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 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.
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. 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.
Once payment has been made please save a copy of your receipt and email it to wvacds@rvcds.org. This will help ensure your payment is credited in a timely manner. 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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Fall 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.
Stay Tuned
Coming Soon
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Coming Soon
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How To Register
Semester Participation Application
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