Annual Training Hours by State: Georgia 10, South Carolina 15, North Carolina 5–20

Short answer: Annual early childhood training hours differ by state. Georgia requires 10 clock hours per year (after year one). South Carolina requires 15 clock hours per year (directors 20; up to 5 may carry over). North Carolina requires 5 to 20 hours per year depending on your credential. Each state also uses its own system, registry, and terminology — so a quick side-by-side keeps you from mixing them up.

If you teach near a state line or recently relocated, this is the comparison you need.

Georgia: 10 hours, Bright from the Start / DECAL

Georgia runs through Bright from the Start (BFTS) and DECAL, with the GaPDS registry. The baseline is 10 clock hours per year, applied after your first year and tracked on the January–December calendar. Training is recognized when it comes through an Approved Sponsor Organization or an Approved Trainer (Camille is DECAL-approved) and is recorded in GaPDS. In Georgia you'll hear these called "BFTS credits." Full details on the Georgia certification page.

South Carolina: 15 hours, SC Endeavors / ABC Quality

South Carolina runs through SC DSS, ABC Quality, and the SC Endeavors registry. The baseline is 15 clock hours per year, with up to 5 hours carryover allowed and directors generally needing 20. A key feature: out-of-state or independent training can count, but you submit an individual training request in your SC Endeavors account — sessions generally need to be at least one hour and span at least three topic areas, and SC Endeavors reviews the content. So in SC, you drive the approval. See the South Carolina certification page.

North Carolina: 5–20 hours by credential, DCDEE

North Carolina runs through NC DHHS and the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), with the NCICDP registry. The required hours depend on your credential, and CPR/First Aid do not count toward them. Courses generally must be submitted to DCDEE for approval — don't assume an out-of-state approval transfers; ask about DCDEE-approved formats. Here's the by-credential breakdown:

Your qualification	Annual training hours
4-year degree in a related field	5
2-year degree (related) OR NC Early Childhood Administration Credential	8
NC Early Childhood Credential	10
10 years documented experience	15
None of the above	20

The more relevant your formal credential, the fewer annual hours required. Full details on the North Carolina certification page.

Side-by-side summary

	Georgia	South Carolina	North Carolina
Annual hours	10	15 (directors 20)	5–20 by credential
System / registry	DECAL · BFTS · GaPDS	SC DSS · ABC Quality · SC Endeavors	NC DHHS · DCDEE · NCICDP
Carryover	—	Up to 5 hours	—
How outside training counts	Approved Trainer / ASO, recorded in GaPDS	Individual training request in SC Endeavors	Submitted to DCDEE for approval
Local term	"BFTS credits"	SC Endeavors hours	DCDEE-approved training

Why the differences matter

Three things trip educators up:

1. The number. Georgia's 10, South Carolina's 15, and North Carolina's credential-based 5–20 are genuinely different targets. Don't assume your neighbor's requirement is yours.
2. The path to "counting." Georgia recognizes approved trainers and records to GaPDS automatically; South Carolina puts you in the driver's seat with an individual training request; North Carolina expects DCDEE approval up front.
3. What doesn't count. In North Carolina specifically, CPR and First Aid do not count toward your annual training hours — a common and costly assumption.

When in doubt, verify in your own state's registry: GaPDS, SC Endeavors, or the NC system. The honest rule: Camille is directly DECAL-approved for Georgia; in South Carolina her training can count through your SC Endeavors individual request; in North Carolina, ask about DCDEE-approved formats before relying on the hours.

Planning across any of the three

No matter your state, the same habits keep renewal calm:

• Check your registry first to see hours completed and hours left.
• Count backward from your deadline and spread hours across the year.
• Choose approved sources so the hours actually count.
• Save every certificate and confirm each posts to your record.

A soft next step

If you're in Georgia and want training that satisfies your 10 hours and is recorded by a DECAL-approved trainer, Camille's sessions are built for it — see formats and rates on the pricing page. If you're in South Carolina or North Carolina, reach out first so you can confirm the SC Endeavors or DCDEE path before booking. The aim is training that improves your room and counts at renewal.

The bottom line

Georgia asks for 10 hours, South Carolina for 15 (directors 20, up to 5 carryover), and North Carolina for 5–20 depending on your credential. Each state uses its own system and its own way of recognizing training. Know your number, know your path to "counting," and verify in your state's registry.