, in person, or correspondence courses?

The free courses are available in an interactive online,  interactive correspondence, and in-person format offered by several training agencies. Self-paced online and self-paced correspondence courses are still available through some DCF-approved training agencies, but will not be offered for free. 

Will these courses be offered in languages other than English?

Yes, the courses will be available in other languages. Please visit the Wisconsin Registry Statewide Training Calendar to find the available courses. You may also contact the DCF Approved Training Agencies to ask about courses in other languages.

What will the impact be on my YoungStar rating?

These courses will not impact your YoungStar rating. These are non-credit courses generally required for meeting licensing and certification staff qualifications. 

Is there a financial incentive to attend these trainings?

These trainings are free! If you're new to the child care field, we encourage you to take these courses to meet licensing and certification staff qualifications. 

Are T.E.A.C.H. or REWARD funds available to help pay for these trainings?

These four foundational in-person, interactive online, and interactive correspondence trainings are being offered for free; therefore T.E.A.C.H. or REWARD funding is not necessary to cover costs. 

Who can take these free courses?

These four foundational courses are being offered for free to target individuals who are not currently working in the child care field or those who have just entered the field and have not completed the required education for their position, if applicable. 

How long will these courses be offered for free? 

This program will run for approximately 12 months or until funding runs out. The Wisconsin Registry has created a Child Care Foundational Training usage tracker webpage, which includes information on how much funding remains available and how many participants have successfully completed a course through this program.

How do I sign up for these free courses? 

You may sign up through the Wisconsin Registry or through participating Wisconsin Technical Colleges. See the DCF Approved Training Agencies Offering Noncredit Child Care Courses publication for the list of currently agencies offering these courses. 

When do these free courses begin? 

The free courses began June 1, 2022.  

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Please read through all the information on this webpage and FAQs prior to contacting anyone. However, if you still have questions that aren’t answered here, please see below.

  • For questions regarding a specific course that’s being offered, please contact the training agency that is offering it directly. 
  • For questions regarding using the Statewide Training Calendar, please contact the Wisconsin Registry at support@wiregistry.org
  • For general questions regarding the program that are not answered in the FAQs, please contact DCF at DCFDECECCTraining@wisconsin.gov
     

 

 

Media Bundle

Download and use this media bundle to help spread the word about the Free Child Care Foundational Training. 

Facebook

Download the sample graphics by clicking on the thumbnails below and use the pre-scripted posts to share about the free Child Care Foundational Training through Facebook.

 

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Facebook Post #1

Help change a child's future. Start your career in child care today. Learn more about the free training to help you become a child care provider. Beginning June 1! Learn more at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training facebook and twitter graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Facebook Post #2

Do you love caring for infants and toddlers? Start your career in child care and change a child's future!  Learn more about free child care training beginning June 1! cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training facebook and twitter graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Facebook Post #3

You can change a child's future by being an influential child care provider. DCF and its many partners are offering free Child Care Foundational Training to help you start your career in child care. Learn more at cctraining.wi.gov

 
project growth facebook graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Facebook Post #4

Help increase access to child care by becoming a family child care provider! Learn more at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training facebook and twitter graphic

Twitter

Download the sample graphics by clicking on the thumbnails below and use the pre-scripted posts to share about the free Child Care Foundational Training through Twitter.

 

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Twitter Post #1

Help change a child's future. Start your career in child care today. Learn more about the free Child Care Foundational Training on the DCF website at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training facebook and twitter graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Twitter Post #2

Want to enhance your career in child care? Learn more about our free Child Care Foundational Training. cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training facebook and twitter graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample Twitter Post #3

Interested in a career in child care? Consider taking the free Child Care Foundational Training offered by DCF partners. Learn more at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training facebook and twitter graphic

LinkedIn

Download the sample graphics by clicking on the thumbnails below and use the pre-scripted posts to share about the free Child Care Foundational Training through LinkedIn.

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample LinkedIn Post #1

Help change a child's future. Start your career in child care today. Learn more about the free training to help you become a child care provider at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training LinkedIn graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Sample LinkedIn Post #2

Changing futures one child at a time. Start your career in child care today! Learn more at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training LinkedIn graphic

Posters

Download the poster samples by clicking on the poster link and hang them in your center to share information about the free Child Care Foundational Training.

Free Child Care Foundational Training Poster #1

Poster PDF #1. Learn more about the free training to help you become a child care provider at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training poster #1 graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Poster #2

Poster PDF #2. Learn more about the free training to help you become a child care provider at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training poster #2 graphic

Free Child Care Foundational Training Poster #3

Poster PDF #3. Learn more about the free training to help you become a child care provider at cctraining.wi.gov

 
child care foundational training poster #3 graphic