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Early childhood education programs in New York

4 early childhood programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

4 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and New York has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Childcare workers look after children's needs and help their early development. What they need varies by state and employer, from no formal education to a certificate in early childhood education; most often states ask for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which takes coursework, experience and a period of being observed working with children.1 The CDA takes a high school diploma or GED, 120 hours of early childhood education, 480 hours of work with the age group you choose within three years, a portfolio and the CDA exam.2

In New York, 3 of the 4 programs take students without a high school diploma and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 4 programs here are CDA (Child Development Associate) course (3 programs) and child care course or single class (1 program).

See the 4 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in New York?

$1,560 to $1,875

is what the 2 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in New York may also offer early childhood education programs. How these figures are made

Are there free early childhood education programs in New York?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 4 early childhood programs in New York approved for WIOA funding

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4 programs

  • CDA (Child Development Associate) courseIn personEducation and courses

    Child Development Associate Credential

    Child Care Council Of Westchester

    Scarsdale

    Education and courses

    Child Care Council Of Westchester, ScarsdaleCDA (Child Development Associate) courseIn person · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimated$33,300
    Price if you pay yourself$1,560

    41 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Child Development Associate Credential at Child Care Council Of Westchester
    More details about Child Development Associate Credential at Child Care Council Of Westchester
    Finished
    74%
    Working at 6 months
    61%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,320
    Length
    36 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    42
    Earned a year, estimated
    $33,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,560
    students trained with WIOA funding
    41
    Program website, Child Development Associate Credential at Child Care Council Of Westchester

  • CDA (Child Development Associate) courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Child Development Associate (CDA)

    Molloy College - Division Of Continuing Education & Professional Studies

    Rockville Ctr

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Molloy College - Division Of Continuing Education & Professional Studies, Rockville CtrCDA (Child Development Associate) course · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,875
    Program website, Child Development Associate (CDA) at Molloy College - Division Of Continuing Education & Professional Studies
    More details about Child Development Associate (CDA) at Molloy College - Division Of Continuing Education & Professional Studies
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    26 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,875
    Program website, Child Development Associate (CDA) at Molloy College - Division Of Continuing Education & Professional Studies

  • CDA (Child Development Associate) courseOnlineNo diploma needed

    CDA with CLASS (On-Demand - CEUs)

    Teachstone Inc.

    No diploma needed

    Teachstone Inc.CDA (Child Development Associate) courseOnline · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, CDA with CLASS (On-Demand - CEUs) at Teachstone Inc.
    More details about CDA with CLASS (On-Demand - CEUs) at Teachstone Inc.
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    52 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, CDA with CLASS (On-Demand - CEUs) at Teachstone Inc.

  • Child care course or single classHybridNo diploma needed

    Family Child Care Training Program

    Columbia-Greene Community College

    Hudson

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Columbia-Greene Community College, HudsonChild care course or single class · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    More details about Family Child Care Training Program at Columbia-Greene Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    6 weeks, 36 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported

How to pay for early childhood education programs in New York

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in New York

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for early childhood education programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for early childhood education programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Early childhood education programs in New York, Hudson and other New York cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in New York

How early childhood education programs compare with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in New York

Where the New York early childhood education program numbers come from

Which New York early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs New York approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what New York offers.

How the prices and results of New York early childhood education programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the New York figures?

The US Department of Labor's own results site lists New York among the states with "known data quality concerns".11 The figures here are shown as the state reported them; check them with the school before you enroll.

Sources for the facts about early childhood education programs in New York

Show the 11 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers
  2. Council for Professional Recognition: CDA Credentialing Process Overview (February 2026)
  3. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  4. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  5. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  6. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List
  11. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: search page, note on states with known data quality concerns