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Early childhood education programs in Florida

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

8 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Florida 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 Florida, 2 of the 11 programs take students without a high school diploma, 7 ask for a diploma or equivalent, 1 asks for earlier courses first and 1 asks for an associate degree.

By kind, the 11 programs here are early childhood education (associate degree, 7 programs) and child care or preschool certificate (4 programs).

See the 11 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Florida?

Two-year degrees (7 programs)
$6,566 to $6,973most of them, usually 74 to 103 weeks long
Other early childhood education programs (4 programs)
$346 to $1,803all 4 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program
51%
Working 6 months later
65%
Earned a year, estimated
about $29,200
Length
34 to 99 weeks

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

Are there free early childhood education programs in Florida?

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

All 11 early childhood programs in Florida approved for WIOA funding

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11 programs

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education - Associate in Science

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)

    Miami

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses), MiamiEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$33,100
    Price if you pay yourself$7,143
    More details about Early Childhood Education - Associate in Science at MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    64%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,284
    Length
    96 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $952
    Students counted
    527
    Earned a year, estimated
    $33,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,143

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personAssociate's degree

    Early Childhood Development-AS

    St Petersburg College-Un

    Largo

    Accredited school

    Associate's degree

    St Petersburg College-Un, LargoEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Associate's degree

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,705
    Program website, Early Childhood Development-AS at St Petersburg College-Un
    More details about Early Childhood Development-AS at St Petersburg College-Un
    Finished
    51%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    104 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $300
    Students counted
    294
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,705
    Program website, Early Childhood Development-AS at St Petersburg College-Un

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Education - AS

    Florida SouthWestern State College

    Fort Myers

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort MyersEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$28,500
    Price if you pay yourself$6,802
    Program website, Early Childhood Education - AS at Florida SouthWestern State College
    More details about Early Childhood Education - AS at Florida SouthWestern State College
    Finished
    35%
    Working at 6 months
    64%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,117
    Length
    68 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,500
    Students counted
    196
    Earned a year, estimated
    $28,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,802
    Program website, Early Childhood Education - AS at Florida SouthWestern State College

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education - Preschool

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)

    Miami

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses), MiamiChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$31,100
    Price if you pay yourself$1,803
    More details about Early Childhood Education - Preschool at MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    61%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,781
    Length
    40 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $399
    Students counted
    99
    Earned a year, estimated
    $31,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,803

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Education

    Pensacola State College-Cs

    Pensacola

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pensacola State College-Cs, PensacolaEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$29,200
    Price if you pay yourself$6,275
    More details about Early Childhood Education at Pensacola State College-Cs
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    67%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,307
    Length
    64 weeks, 35 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    29
    Earned a year, estimated
    $29,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,275

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    DCF Childcare Training

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)

    Miami

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses), MiamiChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$25,100
    Price if you pay yourself$346

    14 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about DCF Childcare Training at MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)
    Finished
    31%
    Working at 6 months
    75%
    Earned in a quarter
    $6,270
    Length
    28 weeks, 45 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $240
    Students counted
    14
    Earned a year, estimated
    $25,100
    Price if you pay yourself
    $346
    students trained with WIOA funding
    14

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC)

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)

    Miami

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses), MiamiChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$878
    More details about Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) at MIAMI DADE COLLEGE (Various Campuses)
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $878

  • Child care or preschool certificateIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Preschool Specialization

    North Florida College-Cs

    Madison

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    North Florida College-Cs, MadisonChild care or preschool certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,198
    School website, Preschool Specialization at North Florida College-Cs
    More details about Preschool Specialization at North Florida College-Cs
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    18 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $24
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,198
    School website, Preschool Specialization at North Florida College-Cs

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Education AS

    Eastern Florida State College

    Melbourne

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Eastern Florida State College, MelbourneEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,426
    School website, Early Childhood Education AS at Eastern Florida State College
    More details about Early Childhood Education AS at Eastern Florida State College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    104 weeks, 36 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $685
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,426
    School website, Early Childhood Education AS at Eastern Florida State College

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)HybridEducation and courses

    Early Childhood Education & Management-AS

    Polk State College-Cs

    Winter Haven

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Polk State College-Cs, Winter HavenEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$6,733
    Program website, Early Childhood Education & Management-AS at Polk State College-Cs
    More details about Early Childhood Education & Management-AS at Polk State College-Cs
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    102 weeks, 50 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,300
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $6,733
    Program website, Early Childhood Education & Management-AS at Polk State College-Cs

  • Early childhood education (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Early Childhood Education A.d.-A

    Santa Fe College

    Gainesville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Santa Fe College, GainesvilleEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$7,580
    School website, Early Childhood Education A.d.-A at Santa Fe College
    More details about Early Childhood Education A.d.-A at Santa Fe College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    80 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $7,580
    School website, Early Childhood Education A.d.-A at Santa Fe College

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Florida

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Florida

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.

Quick facts: Early childhood education programs in Florida

programs with a price cost under $2,000
4 of 11
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
23rd of 33
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less
14 of 20
early childhood programs here, against the typical state's 8
11 vs 8

State comparisons use the same figures as the early childhood education programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Early childhood education programs in Miami, Tampa, Cape Coral and other Florida cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 more program is in 1 other area, 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Florida

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

Where the Florida early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Florida early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Florida 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 Florida offers.

How the prices and results of Florida 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.

Sources for the facts about early childhood education programs in Florida

Show the 10 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