The Institute for Early Learning offers professional learning opportunities for educators working with children. Courses, workshops and online sessions provide educational opportunities that support quality learning experiences and quality learning environments for children of all ages. These continuing education classes also help meet professional development requirements for permitting and licensing.
When in-person classes resume, descriptions and registration information will be posted here. Please see below for information on virtual learning in the form of webinars
The Institute for Early Learning offers professional development through online webinars. View information about each webinar and register for the webinars that are of interest to you.
For more information about online webinars, please call 703-324-3044.
Learn more about registration, cancellation and Frequently Asked Questions.
Registration for professional learning courses offered by the Office for Children, Institute for Early Learning (IFEL) is available beginning at 2 p.m. on the second Wednesday six times per year (February, April, June, August, October and December). Course listings and registration for Institute for Early Learning and Family Child Care Business workshops are available for two months at a time.
If you are an educator in a center-based program in Fairfax County, you may enroll in six IFEL courses throughout the year (January – December). Up to five educators from the same center-based program may enroll in the same course. If more than five educators from the same center-based program wish to enroll in the same course, please contact us by email or call 703-324-3044.
If you are a family child care educator, you may enroll in six IFEL courses throughout the year (January – December) plus six Family Child Care Business Workshops for a total of 12 OFC courses.
NOTE: Please remember to cancel from a course, in advance of the start date, if you are unable to attend.
Registration is Available at 2 p.m. on the Second Wednesday of the Following Months
| Registration Start Date | Month Courses Begin |
|---|---|
| February 12, 2020 | March and April 2020 |
| April 8, 2020 | May and June 2020 |
| June 10, 2020 | July and August 2020 |
| August 12, 2020 | September and October 2020 |
| October 14, 2020 | November and December 2020 |
| December 9, 2020 | January and February 2021 |
Register for Classes and Family Child Care Business Workshops
Automated Phone: 703-324-4018
Fax: 703-803-0116
Mail: Office for Children
12011 Government Center Pkwy
Suite 920
Fairfax, VA 22035
Classes may have to be cancelled due to circumstances that create unsafe conditions or for other unforeseen reasons.
When classes have to be cancelled, attempts are made to reschedule sessions, however, rescheduling is not always possible due to instructor schedules or the availability of the facility where the class is to be held.
When classes are cancelled, notification is provided in several ways, including:
- Email: An email cancellation notice is sent to everyone enrolled in the class who has an email address in the OFC database. When email cancellation notices are sent, please respond to the email by clicking "reply" and sending a short response letting OFC know that you received the message and are aware of the cancellation.
- Phone: For those who do not have an email address in the OFC database, class participants will be called. If someone does not answer the phone, a voice mail message will be left with details about the class cancellation.
- Information Line: The greeting on the OFC information line 703-324-3044 is updated whenever a class is cancelled or rescheduled. Please listen to the entire message on this line if you call the office and no one is there to answer your call.
If you have any questions about the cancellation or rescheduling of a course, please send an email or call the OFC information line at 703-324-3044.
For frequently asked questions about IFEL in general, registration or enrollment, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
