How Camille and DECAL Issue Your CEU Certificate After a Training

Short answer (Georgia): When you complete a training with Camille — a Georgia DECAL / Bright from the Start (BFTS)–approved trainer — you receive a certificate showing the session title, the clock hours, the date, and her approved-trainer information, and the hours are recorded in GaPDS (the Georgia Professional Development System). You generally get your certificate at or shortly after the session, and the hours appear on your GaPDS record once attendance is processed. South Carolina and North Carolina work differently — more on that below.

If you've ever walked out of a training unsure where your "credit" actually goes, this post clears it up.

What the certificate is (and isn't)

In early childhood, a training certificate is the proof that you completed a specific number of clock hours (sometimes discussed as CEUs) on an approved topic. It is the document your director, your licensor, and your state registry rely on. A good certificate includes:

• Your name
• The training title and a short description or topic area
• The number of clock hours
• The date completed
• The trainer's name and approval credential (for Georgia, Camille's DECAL/BFTS-approved trainer status)

Keep every certificate. Even when hours post to a registry automatically, your own folder is your backup.

Georgia: how Camille and DECAL issue it

Georgia's system runs through Bright from the Start (BFTS), the state's Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), and its registry, GaPDS. Because Camille is a DECAL-approved trainer, the training she delivers counts toward your Georgia annual requirement and can be recorded in GaPDS.

Here's the typical flow:

1. You attend and complete the full session. Clock hours are based on actual time in approved training, so attendance and sign-in matter.
2. Camille issues your certificate. You receive a certificate documenting the title, hours, date, and her approved-trainer details — usually at the end of the session or shortly after.
3. The hours are recorded in GaPDS. Approved training is reflected on your Georgia Professional Development System record so it counts toward your annual hours.
4. You confirm it posted. Log in to your GaPDS account and check that the session shows up. If it doesn't appear, follow up early while the session is fresh.

This is what "DECAL-approved" really buys you in Georgia: the training is recognized for your annual hours, and there's a clear paper-and-registry trail. Learn more on the Georgia certification page.

When do you actually get it?

Most educators receive the certificate itself at or right after the training. Posting to a registry can take a little longer because attendance has to be processed. A practical rule: hold onto your printed/emailed certificate and don't assume the registry entry is instant. If renewal is close, give yourself margin rather than booking a session the week hours are due.

South Carolina is different

South Carolina does not use DECAL or GaPDS. The state works through SC DSS, ABC Quality, and the SC Endeavors registry. Out-of-state or independent training (like a session designed for Georgia) can still count in South Carolina — but the path is different: you submit an individual training request in your own SC Endeavors account. To qualify, 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, your certificate is the evidence you upload, and you drive the approval through your account. See the South Carolina certification page for the details.

North Carolina is different again

North Carolina runs through NC DHHS and the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), with the NCICDP registry. Here, courses generally must be submitted to DCDEE for approval, and CPR/First Aid do not count toward your ongoing training hours. The honest framing: don't assume a Georgia DECAL approval automatically transfers. If you teach in North Carolina, ask about DCDEE-approved formats before you count a session. The North Carolina certification page walks through this.

Why "approved" matters more than "good"

A wonderful training that isn't approved in your state may not count toward your hours. That's why the who issues it and how it's recorded questions matter as much as the content. In Georgia, Camille's DECAL/BFTS approval means the answer is built in. In SC and NC, you (or your director) confirm the path before relying on the hours.

A soft next step

If you're in Georgia and want training where the certificate and GaPDS recording are handled by a DECAL-approved trainer, Camille's sessions are built for exactly that — and you can 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. Either way, the goal is the same: training that genuinely improves your room and counts when it's time to renew.

The bottom line

In Georgia, your certificate comes from Camille as a DECAL-approved trainer and your hours land in GaPDS — usually the certificate at the session, the registry shortly after. South Carolina counts the same training through a self-submitted SC Endeavors individual request, and North Carolina expects DCDEE-approved formats. Know your state's path, keep your certificates, and confirm the posting.