Early Childhood Education Trainer Approval Systems and/or Training Approval Systems

Comprehensive professional development systems for early care and education personnel are accessible and based on a clearly articulated framework; include a continuum of training and ongoing supports; define pathways that are tied to licensure, leading to qualifications and credentials; and address the needs of individual, adult learners. Enhancing a spirit of life-long learning is one goal of any professional development system; similar to this goal, a professional development system itself is never a finished product and should continually evolve and be refined to meet the needs of the population it serves most effectively.

Within professional development systems there are several interconnected components. These components fall under five broad elements: (1) Funding; (2) Core Knowledge; (3) Qualifications and Credentials; (4) Quality Assurances; and (5) Access and Outreach. A one-page document that outlines and defines this simplified framework is available on the Web at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/goodstart/pdsystem.html.

A training approval system is a component of the Quality Assurances element of a professional development system and is defined as a set of standards that training must meet, usually linked to core knowledge and principles of adult learning. A trainer approval (standards and registries) system is defined as a set of standards and qualifications for individuals who offer training. A trainer registry is a database of trainers and their qualifications.

At least 23 States have implemented some type of trainer and/or training approval process or a trainer registry: Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Several States include a practitioner registry and/or a trainer directory as a component of their professional development systems. This information is not specified, but may be included on the State Web sites.

Statewide Traner Approval Systems and/or Training Approval Systems

Arizona: Trainer Approval

CCEEDS (Statewide Child Care and Early Education Development System) is a career development registry for child care and early education professionals. S

CCEEDS is a tool designed to assist practitioners in tracking their education and training. S

CCEEDS trainers complete both the practitioner and trainer application for the registry and must achieve a Practitioner Career Level III-A or higher.

Arkansas: Trainer Approval

The Arkansas Early Childhood Professional Development System (AECPDS) is administered through Arkansas State University Childhood Services. The State’s Trainer Registry is a component of AECPDS, and is funded by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education.

Connecticut: Training and Trainer Approval

Connecticut Charts-A-Course (CCAC) is the statewide professional development system for early education and school-age care. Its mission is to support career development and program improvement by promoting the achievement of national and State professional standards. The Departments of Social Services, Education, and Connecticut Community Colleges jointly support CCAC.

Since its inception in 1997, the Training Program in Child Development has given thousands of child care providers in Connecticut access to quality and affordable workshop training. The trainers include early childhood professionals who bring a wide array of experience and skill to their classrooms. In commitment to the high standards of the program, trainers must meet specific education and experience requirements and be approved by CCAC. Additional information about the criteria to become a CCAC-approved trainer is available on the Web at www.ctcharts-a-course.org/approved.htm. Training Approval Board Policies and Procedures (March 2005) is available on the Web at www.ctcharts-a-course.org/forms/TAB.pdf.

CCAC has a Quality Assurance System to ensure and document the credibility and reliability of Core Area of Knowledge curriculum content and delivery, create a more highly specialized training experience for participants, as well as provide an ongoing professional development experience for CCAC approved trainers. In this system, random, unannounced observations of trainers are conducted, and trainers must submit a self-evaluation form and participate in a meeting to discuss the results. Details about the Quality Assurance System are in the policies and procedures document.

For additional information, contact CCAC at 800-832-7784 or 203-397-4036, or visit the Web at www.ctcharts-a-course.org.

Delaware: Training Approval

Delaware First: Career Development for Early Childhood Professionals was launched in 1989 by the Office of Child Care Licensing to create a statewide career development system for providers. This project was designed by a collaboration of leaders from State government, higher education, and the child care community with facilitation from a team of consultants. In 2007, the Delaware Department of Education assumed management of Delaware First. With monies from the Child Care and Development Fund, this project continues to be an early care and education community collaboration.

Delaware First has one program for approving training that meets annual licensing requirements. Potential trainers can submit a curriculum approval outline, which is then reviewed by a committee of three licensing staff members. If approved, the workshop is assigned a course number for tracing purposes. This course number is used in conjunction with the Personnel Registry to verify the training providers take to meet their requirements. The office is working to streamline and eliminate confusion regarding approved training to ensure a higher quality of training is offered to child care providers.

Additional information is available on the Web at www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/delfirst or by calling the Delaware Department of Education at 302-735-4236.

Florida: Training and Trainer Approval

The mission of Florida’s Child Care Services Program Office, Department of Children and Families is to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children while in care through licensing and regulatory activities. This department is statutorily responsible for the administration of child care licensing and training throughout the State. Approved training is tracked, and providers can check their transcripts through an online system. Information about approval of training providers for the Florida child care credentials is available at https://training01-dcf.myflorida.gov/dcf/cct/fccpc_training_provider.html.

For additional information, call the Florida Department of Children and Families: Child Care at
850-487-1111 or visit the Web at www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare.

Georgia: Training and Trainer Approval

The Georgia Child Care Training Approval System is funded by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and housed at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. Trainers apply for approval to conduct in-state trainings and submit information about training sessions that require approval for meeting licensing requirements. Trainers must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; 60 hours of training in adult education/learning; at least 3 years experience working directly with groups of young children, birth to age 5; expertise in specific content areas; experience conducting training sessions; and professional documentation, including letters of recommendation.

Idaho: Trainer Approval

IdahoSTARS (State Training and Registry System), a voluntary professional development system, is a joint project between the University of Idaho's Center on Disabilities and Human Development and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children. The system is funded by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and includes a trainer approval system.

Maine: Trainer Approval

In 1999, the Maine Office of Child Care and Head Start contracted with the Muskie School of Public Service to manage a comprehensive, coordinated career development system for Maine—the Maine Roads to Quality: Child Care and Early Education Career Development Center (MRQ). MRQ works to promote the quality of child care and early education through professional development; address the training and education needs of all child care and early education professionals at all levels of their careers and in diverse practice settings; offer multiple ways for professionals to achieve their career goals; increase linkages between training and formal education so professionals can pursue their career path; recognize professionalism and the individuals who pursue their career goals and the programs that support them; and collect information and monitor the effectiveness of the career development system.

The Maine Roads Trainer Registry establishes the standards for trainers who deliver the Core Knowledge Training. Trainers are required to meet certain standards that are recognized by national organizations and meet higher education requirements. Additional information about the Maine Roads Trainer Registry is available on the Web at http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/maineroads/pages/trainerregistry.htm.

Maryland: Training and Trainer Approval

The Maryland Division of Early Childhood Development has a procedure to approve the continued training that is available to family child care providers and child care center staff. This approval process outlines the requirements for individual trainers as well as organizations. It sets the minimum criteria for training content with which the child care community must comply as stated in the regulations.

Missouri: Trainer Approval

The OPEN initiative’s mission is to implement a career development system for Missouri’s early childhood and school-age/after-school professionals. OPEN began in 1995 with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Danforth Foundation. OPEN’s current funders include the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Missouri Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Senior Services, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Boone Early Childhood Partners, Area Resources for Community & Human Services, and Success By 6® at the United Way of Greater St. Louis. The initiative is currently working on the following system components: core competencies, the trainer registry, the professional achievement and recognition system, and finance and compensation.

The Trainer Registry is a database for trainers in the field of early childhood and school-age/after-school or youth development education in Missouri. It collects and verifies trainers’ education and experience, and assists in the development of trainer criteria for a trainer approval system through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Information about the Trainer Registry is available on the Web at https://www.openinitiative.org/content.aspx?file=TrainerRegistry.txt.

For additional information, call the OPEN initiative at 877-782-0185 or 573-884-3373 or visit the Web at www.openinitiative.org.

Montana: Training Approval

In 1998, the Early Childhood Project (ECP) was funded to manage and oversee early care and education career development activities in Montana. Career development is funded through the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services from the Child Care and Development Fund. ECP manages the Montana Practitioner Registry database, conducts research, identifies training and education gaps, approves training for State licensing requirements, and develops new opportunities for learning. The Practitioner Registry is voluntary in Montana and has been created to professionalize the early care and education field.

The Training Approval System is designed to assure quality by approving non-college credit training that relates to the early care and education knowledge base content areas. In addition, to be included on Montana’s Training Calendar, all agencies, organizations, and individuals sponsoring non credit training for early childhood practitioners must apply for approval. Additional information about the training approval system is available on the Web at www.montana.edu/ecp/training.html.

For additional information, visit the ECP, Montana State University Web site at www.Montana.edu/ecp or call Billie Warford, Director, at 406-994-4746.

Nevada: Training and Trainer Approval

In April 2002, a voluntary career ladder and a set of core knowledge areas were formally adopted by the Nevada State Child Care Advisory Committee. The Nevada Registry was developed as the structure to implement these components. The Registry is available through the State of Nevada, Office of Early Care and Education, is funded through the Child Care and Development Fund, and is administered through a contract with the Washoe County School District.

On October 1, 2004, the State Bureau of Services for Child Care Licensing designated the Nevada Registry the official site for approving all noncollege-credit (informal) training on a statewide basis. In order to offer training for child care hours, trainers must submit their requests for approval regardless of which licensing jurisdiction would have previously been responsible for reviewing and approving that training. Information about the training approval process is available on the Web at www.nevada-registry.org/training/index.shtml.

Additional information is available on the Web at www.nevada-registry.org or by calling the Nevada Registry at 775-850-8038 or 775-850-8058.

New Jersey: Trainer Approval

Professional Impact NJ (formerly the New Jersey Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education ) is a comprehensive statewide system of professional development for educators, including a career lattice linked with educational opportunities and resources.

The Instructor Approval System is a statewide system whereby instructors in early care and education, out-of-school time, and primary education may submit their applications to the New Jersey Registry of Childhood Professionals. They may then be approved as an associate instructor, instructor, or master instructor, depending on their educational level and amount of work experience. All child care centers, agencies, and parent groups looking for speakers or trainers on a particular topic have access to the Approved Instructor Database, located on the Web at www.njpdc. com/1/findinst.asp.

Instructors in the field of early care and education, out-of-school time, or primary education must complete an Individual Instructor Application as well as become a member of The NJ Registry For Childhood Professionals Serving Children Birth Through Age Thirteen. Membership in the registry is renewed annually, and instructors must be active members in the registry to maintain approval.

Additional information about the Instructor Approval System is available on the Web at www.njpdc.org/1/Main_IAS.htm or by calling 908-737-4240.

New Mexico: Training and Trainer Approval

The New Mexico Office of Child Development, in the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD), maintains a Trainer Registry. It is a database of people who have been approved by CYFD as being qualified to provide training to early care and education practitioners. The approval system and registry is based on New Mexico’s seven core competencies for personnel working in early care and education. People are encouraged to apply for approval before providing training in one or all of the seven competency areas. It is facilitated through the statewide network of training and technical assistance programs with oversight from the Office of Child Development.

Information about the Trainer Registry is available on the Web at www.newmexicokids.org/Educators/ or by calling the Office of Child Development at 505- 827-7946.

Oklahoma: Training and Trainer Approval

The Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) was created using monies from the Child Care and Development Fund. It supports those who work in licensed child care settings in Oklahoma—family child care homes, child care centers, and Head Start programs.

CECPD provides training opportunities within the State of Oklahoma. Educators teaching the training series must be registered through the Oklahoma Training Approval System. Additional information about the training approval system is available on the Web at www.cecpd.org/OK%20TAS/trainingApprovalExplan_new.html. The training series includes a curriculum of 13 caregiver courses, including the required Entry Level Child Care Training, 3 director and administrator modules, and 5 family child care home provider courses. All help build advancing competencies in child care. Additional information is available on the Web at www.cecpd.org/Child%20Care%20Careers/caregiverCrsDes_new.html.

The Oklahoma Training Approval System has three approval levels that educators can qualify to provide certain services to licensed child care providers. Information about how to become an approved educator in Oklahoma is available on the Web at
www.cecpd.org/OK%20TAS/becomeEducator_new.html. Approval is renewed annually.

For additional information, call CECPD at 888-446-7608 or 405-799‑6383, or visit the Web at www.cecpd.org.

Oregon: Training and Trainer Approval

The Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education is located at Portland State University. It works to promote the quality of childhood care and education for Oregon’s children and families by providing a career development system for practitioners.

The Center administers the Oregon Registry Trainer Program, which offers voluntary certification for trainers and educators in the early childhood profession. The program includes three types of certified trainers: standardized trainers, community trainers, and master trainers. Oregon registry standardized trainers are recruited as needed to offer the standardized training sessions. Standardized training sessions are training initiatives developed to meet statewide training needs. Oregon registry community trainers offer their own independently developed training sessions for professionals who are achieving steps 1 through 7 on the Oregon Registry. Oregon registry master trainers offer their own independently developed master training sessions for professionals who are achieving steps 7.5 through 10 on the Oregon Registry. Master trainers may offer train-the-trainer sessions. Information about the Oregon Registry Training Program is available on the Web at http://www.centerline.pdx.edu/trainer/index.php.

For additional information, call the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education at 877-725-8535 or visit the Web at http://www.centerline.pdx.edu/index.php.

Pennsylvania: Trainer Approval

Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality, sponsored by the Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Child Development, is a quality improvement program in which all early learning programs and practitioners are encouraged and supported to improve child outcomes. Pennsylvania Keys to Professional Development (formerly Pennsylvania Pathways) is a comprehensive, statewide system for practitioners serving children and families in early childhood and school-age programs.

Pennsylvania Keys to Professional Development has implemented the PA Quality Assurance System (PQAS) for certifying individuals who train or provide technical assistance to child caregivers. PQAS maintains a registry of approved trainers to help ensure that training and technical assistance activities meet quality standards.

Additional information about PQAS is available on the Web at http://www.pakeys.org/profdev/Default.aspx or by calling Pennsylvania Keys to Professional Development at 800-284-6031.

South Carolina: Training Approval

The Center for Child Care Career Development (CCCCD) administers a credentialing and career development process for South Carolina in collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The CCCCD’s activities include coordination of training delivery through the 16 State technical colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, coordination of a statewide training calendar, and administration of an objective training approval process for training events.

Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.sc-ccccd.net/, or by calling CCCCD at 864-250-8581.

Texas: Trainer Approval

The Texas Early Care and Education Career Development System (TECECDS) provides an avenue for early childhood practitioners and administrators to pursue their professional development along a continuum of increasingly complex education and skill levels. Training provides instruction in the core knowledge and skills for center-based practitioners, home-based care practitioners, and center-based administrators.

The goal of the system is to make the career paths and choices within the profession align with statewide recognition and transferable credit for training and coursework. The system includes a process for trainer registration.

Additional information is available on the Web at www.uth.tmc.edu/tececds/ or by calling 713-500-3835.

Washington: Training and Trainer Approval

In 1997, the Washington State Legislature appropriated funds to develop and implement a career development system for professionals in early childhood and school-age programs. Washington STARS (State Training and Registry System) is a career development system designed to improve child care through basic and ongoing training for child care providers. The Division of Child Care and Early Learning is the regulatory authority for the licensing requirements and the administrator of the STARS Registry, a Web-based database that tracks provider records. The Washington Association for the Education of Young Children has a contract to administer other components of the program, including information and publicity, training and trainer approval, and the scholarship program.

STARS forms, including the 20-Hour Trainer Application, the Continuing Education Trainer Application, and the Training Organization Application are available on the Web at https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/stars/stars_forms.asp. For additional information, call Washington STARS at 800-727-3107 or 253-854-2565 or visit the Web at www.waeyc.org/STARS.htm.

West Virginia: Training and Trainer Approval

West Virginia S.T.A.R.S. (State Training and Registry System) Professional Development for Early Care and Education includes all practitioners working in a variety of settings—child care centers, private and public preschools, Head Start programs, family child care homes and facilities, early intervention programs, school-age child care programs, parent education programs, regulatory agencies, and training organizations. West Virginia’s Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources, working collaboratively with local, State, and national partners, is implementing a continuum of specialized training and career mobility for practitioners that is grounded in the ability to promote a core body of child-related knowledge.

Key components include the training approval system to ensure that training provided throughout the State meets the minimum standards of the core competencies and that trainers are qualified to provide such training. Additional information is available on the Web at www.wvearlychildhood.org/stars.asp.

For additional information, call West Virginia S.T.A.R.S. and West Virginia Early Childhood Training Connections and Resources at 888-983-2827 or 304-529-7603.

Wisconsin: Training and Trainer Approval

The Registry—Wisconsin’s Recognition System for the Childhood Care and Education Profession—acknowledges and highlights practitioners training, experience, and professionalism. Practitioners can earn continuing education units (CEUs) for completing training that is at least 5 hours in length and taught by a qualified trainer. Training providers can offer CEUs if the training and trainer have been approved by the Wisconsin CEU Training Approval System, which is administered by The Registry.

Wyoming: Training and Trainer Approval

Wyoming’s STARS (Statewide Training and Resource System) is an umbrella program for Wyoming’s Training Registry, scholarship program, early childhood clearinghouse, and professional development programs. Administered by the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance, the training registry registers trainers who are qualified to teach in specific areas of the State’s core competency areas. The training registry also connects local providers to trainers in their communities. Information about the training approval process is available on the Web at
www.wykids.org/training/training-approval.html. Approval is valid for 3 years.

Additional information about the Training Registry is available on the Web at www.wykids.org/training/ or by calling the Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance at 800-400-3999 or 307-635-2272.

Quick Reference Table: States with Implemented Trainer and/or Training Approval Systems

State	System Name^*	Web Site	Phone Number(s)
AR	Trainer Registry	http://chs.astate.edu	888-429-1585
AZ	[trainer registration]	http://www.asccaz.org/SCCEEDS/	800-905-4389
CT	CCAC-Approved Training Program	http://www.ctcharts-a-course.org/approved.htm	800-832-7784 or 203-397-4036
DE	Training Approval	www. doe.k12.de.us/ programs/delfirst	302-735-4236
FL	[approved training agency]	http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare	850-487-1111
GA	Georgia Child Care Training Approval System	https://www.training.decal.state.ga.us/gccta/welcome.do	706-542-6999
IA	Statewide Trainer Database	http://www.iaeceprofdev.org/for_trainers/index.html	515-883-1206, ext. 128
ID	IdahoSTARS Trainer Approval System	http://www.idahostars.org/resources/trainer/	800-926-2588
MD	Child Care Training Approval	www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/credentials/train	410-767-7852
ME	Maine Roads Trainer Registry	http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/maineroads/pages/trainerregistry.htm	888-900-0055
MO	Trainer Registry	https://www.openinitiative.org/content.aspx?file=TrainerRegistry.txt	877-782-0185 or 573-884-3373
MT	Training Approval System	http:// www.montana.edu/ecp/training.html	406-994-4746
NJ	Instructor Approval System	www.njpdc.org/1/Main_IAS.htm	908-737-4240
NM	Trainer Registry	http://www.newmexicokids.org/Educators/	505-827-7946
NV	The Nevada Registry	http://www.nevada-registry.org/	775-850-8038 or 775-850-8058
OK	Oklahoma Training Approval System	http://www.cecpd.org/OK%20TAS/trainingApprovalExplan_new.html	888-446-7608 or 405-799‑6383
OR	Oregon Registry Trainer Program	http://www.centerline.pdx.edu/trainer/index.php	877-725-8535
PA	Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System	http://www.pakeys.org/profdev/Default.aspx	800-284-6031
SC	[training approval]	http://www.sc-ccccd.net/	864-250-8581
TX	Trainer Registration	http://www.uth.tmc.edu/tececds/	713-500-3835
WA	Washington STARS	www.waeyc.org/STARS.htm	800-727-3107 or 253-854-2565
WI	Wisconsin Continuing Education Unit Training Approval System	http://www.the-registry.org/html/ceu.html	608-222-1123
WV	Training Approval	http://www.wvearlychildhood.org/stars.asp	888-983-2827 or 304-529-7603
WY	Training Approval	http://www.wykids.org/training/training-approval.html	800-400-3999 or 307-635-2272

^* Names in brackets are the generic names given by the State to the trainer and/or training approval system. Back to Quick Reference Table

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Page Updated: February 5, 2008