Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →PennsylvaniaChild care
Does a psychology course count as child development for Pennsylvania licensing? Ask your licensor first
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Psychology credits for child care in Pennsylvania may count toward the 30 credit hours only if your certification representative treats them as child development or human services field credit. 55 Pa. Code 3270.34 and 3270.35 list those fields but do not name psychology, so ask OCDEL in writing before you rely on a psychology course.
What the regulation lists
Pennsylvania's center rules for directors and group supervisors count credit hours in five fields: early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education and the human services field. The text does not list psychology or sociology by name, and it does not define the human services field.
That leaves room for judgement. A developmental psychology course is close to child development. An introduction to psychology course is broader. The certification representative who reviews your file makes the call.
How a course is likely to be read
We cannot tell you how OCDEL will rule. These are common questions a reviewer may weigh, so prepare answers before you ask.
- Does the course title or description mention children, families or development?
- Is it part of a human services, social work or psychology programme at the college?
- Does the transcript show it as credit from an accredited college?
- Do you have the course description or syllabus to send?
Courses and how close they sit to the fields
This is a planning guide only, not an OCDEL ruling.
| Course | Closest listed field | Likely question from a reviewer |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Psychology | Child development | Does it cover child learning and growth? |
| Introduction to Psychology | Human services | Is a general survey enough? |
| Introduction to Sociology | Human services | Is it tied to families or communities? |
| Psychology of Diversity | Human services | Does it relate to working with families? |
| Abnormal Psychology | Human services | Is it relevant to child care work? |
A sample email to send
Keep it short and attach the course description. You might write: I am working toward the group supervisor option in 55 Pa. Code 3270.35 that requires 30 credit hours in a listed field. Would Educational Psychology, posted on my transcript from an accredited college, count toward those hours as child development or human services field credit? The course description is attached.
Send one email per course, or one email listing each course. Keep the reply in your staff file.
If you manage a center
Center directors often field this question from staff working toward group supervisor. A simple practice is to keep a short list for each staff member: the option they are aiming for under 3270.35, the courses they plan to count toward 30 credit hours, and the written answer from the certification representative for each one.
When a course is approved for one person, do not assume the same answer for everyone. Course descriptions differ between colleges, and the representative reads each transcript. Ask again for each new course title, and keep every reply with the staff file so an inspector can see the reasoning.
Where UPI Study fits
UPI Study offers Educational Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Psychology of Diversity and Abnormal Psychology on PRO at $99 a month. They are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended. We are not a college and not accredited, so the credit reaches OCDEL only via a college transcript. Even then, OCDEL decides the field. If the answer is no, the same courses can still fill the general-education half of an early childhood degree, if the college posts them.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Before you enrol, ask the degree college in writing which general-education courses it will review, and ask OCDEL's certification representative in writing whether a named course counts toward the 30 credit hours.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Is child development the same as developmental psychology?
They overlap, but the regulation names child development, not psychology. Whether a developmental psychology course counts is the certification representative's decision, so send the course description and ask in writing.
What if OCDEL says my psychology course does not count?
The course may still count as general education in an early childhood degree, if the college posts it. Ask the college how it fits the degree plan, then take listed-field courses for the 30 hours.
Does a sociology course count as human services?
The regulation does not define the human services field. A sociology course may or may not be read that way. Ask your certification representative in writing, with the course description attached.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Sociology
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Ask your degree college in writing which courses it will review first.
Sources
- 55 Pa. Code 3270.34: Director qualifications and responsibilities (official)Director options: bachelor's in a listed field plus 1 year of experience; bachelor's including 30 credit hours in a listed field plus 2 years; associate in a listed field plus 3 years; associate including 30 credit hours plus 4 years; all from an accredited college or university. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- 55 Pa. Code 3270.35: Group supervisor qualifications and responsibilities (official)Group supervisor options: bachelor's in a listed field; bachelor's including 30 credit hours plus 1 year; associate in a listed field plus 2 years; associate including 30 credit hours plus 3 years. Listed fields: early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education or the human services field. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.