Tennessee Online Child Care Training | TrainTN Approved & TDHS Recognized

Tennessee approved child care trainings you'll actually want to sit through

Learn practical classroom-ready strategies from a Speech Language Pathologist & Early Intervention Specialist — plus access to digital resources and a community of educators like you!
Empty space, drag to resize
Speech-language pathologist preparing child care training materials for early childhood educators
flower decorative boarder

Browse all live and self paced professional learning

Trainings you'll actually want to finish

Bridging Child Development is an approved training organization in Tennessee

Meet your required Tennessee child care training hours with courses approved through TrainTN — so you can meet your professional development requirements with strategies you'll actually use.

Tennessee Child Care Training Requirements

Everything You Need To Know:

Annual Training Hours by Role:

Annual training requirements in Tennessee are set by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) for all staff in licensed child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and drop-in child care centers. Requirements vary by role:
  • Role: Director | Required Training: 24 hours annually, including 6 hrs health & safety, 3 hrs pre-literacy, and ACEs training every 5 years
  • Role: Assistant Director & Primary Educator | Required Training: 18 hours annually, including 6 hrs health & safety, 3 hrs pre-literacy, and ACEs every 5 years
  • Role: Educator and Caregiver | Required Training: 12 hours annually, including 6 hrs health & safety, 3 hrs pre-literacy, and ACEs every 5 years
  • Role: Substitutes and Volunteers | Required Training: Varies, preservice and ongoing requirements apply; confirm with TDHS for your specific role

TrainTN — Tennessee's Training

TrainTN is the official TDHS clearinghouse where approved training organizations are listed and where providers can verify that a training counts toward Tennessee licensing requirements. Think of it as the state's seal of approval,  if a training isn't in the TrainTN catalog, TDHS won't recognize it.  Bridging Child Development is an approved TrainTN provider.

TNPAL — Registry Systems

TNPAL — the Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning — is the official system of record for qualifications, training, and professional development for all child care providers licensed by TDHS. Use of TNPAL is required for all early childhood professionals subject to preservice and ongoing training requirements under Tennessee licensure rules. It's where your completed trainings, credentials, education, certifications, and awards are stored and where TDHS licensing staff verify your compliance.

Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee

Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee is an incentive program for early childhood educators that provides financial supplements based on education level and continuity of employment without affecting program budgets, regular wages, or parent fees. The more education and professional development you accumulate, the higher your WAGE$ supplement level. Click here to learn more.

Meet Your Trainer

Hi, I'm Kelly
A licensed Speech Language Pathologist, Early Intervention Specialist, Child Care Trainer, and Former Family Child Care Owner

I work alongside teachers every day caring for children with developmental delays, feeding challenges, speech and language disorders, and more.

I kept hearing the same thing: "Our trainings don't teach us this." So I created trainings that do! 

No fluff. Just practical strategies designed to fit naturally into everyday routines with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
Speech-language pathologist working on professional development resources for early childhood educatorsalt=""alt=""alt=""

Get your Training Hours

Frequently Asked Questions:
start your own program

Opening a Child Care Program in Tennessee

  • Licensing for child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and drop-in child care centers in Tennessee is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS).
New providers should contact TDHS Child Care Services
  • Phone: (615) 741-7839
  • Email: ChildCareServices.DHS@tn.gov 
You may also want to set up a TNPAL account. This is where all your training, credentials, and professional development will be stored and where TDHS licensing staff verify compliance. Tennessee offers support through Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies.  Learn more here.