For individuals with expert, specialized adult-learning knowledge and skills who want to provide one-on-one, relationship-based assistance to leaders or teachers.
Professional Development Specialist
For individuals providing non-credit bearing, in-person group professional development on general early childhood and/or school-age content.
For individuals that have attained a level of expertise in a field that is unrelated to Early Care and Learning but is vital to managing a quality early care and learning Program.
Eligibility:
1. An Associate’s degree or higher degree in a related field
2. Minimally 3 years of work experience in the content area
3. Minimally 1 year of adult training experience
4. Professional certification may be required – for example, an accountant who wishes to train business tax law should have a CPA.
For early childhood and school-age program administrators. Recognizes competence in program management, fiscal management, and leadership.
Eligibility:
- One year working at assistant director or director level
- 18 college-level credits in early childhood education
- 18 college-level credits in program administration (covering all six competency areas)
- 24 or more additional college-level credits
Note: Only classes passed with a C or higher accepted.
For family child care providers. Recognizes competence in professional family child care, child development, healthy home learning environments, and business practices.
Eligibility:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have two years’ experience as an owner or employee of a NYS Office of Children and Family Services regulated Family or Group Family Day Care in good standing.
- 12 college-level credits in early childhood education OR 9 college-level credits in early childhood education and 45 hours of documented community-based training
NOTE: 3 of the 12 credits or the 45 hours of community-based training must have been completed within the past five years
For infant and toddler providers. Recognizes those practitioners who display a specialized knowledge of infant and toddler development.
Eligibility:
- 12 credits from a nationally accredited college in early childhood coursework that covers the standards of the New York State Infant Toddler Competencies
AND - One year caring for infants and/or toddlers in NYS licensed center, family child care home or formal program serving infants and/or toddlers
OR
Two semesters of supervised fieldwork course with infants and toddlers and six months work experience in the above
OR
Floater or substitute with 480 hours of documented experience