Vermont requires annual professional development, set by the Agency of Human Services, Department for Children and Families, Child Development Division (CDD), tiered by role: Program Directors need 20 hours, Teachers and Teacher Associates need 15 hours each, Teacher Assistants and Trainees need 12 hours, Substitutes need 4 hours, and Family Child Care Home providers need 12 hours. Safe and Healthy Environment training counts toward these hours — health and safety, nutrition, and emergency preparedness are recognized qualifying categories. brightwheel is listed as a Northern Lights‑approved training organization and offers IACET‑accredited Safe and Healthy Environment courses that staff can complete on demand.
| Program Director | 20 hours per year |
| Teacher | 15 hours per year |
| Teacher Associate | 15 hours per year |
| Teacher Assistant | 12 hours per year |
| Trainee | 12 hours per year |
| Substitute | 4 hours per year |
| Family Child Care Home provider | 12 hours per year |
| Safe and Healthy Environment maps to | health and safety, nutrition, and emergency preparedness |
| Regulatory authority | Vermont AHS DCF CDD |
| brightwheel approved in Vermont | ✓ Yes — Northern Lights‑approved training organization |
| Training records | ✓ Tracked automatically in brightwheel dashboard |
| Safe and Healthy Environment courses in Vermont | View brightwheel courses |
Program Director, Teacher Assistant/Trainee, Substitute, and FCCH figures are confirmed against CBCCPP Rule 7.4 and the October 2024 rule memo. Teacher and Teacher Associate figures (15 hours each) reflect the most commonly cited numbers in Vermont guidance materials — verify against the full CBCCPP Section 7.4 text with Northern Lights before relying on these two specific figures. All hours must align with each staff member’s Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). brightwheel is listed as a Northern Lights‑approved training organization; certificates must be manually submitted via Direct Send — there is no auto‑posting to BFIS for any provider.
About Safe and Healthy Environment (CDA I)
Safe and Healthy Environment — CDA Competency Area I — covers the knowledge and skills early childhood educators need to protect children’s physical wellbeing, maintain health and sanitation standards, prevent accidents and injuries, and design physical spaces that support healthy development.
A safe, healthy environment is the foundation of every early childhood program. Children cannot engage in learning if they are hungry, ill, or physically at risk. Educators who master CDA I skills create settings where children’s bodies are protected and their health needs are consistently met throughout the day.
Vermont Safe and Healthy Environment training requirements
Vermont’s training requirement is tiered by role, set by the CDD — from 4 hours (substitutes) to 20 hours (program directors) per year. Safe and Healthy Environment training counts toward these hours — health and safety, nutrition, and emergency preparedness are recognized qualifying CE topics. brightwheel is a Northern Lights‑approved training organization and offers courses aligned with the Safe and Healthy Environment competency area.
Both teachers and directors can complete brightwheel’s Safe and Healthy Environment courses on demand — each course is 1 hour, self‑paced, and includes an assessment with a certificate of completion. All completions are recorded automatically in the brightwheel administrator dashboard, making compliance documentation straightforward for Vermont licensing audits.
What Safe and Healthy Environment training covers
brightwheel’s Safe and Healthy Environment courses cover the knowledge and skills early childhood educators need to support children in this competency area. Topics include:
STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) and Safe and Healthy Environment
STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) is Vermont’s Quality Rating and Improvement System. Staff professional development in CDA‑aligned competency areas is a core component of STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) quality ratings — programs that demonstrate ongoing staff training earn higher ratings. brightwheel’s IACET‑accredited courses align with the professional development requirements recognized by STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS), and the automatic tracking dashboard makes it straightforward to demonstrate staff training during program quality evaluations.
STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS) →How brightwheel connects to the Vermont training dashboard
Frequently asked questions
Other competency areas available in Vermont
Meet Vermont Safe and Healthy Environment training requirements with brightwheel
Brightwheel offers IACET‑accredited Safe and Healthy Environment courses accepted in Vermont — with automatic tracking built in.
View full course roster
Accreditation: Brightwheel is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.