For child care professionals in the United States, there are required and optional professional development trainings. Let’s take a look at these:
In Washington State, it is required for Child Care Professionals to complete the STARS 30 Hour Child Care Basics training within 6 months of being hired in a licensed child care program. The Child Care Basics training does not expire and it is only necessary to complete the course one time. After completing the Child Care Basics all child care professionals are required to complete 10 hours of STARS continuing education training every year.
The center director and program supervisor are required to have five of the ten hours of annual training in program management and administration for the first two years in their positions. Each additional year, three of the ten hours are required to be in program management and administration.
The standards and expectations for early learning professionals are defined by Washington State’s Department of Early Learning (DEL). MERIT (Managed Education and Registry Information Tool) is an online portal that helps professionals in the field of early care and education in Washington track ongoing education and training.
The center director and program supervisor are required to have five of the ten hours of annual training in program management and administration for the first two years in their positions. Each additional year, three of the ten hours are required to be in program management and administration.
The standards and expectations for early learning professionals are defined by Washington State’s Department of Early Learning (DEL). MERIT (Managed Education and Registry Information Tool) is an online portal that helps professionals in the field of early care and education in Washington track ongoing education and training.