West Virginia requires licensed childcare staff to complete 15 hours per year of continuing education as a condition of state licensing. Social and Emotional Development training counts toward these requirements — topics such as guidance and discipline, teacher‑child interaction, and social skills are recognized qualifying categories under the West Virginia DHS Bureau for Children and Families continuing education requirements. brightwheel Professional Development is accepted in West Virginia and offers IACET‑accredited Social and Emotional Development courses that staff can complete on demand, with all completions tracked automatically in brightwheel.
| Annual CE hours (teachers) | 15 hours per training year |
| Training period | Annual |
| Social and Emotional Development maps to | guidance and discipline, teacher‑child interaction, and social skills |
| Regulatory authority | West Virginia DHS Bureau for Children and Families |
| brightwheel approved in West Virginia | ✓ Yes — accepted for West Virginia CE requirements |
| Training records | ✓ Tracked automatically in brightwheel dashboard |
| Social and Emotional Development courses in West Virginia | View brightwheel courses |
About Social and Emotional Development (CDA III)
Social and Emotional Development — CDA Competency Area III — is one of the eight foundational knowledge domains defined by the Council for Professional Recognition. It covers the skills and understanding educators need to nurture children’s emotional wellbeing, guide behavior constructively, build positive relationships, and create environments where every child feels secure, seen, and capable of growth.
The early years — birth through age 5 — are the most critical window for social‑emotional development. Children who develop strong self‑regulation, empathy, and relationship skills in these years enter school with a significant advantage in both learning readiness and behavioral adjustment.
West Virginia Social and Emotional Development training requirements
West Virginia childcare staff must complete 15 hours of annual continuing education as a condition of maintaining a license from the West Virginia DHS Bureau for Children and Families. Social and Emotional Development training counts toward these hours — guidance and discipline, teacher‑child interaction, and social skills are recognized qualifying CE topics. brightwheel Professional Development is accepted in West Virginia and offers IACET‑accredited courses aligned with the Social and Emotional Development competency area.
Staff complete brightwheel’s Social and Emotional Development 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 West Virginia licensing audits.
What Social and Emotional Development training covers
brightwheel’s Social and Emotional Development courses cover the knowledge and skills early childhood educators need to support children in this competency area. Topics include:
WV Tiered Reimbursement System and Social and Emotional Development
West Virginia does not have an active QRIS. In its place, the state operates a Tiered Reimbursement System — a 3‑tier quality incentive administered by the WV Department of Human Resources Bureau for Children and Families. Tier I represents baseline licensing; Tier II requires 18 professional development hours per year per staff member, satisfactory Environment Rating Scale scores, and documented staff qualifications; Tier III requires NAEYC accreditation. WV STARS tracks and verifies training hours — brightwheel Professional Development hours can count toward Tier II annual training requirements when logged through WV STARS.
WV Tiered Reimbursement System →How brightwheel connects to the West Virginia training dashboard
Frequently asked questions
Other competency areas available in West Virginia
Meet West Virginia Social and Emotional Development training requirements with brightwheel
Brightwheel offers IACET‑accredited Social and Emotional Development courses accepted in West Virginia — 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.