Are you taking college classes while working in child care? Good news—those classes may already count toward your annual professional development (PD) requirements. If your coursework is from an accredited college or university, it can be applied toward the training hours required by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) and Department of Economic Security (DES). That means you may be closer to meeting your requirements than you think.

College credits vs. clock hours

College programs measure learning in credits, while licensing requires clock hours. Here’s how they align:

• 1 college credit = 15 clock hours
• Most courses are 3 credits = 45 clock hours

So, a single college class can cover a large portion—or even all—of your annual PD requirement.

What classes count? 

Not every course will qualify. DHS and DES accept coursework related to these early childhood topics:

• Child growth and development
• Health and safety issues
• Program administration
• Availability of community services 

If your course falls into one of these areas, it will likely count toward your PD hours.

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You can also check the Arizona Early Childhood Education Common Course Matrix to confirm whether a course is approved for DES hours.  

Important things to remember  

Even if your coursework meets the hour requirement, there are a couple of key rules to keep in mind:

1. Cover at least two topics: DHS requires your annual PD to cover at least two different topic areas.
   
   Example: If you completed one 3-credit course in Child Development (45 hours), you would still need training in a second topic, like Health and Safety.
2. Check with your director: Your employer may have additional training requirements beyond state minimums. Always confirm with your director to make sure you’re fully meeting expectations. 

How to get credit for your coursework

Follow these steps to make sure your college classes count:

• Check your dates: PD requirements are tied to your employment anniversary. Make sure your course was completed within your current PD year.
• Submit your unofficial transcript to the Registry: Upload your unofficial transcript to the Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry. Once verified, your coursework will appear on your Professional Development and Education report.
  • Keep documentation: Save your syllabus or course description, and consider sharing your transcript with your director in case additional verification is needed.

Why this matters 

Going to school takes time and commitment. When your coursework also counts toward your professional development requirements, you’re getting even more value from that effort.

You’re not just checking a box—you’re building knowledge, strengthening your skills, and investing in the quality of care you provide to Arizona’s children. The kind of things that are foundational to building a strong career and giving Arizona’s children the very best start in life.