State Launches Child Care Academies, GTCC Joins Accelerated Training Program
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched Child Care Academies, a free accelerated training and certification pathway for new child care workers, and Guilford Technical Community College is one of 16 partner institutions. The program aims to ease staffing shortages and expand access to affordable high quality early learning across Guilford County and the state.
The state announced a new initiative to expand training for child care workers through free, accelerated academies funded by the Preschool Development Grant. The Child Care Academies are designed to provide intensive training that meets or exceeds the state minimum standards for child care professionals, and Guilford Technical Community College will offer at least three academy sessions through July 2026.
Training will be available in person and virtual, and curriculum elements include CPR and first aid, health and safety, infant and toddler safe sleep and SIDS prevention, playground safety, recognizing and responding to suspected child maltreatment, an overview of the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development, Environment Rating Scales, and Pathways to the Stars quality rating standards. Participants will receive certification and support to complete required background check requirements, creating a streamlined route into workforce positions at child care centers and family care settings.
Some academies began in late 2025 and additional sessions will launch in early 2026. For Guilford County residents seeking to enroll or to learn session dates and registration details, contact Guilford Technical Community College. Local centers that hire graduates should expect workers with training aligned to state quality frameworks, which may affect center readiness for quality rating and improvement initiatives.
The program addresses two long standing policy challenges for Guilford County. Expanding the pipeline of trained staff responds to persistent staffing shortages that have constrained enrollment capacity and contributed to uneven access to affordable early learning. Accelerated, no cost training reduces initial barriers for prospective workers, particularly young adults and career changers, while alignment with Pathways to the Stars offers a mechanism to tie workforce development to measurable quality improvements.
Questions about long term impact will turn on sustained funding and local employer uptake. Tracking whether graduates remain in the child care workforce, and how quickly centers translate new staff into increased enrollment and reduced wait lists, will determine whether the academies materially expand access for families across Guilford County. Contact Guilford Technical Community College for enrollment information and session schedules.
