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Early childhood education programs in Kentucky

7 early childhood programs with results and funding that can make them free

5 schools offer these early childhood education programs, and Kentucky has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows how past students did; Kentucky files no usable prices.

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 Kentucky, all 7 programs take students without a high school diploma.

By kind, the 7 programs here are early childhood education program (level not stated, 5 programs) and early childhood education (associate degree, 2 programs).

See the 7 programs

How much do early childhood education programs cost in Kentucky?

Not reported

Kentucky files no usable prices, so none can be shown.

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not reported
None of the 7 programs report it
Working 6 months later
Not reported
None of the 7 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
None of the 7 programs report it
Length
Not reported
None of the 7 programs report it

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

Are there free early childhood education programs in Kentucky?

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

All 7 early childhood programs in Kentucky approved for WIOA funding

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7 programs

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

    Early Childhood Education and Teaching

    Madisonville Community College

    Madisonville

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Madisonville Community College, MadisonvilleEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching at Madisonville Community College
    More details about Early Childhood Education and Teaching at Madisonville Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    10
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching at Madisonville Community College

  • Early childhood education program (level not stated)In personNo diploma needed

    Child Care Provider/Assistant

    Hazard Community and Technical College

    Hazard

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Hazard Community and Technical College, HazardEarly childhood education program (level not stated) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, Child Care Provider/Assistant at Hazard Community and Technical College
    More details about Child Care Provider/Assistant at Hazard Community and Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, Child Care Provider/Assistant at Hazard Community and Technical College

  • Early childhood education program (level not stated)In personNo diploma needed

    Child Development

    EC Learn

    Florence

    No diploma needed

    EC Learn, FlorenceEarly childhood education program (level not stated)In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    More details about Child Development at EC Learn
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported

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

    Early Childhood Education and Teaching

    Hopkinsville Community College

    Hopkinsville

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Hopkinsville Community College, HopkinsvilleEarly childhood education (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching at Hopkinsville Community College
    More details about Early Childhood Education and Teaching at Hopkinsville Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching at Hopkinsville Community College

  • Early childhood education program (level not stated)In personNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education and Teaching

    EC Learn

    Florence

    No diploma needed

    EC Learn, FlorenceEarly childhood education program (level not stated)In person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    More details about Early Childhood Education and Teaching at EC Learn
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported

  • Early childhood education program (level not stated)In personNo diploma needed

    Early Childhood Education and Teaching

    College for Technical Education

    Lexington

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    College for Technical Education, LexingtonEarly childhood education program (level not stated) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    School website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching at College for Technical Education
    More details about Early Childhood Education and Teaching at College for Technical Education
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    School website, Early Childhood Education and Teaching at College for Technical Education

  • Early childhood education program (level not stated)In personNo diploma needed

    Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching

    Hazard Community and Technical College

    Hazard

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Hazard Community and Technical College, HazardEarly childhood education program (level not stated) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
    Program website, Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching at Hazard Community and Technical College
    More details about Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching at Hazard Community and Technical College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    Not reported
    Cost of supplies
    Not reported
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    Not reported
    Program website, Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching at Hazard Community and Technical College

How to pay for early childhood education programs in Kentucky

WIOA funding can pay for early childhood education programs in Kentucky

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 Cincinnati, Madisonville, Clarksville and other Kentucky cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Kentucky

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

Where the Kentucky early childhood education program numbers come from

Which Kentucky early childhood education programs are on this list?

These are the early childhood education programs Kentucky 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 Kentucky offers.

How the prices and results of Kentucky 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 Kentucky

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