Earn your Child Development Associates credential in as little as 3 months. Online training can be completed in 12 weeks. http://altheapenn.tripod.com/id35.html
A 2016 instructional guide to pursuing a standard certificate in NJ using the alternate route program and the role that New Pathways plays in the program.
Earn your Child Development Associates credential in as little as 3 months. Online training can be completed in 12 weeks. http://altheapenn.tripod.com/id35.html
A 2016 instructional guide to pursuing a standard certificate in NJ using the alternate route program and the role that New Pathways plays in the program.
1. Child Care Services Certification Workshop Mary Goss-Prowse Registrar of Certification Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland - Labrador
2. What is Certification? Certification is a method of assessing the educational levels of people working in the child care sector in our province. Certification is not based on experience or on job performance. Certification is required for all people working in a licensed child care setting in the province.
3. Who is responsible for certification? AECENL, as the provincial professional association, has a service agreement with government to provide certification services You are responsible to apply for and maintain your certification
4. Child Care Services Certification Advisory Committee Meets quarterly to discuss and advise on policy development for certification Comprises representation from AECENL, PACAL, licensed/approved FHCC, Provincial Government, ECE Instructors, Registrar & PD Director
5. What does certification look like? Five levels of certification. A level indicates how much ECE education Four classifications of certification. A classification indicates the type of child care.
6. The Levels of Certification Entry Level - applicants without post-secondary education in ECE; no entry level for infant classification. Level One - applicants with an ECE certificate Level Two - applicants with an ECE diploma Level Three – applicants with an ECE diploma + a post-diploma certificate or any university degree + an ECE certificate Level Four – applicants with a university degree in ECE or any university degree plus a diploma in ECE NOTE: Degrees, diplomas and certificates must be from provincially recognized post-secondary institutions
7. The Classifications of Certification Preschool - working with children ages 2 - 5 (who are not in school) in a group child care setting School-age - working with children ages 4 – 12 (who are eligible to attend school) in a group child care setting Infant - working with children ages 0 - 24 months in a group child care setting Family Child Care - working with children 0 - 12 in a family home child care setting
9. What Happens to myApplication? AECENL logs the receipt date Registrar assesses the application and determines whether an orientation course is needed If eligible for immediate certification information is entered in the database and a certificate is printed and recommended to the Provincial Director of Child Care Services for approval and signature – certificate sent out usually within 2 weeks of application receipt If ineligible for immediate certification an assessment letter with enrollment information for orientation course(s) is forwarded within 2 weeks Note: Out-of province/out of country credentialsmay take longer to process!
10. Federal Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) If you hold current and valid Certification/ Registration from another Province or Territory it will be recognized and automatically granted an equivalent Certification Level here in NL (and vice versa – where another province or territory has a certification process) Supply a copy of your certification/ registration with the Initial Application for Certification
11. What are orientation courses? Intended to provide a basic introduction to the classification being sought Offered free of charge (refundable deposit required) through the registrar’s office - self-study format (soon to be offered on-line). Courses offered on a semester basis If completed after you have been certified an orientation course counts as 5 hours of professional development.
12. What Happens When I Need an Orientation Course? Enrollment letter sent (for current or next semester) with enrollment form to be returned with fee indicated in the letter by a specific date (non-reply = inactive file) Confirmation letter sent when form and fee are received – indicates enrollment and approximate start date Fee refunded when course is complete and all course materials are returned undamaged to AECENL
13. Orientation Course Review Committee Reviews and recommends revisions to the orientation courses - 1 course per year (each course gets reviewed once every 3 years) Comprises Registrar, PD Director and representation from Provincial Government; 2 content experts; 2 course graduates
14. What do the regulations require for licensed group child care? Staff/operators must hold the classifications for the ages of children they are working with. An operator of a licensed group child care centre needs a minimum of level 2. Each playroom in a group child care centre needs at least one staff with a minimum of level 1. Other staff can hold entry level.
15. What do the regulations require for licensed/approved family home child care? Home visitors must hold a minimum of level 2 certification in a family home child care classification. Family home child care providers must hold a minimum of entry level certification in a family home child care classification.
16. Keeping Certification Valid Certification is valid for up to 3 years In order to have your certification renewed you must have participated in 30 hours of professional development (additional hours required if certification lapses) Renewal applications shouldbe sent in a minimum of 30days prior to your “valid until” datebut must be received by your renewaldate to avoid a lapse.
17. PD Policies you must submit originals of documentation of your participation in professional development – originals will not be returned (unless you enclose a self-addressed envelope stamped with sufficient postage) You should keep photocopies of your documentation until you receive your renewed certificate from AECENL first aid hours & mandatory WHSC training cannot be counted as PD
18. What Happens If My Certification Lapses? For each month of lapse one hour of PD must be added to the 30 hours required for renewal (maximum 10 additional hours per lapsed year/30 additional hours total per renewal) Renewal is effective from the date a complete application is received by AECENL (cannot be backdated) Option: Completion of a refresher course through AECENL allows renewal to be processed (length of renewal based on PD hours submitted over and above refresher course)
19. What is Professional Development??? Workshops Seminars Conferences Courses Memberships in organizations… and other activities that impact on your practice and are related to your work in the child care sector
20. Where Can I Find PD? AECENL – face-to-face and online (NEW) PACAL Family Child Care Agencies Family Resource Programs Schools Colleges Community Centres/Rooms ETC!!! Check the AECENL website calendar often – www.aecenl.ca … PD is posted for all events that we are aware of!
22. Can we arrange our own PD? Arranging PD locally is encouraged Must be able to be documented and must be transparent (no conflict of interest) … for example - a centre could bring in a guest speaker; the event could be open to unrelated centres/child care practitioners Documentation must be kept on file indicating presenter, topic, length of event, attendance list and must be validated externally
23. Is there any financial help to offer PD? A small grant may be available through AECENL for enabling local PD events to occur - for such things as an honorarium, coffee, room or equipment rental - subject to budget and scope of the event A PD Kit will be provided with claim form, attendance sheet and pre-printed certificates for the event Contact the Director of Professional Development for details and availability
24. What are the benefits of certification? Provides an all-important first step in gaining recognition for the important work we do Provides a career path that will recognize and encourage further professional training and development and …
26. If you are applying for the Entry Level or Early Learning and Child Care supplements Use current application forms (available on AECENL or NL Government websites)! Be sure you complete all required sections of the application form and attach all required documentation Be aware of application deadlines. AECENL administers the initial approval of coursework for the Entry Level Supplement so the application comes to AECENL first; applications for the Early Learning and Child Care Supplement go directly to the Provincial Government Governmentapproves and administers payment for both supplements based on other eligibility requirements
27. Contacting AECENL … Mail: P. O. Box 8657, St. John’s, NL A1B 3T1 Location/Courier: 50 Pippy Pl, Unit 19, St. John’s, NL A1B 4H7 Phone: Certification – 579-3004 (toll-free outside the St. John’s calling area 1-866-579-3004) Phone – PD Director – 579-3028 (toll-free outside the St. John’s calling area 1-877-579-3028) Fax: 579-0217 (toll free outside the St. John’s calling area 1-877-579-0217) E-mail: aecenl@nfld.net (Certification)aecenlpd@nfld.net (PD) Website: www.aecenl.ca
