MCC Launches Child Care Academy
Published on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025
To address the severe staffing shortages contributing to North Carolina’s child care crisis, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with 16 North Carolina institutions of higher education to establish Child Care Academies. These academies provide shortened, intensive training and required certifications at no cost to participants, preparing individuals for employment in licensed child care settings. Montgomery Community College is proud to be one of the selected institutions participating in this statewide initiative.
Traditional pathways to becoming a lead teacher in early childhood education can take several weeks or months to complete. MCC’s Child Care Academy, offered through Continuing Education as EDU 3119, delivers a comprehensive training experience that meets or exceeds the state’s minimum requirements for new child care professionals in a condensed format while maintaining instructional quality and required credentials.
As a participating institution, MCC is required to offer at least three Child Care Academies through June 2026. MCC’s scheduled academies are being offered February 9 – 27 (in person),
March 16 – April 2 (hybrid format) and May 18 – June 5 (hybrid format).
To enroll in a Child Care Academy, participants must be 18 years of age or older and possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Individuals interested in registering should contact MCC’s Department of Continuing Education at 910-898-9672.
The academy curriculum includes training and certification in CPR and First Aid, health and safety practices, infant and toddler safe sleep and sudden infant death syndrome, playground safety, and recognizing and responding to suspected child maltreatment. Participants also receive instruction on the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development, an overview of Environment Rating Scales, and information related to child care program standards and licensing requirements.
Completion of EDU 3119 provides participants with the required training toward earning the North Carolina Early Childhood Education Credential, along with multiple state-mandated certifications, preparing graduates for immediate entry into the child care workforce.