This discussion of the development of a child development associate (CDA) program at Edmonds Community College (ECC) for family day care providers is placed in the context of developments in day care training in Washington State. The first sections provide an overview of the development of day care provider training in Washington State from 1974 to 1981; an explanation of the CDA credential; a review of the steps required to obtain the CDA; and a list of competency goals and functional areas assessed. Next, the paper describes how the recognition of the CDA credential by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services inspired an organized group of family day care providers in South Snohomish County to approach ECC to establish a cooperative center in which they could receive training and be assessed. A discussion of the importance of family day care provider services in meeting the child care needs of working parents is followed by a description of the current training delivery system in place at ECC. The three aspects of training examined are: (1) the laboratory setting, which involves enrolled providers participating in the laboratory one day each week with the children in their care, taking responsibility for the business management of the cooperative, hiring an instructor to assist in curriculum development and instruction, and receiving three Family Life Education credits each quarter; (2) the development of personal portfolios with the assistance of volunteers; and (3) the award of credit for CDA. (HB)