ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — Seniors in the Early Childhood Education program at Mid-East Career and Technology Centers participated in Ohio’s first statewide Health and Human Services Signing Day in early October, committing to complete Child Development Associate training during the current academic year.
The training prepares students to meet the requirements for the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which can open career opportunities in early childhood education.
Students enrolled in Mid-East’s CDA training program complete 120 hours of coursework covering eight child development content areas. The training prepares them to work with children from birth through age 5 and helps students develop skills sought by early childhood education employers. Participants also have opportunities to earn college credit toward higher education degrees.
“We are extremely proud of our Early Childhood Education students for taking this important first step toward a very meaningful and rewarding career,” said Katie Lucas, the program’s instructor.
Lucas said trained early childhood educators can play an important role in supporting children’s learning and development during their formative years.
The CDA credential can qualify individuals for a range of positions in infant, toddler and preschool programs, including teacher’s aide, assistant teacher, lead teacher, floating teacher, substitute teacher and administrator roles.
The statewide Health and Human Services Signing Day initiative is part of Career Compass for Health and Human Services. The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, with high school and college activities administered by the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association to raise awareness of careers in the field.
Last Updated on October 21, 2026 by AVC News
