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Fall 2026 Semester
August 17 - November 30

Registration

The Fall 2026 registration period is open June 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026. Classes will begin the week of August 17, 2026. To register, all students must complete the orientation that corresponds to the semester they are entering, submit the $25.00 registration fee, and complete the semester participation application (formerly known as registration form). The registration process must be completed by July 31, 2026 to be eligible to attend class in the fall semester.  Adherence to the deadline date is mandatory. More details regarding registration are below. 

Click to view the Fall 2026 class schedule. 

Employer Training 2026

NEW MANDATORY TRAINING

ACDS has created a training for employers, supervisors, and directors of ACDS students. Anyone that is responsible for registering their program with the Department of Labor, completing student supervisor evaluations, or signing monthly on-the-job training logs must complete this training. The training will provide information about the program's policies and procedures as well as employer/supervisor responsibilities. The training will only be required every three years. There is an application linked below. Please complete this brief application so ACDS can add the training to your WV STARS dashboard. The training CANNOT be found on the training calendar and you cannot self enroll. If you have questions or are not sure if you need to complete the training, please contact ACDS. If you have employees attending the Fall 2026 semester the deadline to complete this training is August 17, 2026. 

How To Register

Laptop Work

Orientation

Students must complete the ACDS orientation that corresponds to the semester they are entering.  Click the box below to be directed to the WV STARS website. 

Student Paper Writing

Semester Participation Application

A participation application is linked below. This registration form must be completed and submitted. You will receive a message stating the form has been submitted immediately after submission. Please check with ACDS if you are unsure if your application was submitted. 

Online Shopping

Payment

The $25.00 registration fee is due by the registration deadline. Anyone now submitting payment to ACDS for class or to reprint a certificate will enter their own credit/debit card information through PayPal. The QR code and the PayPal link to submit payment are below. When making a payment please indicate your payment is for ACDS in the comment section. Also, please list the student's name(s) that the payment is for. 

About Us

The West Virginia Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist (ACDS) registered apprenticeship program is a partnership between the United States Department of Labor, River Valley Child Development Services (RVCDS) and early childcare programs throughout the state. The WV DHHR/BCF/Early Care and Education Division is the main source of funding for the program. The ACDS program is designed as a blend of classroom instruction and work experience. 
 

The ACDS program consists of four semesters; each 15 weeks long and between 3200 and 4000 work experience hours. Classes are one night a week and are offered statewide. There is a registration fee of $25.00 per semester to participate. Students of the ACDS program must be employed in the field of early childhood education (birth – 12) and working directly with children for a minimum of 20 hours a week. 

 

The ACDS program began offering virtual classes as a permanent part of the delivery method in the Fall 2021 semester. There is one virtual class offered for each of the four semesters. Priority for the virtual classes goes to counties/county clusters that do not offer in-person classes. If spots are available in the classes after the registration deadline, then other students will be accepted based upon the date of their request and registration completion. 
 

Program Participants Include: 
 

  • Child Care 

  • Head Start

  • Family child care

  • Home visitation

  • Public school 

  • After school programs

  • Private preschool

 “I loved ACDS and I am happy to have completed. 

I will recommend ACDS to anyone that wants to work with young children.” 

~ Anonymous Student

 611 Seventh Avenue • Huntington, WV 25701 • Phone: (304) 523-0433 - (866) WVAACDS
This program is being presented with financial assistance as a grant from the West Virginia Department of Human Services and is administered by West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources, a program of River Valley Child Development Services.  TCR-ECE is supported by federal funding passed through the West Virginia Department of Human Services: Federal award amount: $4,727,547 (99.9% of program budget) State award amount: $5,122 (0.1%).  TCR-OMCFH is supported by state funding through the West Virginia Department of Health.  TCR-HV is supported by federal funding passed through the West Virginia Department of Health: Federal award amount: $225,000 (100% of program budget) State award amount: $0 (0%).

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