How many training hours does Georgia require each year?

Georgia DECAL — Bright from the Start requires 10 clock hours of approved training per year for licensed child care staff. The cycle runs January through December and applies after your first year.

What is GaPDS and why does it matter?

GaPDS is the Georgia Professional Development System — DECAL's official registry that tracks your training. Approved hours post to your GaPDS profile as Bright from the Start (BFTS) credits, which is how DECAL verifies you've met the requirement.

Do Camille's trainings count toward my Bright from the Start hours?

Yes. Camille is a Georgia DECAL-approved trainer, so her sessions are recognized directly toward your BFTS hours — there's no separate approval step. Your credits apply to your annual 10-hour total.

What are BFTS credits?

BFTS credits are Bright from the Start credits — the Georgia-specific way DECAL counts approved training. They're the units that show on your GaPDS record and add up to your required 10 clock hours.

Does training have to be delivered by an approved trainer or sponsor?

To count in Georgia, training is generally delivered through a DECAL Approved Trainer or an Approved Sponsor Organization (ASO) so the hours post as BFTS credits in GaPDS. Camille trains as a DECAL-approved trainer.

Georgia · DECAL approved training

Georgia child care training: earn your 10 DECAL-approved hours a year

Georgia DECAL — Bright from the Start (BFTS) requires 10 clock hours of approved training each year for licensed child care staff. Camille is a Georgia DECAL-approved trainer, so her sessions count directly toward those hours and post as BFTS credits in your GaPDS account.

GaPDS registry
10 hours / year
CEU certificate

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What counts

What counts in Georgia

In Georgia, the training that counts toward your 10 annual clock hours has to be delivered through Bright from the Start's professional development system — typically by a DECAL Approved Trainer or through an Approved Sponsor Organization (ASO). These approved hours post as BFTS credits, the Georgia-specific term you'll see on your record.

Your hours live in GaPDS (the Georgia Professional Development System), the official registry DECAL uses to track each educator's training. When you train with an approved trainer, the completed credits flow to your GaPDS profile so directors and DECAL can verify you've met the requirement.

Because Camille is a Georgia DECAL-approved trainer, you don't need to submit her sessions for separate review — they are recognized directly toward your Bright from the Start hours. You leave each session with a certificate and the BFTS credits applied to your annual total.

How it works

Earn your hours in Georgia

From picking a format to your certificate — here's the path for Georgia.

Pick a DECAL-approved format
Choose an in-person, virtual, or on-site session that fits your center. Every option is delivered as Bright from the Start approved training so it counts toward your 10 Georgia clock hours.
Train with Camille
Learn from a Georgia DECAL-approved trainer. Camille's topics are mapped to Bright from the Start standards, so the time you spend translates straight into BFTS credits.
Earn your BFTS hours
Completed sessions post as Bright from the Start (BFTS) credits in your GaPDS account, building toward the 10 clock hours DECAL requires each January–December cycle.
Get your certificate
Receive a dated certificate of completion for your records, with your credits reflected in GaPDS so directors and DECAL can verify your annual training.

Common questions

Georgia training questions, answered

Get ahead of renewal

Get your Georgia training hours done — early, and stress-free

Build a quote in about a minute, or tell Camille about your team and she'll recommend the right path to your annual hours.

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