611 Seventh Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
Phone: (304) 523-0433 - (866) WVAACDS
E-mail us
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm
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Fall 2025
August 25 - December 12
Registration
Registration for the Spring 2026 semester will open November 1, 2025 and run through January 2026. At this time the registration deadline and the spring schedule have not been determined. Please check back after November 6, 2025 for additional details. To register for class, all students must take the ACDS orientation that corresponds to the semester they are entering, complete and email the registration form, and submit the $25.00 registration fee. Any registrations completed after the set deadline date are subject to an additional $5.00 fee, making the total $30.00.
Changes in Payments
Beginning October 20, 2025, ACDS will no longer accept credit/debit card transaction forms for payments. 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. Please do not submit the previously used credit card transaction form because ACDS will not be able to process your payment or credit your account with the payment.
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PayPal Link: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/MJJ6HXFYA3GZN
Paypal QR Code:
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Spring 2026 Class Schedule
Review the class schedule to see if an in person class is being offered in your region. If a class is offered, you will be registered in that class. Only students in areas that do not have an in person option will be enrolled in virtual class. Click the box below to view the schedule.
How To Register
Registration Form
A registration form is linked with the orientation and is also below. This registration form must be completed and returned to ACDS. Failure to do so may result in the student not being registered. The form can be downloaded to a device and typed into, or can be printed and written into. It can be returned in email as an attachment.
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:
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Child Care
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Head Start
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Family child care
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Home visitation
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Public school
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After school programs
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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