Introduction

Across the country, States, Tribes and Territories are working to improve the quality of services and increase positive outcomes for babies and toddlers in child care programs.  One strategy being used is to support the professional development of the infant/toddler workforce by increasing the availability of infant/toddler coursework and training, and by formally recognizing professional achievement through award of an infant/toddler credential, certificate, certification or endorsement.

The term credential in the title of this document is defined broadly for the purpose of providing the examples below. The examples include any combination of requirements (training, courses, experience) that, when considered together, translate to formal recognition of individuals that work with infants and toddlers in child care programs.

The State examples were taken from a review of the 2005-2007 Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plans. Internet research was sometimes used to find additional information about efforts identified in the Plans. The list also includes efforts that were previously identified and entered in the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative database. Where available, links to websites with further information have been included in the description.

States with Infant/Toddler Child Care Credentials

States and Territories are at varying stages in the process of developing infant and toddler child care credentials. Some have just begun discussing the work by convening work groups or task forces, others are developing curriculum and piloting courses and some have had infant toddler child care credentials for several years. Credential requirements may range from a few hours of training in infant toddler care to associate and bachelor level degrees. The following States have indicated that they have or are developing infant toddler child care credentials:

States that Have Credentials

• Arkansas
• California
• Georgia
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• New York
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

States Developing Credentials

• Illinois
• Maine
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• Virginia

Descriptions of State Infant/Toddler Child Care Credentials

Arkansas has a Caregiver Certificate (90 hours) with a birth to three specialty.

California’s Commission of Teacher Credentialing offers six levels of Child Development Permits. One of these levels, Master Teacher, requires specialization in one particular area of Early Childhood Education. Specialization in infant and toddler care is one of the options for specialization.
More information is available at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/CREDS/child-dev-permits.html.

Georgia’s Infant and Toddler Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC)* is a specialized program of study available through the technical colleges. The Infant and Toddler TCC is Georgia's first statewide formal academic certificate with a specialization for infant and toddler teachers. The TCC involves five courses for a total of 25 credit hours and offers instruction in theory, methods, and practices. The Infant and Toddler TCC courses are based on the West Ed Program for Infant & Toddler Caregivers Trainer Institutes. Competencies for the courses are aligned with the Child Development Associate (CDA) standards from the Council for Professional Recognition and serve as a bridge to the Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma and Associate degree options at technical colleges. Georgia currently has 15 technical colleges offering the Infant and Toddler TCC. The state’s HOPE grant helps students pay for tuition and books.

Illinois’ Infant Toddler Credential (ITC) is one of several credentials being developed for Gateways to Opportunity, the Illinois Early Care and Education Professional Development Network. The Illinois ITC is in the final stages of development by the Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC), a group of highly qualified practitioners, educators and advocates from around the state. The voluntary credential validates the achievement and expertise of practitioners and serves as a symbol of professional achievement. The purpose of this credential is to formalize the knowledge of those working with children under three, improve the quality of services, increase positive outcomes experienced by infants and toddlers, and increase the availability of infant/toddler course work and training. The core knowledge required for the Illinois ITC builds on the Core Content Areas required for the Illinois Gateways to Opportunity credentials. The credential will be piloted in 2006. More information is available at http://www.ilgateways.com/credentials/itc.aspx.

Maine’s Child Care Advisory Council coordinated the development of a proposal for a Birth to Five teaching credential for teachers with B.S. degrees in Early Childhood. The work was done by a group made up of representatives of child care, public pre-K, higher education programs (both regular education and special education), and early intervention programs. The proposal has been presented to the State Board of Education who has created a task force to review the proposal. An infant toddler credential is under discussion.

Massachusetts’ Department of Early Care and Education certifies professionals who work in center-based programs. Qualified Lead Teachers can receive Infant Toddler Certification. A detailed description of qualifications is available on the application form, which can be accessed at http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs/TQApplication.pdf.

Montana has an Infant Toddler Caregiver Certification.  A child care provider certified as an infant/toddler caregiver must complete one of the following training requirements:

• infant toddler CDA;
• family child care CDA + 30 hours of infant toddler coursework;
• the complete, four-module, Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers;
• Child Care Development Specialist apprenticeship that includes 30 hours of infant toddler course work;
• AA degree in Early Childhood that includes 30 hours of infant toddler coursework;
• BA degree in Early Childhood that includes 30 hours of infant toddler coursework.

New Jersey’s Infant/Toddler Credential is in the process of being developed by both the New Jersey Office of Early Care and Education and the Coalition of Infant/Toddler Educators' (CITE) infant and toddler workgroup. CITE explores professional development opportunities for staff working with children under three years of age to enhance their professional competencies and improve the quality of services to infants, toddlers, and their families. Articulation and credential issues are being explored. More information is available at http://www.njcite.org/

New York’s Infant/Toddler Care & Education Credential* is awarded by the New York State Association for the Education of Young Children. More specific information about the requirements and process to obtain the credential is available at http://www.earlychildhood.org/pdfs/InfantToddler.pdf.

North Carolina’s Infant/Toddler Credential was approved by the North Carolina Community College State Board in September 2005. Implementation of the Credential began in January 2006 and two of the 58 statewide community colleges applied to offer this program beginning spring semester, 2006. Additional community colleges have applied to offer the program beginning in the fall of 2006. Completion of the credential program requires 15 semester credit hours in specific infant/toddler classes.  

Oregon is developing an Infant Toddler Credential linked to the Oregon Registry steps and the Oregon Registry Trainer Program.
More information is available at http://www.centerline.pdx.edu/programs/registry/registry-home.html

South Carolina’s Infant/Toddler Credential, created through a higher education collaborative, has been implemented in two-year (technical) colleges throughout the state.  The credential is comprised of 6 courses, totaling 18 credits.  The state credential is awarded by the South Carolina Center for Child Care Career Development.  Individual colleges may also award their own certificate.  This credential is a bridge to articulation between the two-year and four-year institutions. South Carolina is supporting the capacity of technical college faculty to teach credential courses.  Faculty were offered two three-hour graduate level courses at the University of South Carolina in partnership with WestEd Program for Infant/Toddler Caregivers (PITC), which included certification for the WestEd PITC Modules 1,2,3,and 4.  Most recently, another three-hour graduate level course was offered to increase technical college faculty expertise for teaching the Inclusive Care course, which is part of the Infant/Toddler Credential. A one-page information sheet about the credential is available at http://www.sc-ccccd.net/IT%20Info%20Sheet.pdf.

South Dakota’s Infant/Toddler Certificate was introduced in late February 2005. The Certificate training consists of 65-hours: 20-hours of PITC Entry Level classes plus 45-hours of advanced Child Growth and Development classes. The training hours included in the Infant/Toddler Certificate count toward licensing training hours and South Dakota Pathways to Professional Development training hours.  Further training is available by pursuing the South Dakota Child Development Associate Training Program with an Infant-Toddler Endorsement through the local Early Childhood Enrichment offices. The 45-hours of training in Child Growth and Development for the Infant/Toddler Certificate articulate into the South Dakota CDA training program.  When an individual completes their Infant/Toddler Certificate, they are well on their way to completing the training hours for their national Child Development Associate credential (which requires 120 hours).

Utah’s Early Childhood Career Ladder includes an Infant/Toddler Endorsement, which consists of 40 hours of specialized training in working with infants and toddlers.  This training is taught statewide through the Child Care Resource & Referral system.  The endorsement can be used to move up the career ladder. Once the 40 hours of training are completed, the individual is also eligible for an “endorsement certification.” More information on the Career Ladder and courses offered is available at http://www.slcc.edu/ccpdi.

Virginia’s Division of Child Care and Development of the Virginia Department of Social Services offers an Infant/Toddler Training Series in four parts. Virginia plans to make this series a comprehensive Endorsement program in 2007. Additional courses will be added to the current ones listed below and completion of all will enable participants to apply for three hours of college credit. Currently, the series includes:

• Ages and Stages of Development for Infants and Toddlers (Part 1)
• Creating an Appropriate Learning Environment for Infants and Toddlers (Part 2)
• Activities of Infants and Toddlers (Part 3)
• Guiding the Behaviors of Infants and Toddlers (Part 4)

Wisconsin’s Infant/Toddler Credential has been developed to specifically provide for appropriate and effective training for infant-toddler caregivers. Specific credit based course work (12 credits) includes:

• Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers
• Group Care, and
• Programs, Families, and Society

Following the completion of the first three courses, the student is then engaged in their own 'Capstone Experience' during which the student is responsible to gather materials from the first three classes and continue to develop their own personal Infant Toddler Portfolio. Upon completion of all 12 credits of coursework, the student will request to have their Portfolio reviewed by The Registry Credential Commission (http://www.the-registry.org). Once approved by the commission, the student is eligible to receive the Infant Toddler Credential. Faculty training is made available to Infant Toddler Credential instructors through The Registry to provide for specialized training needs as identified by the instructors. A Career Level Ladder, which shows how the Infant/Toddler Credential fits into Wisconsin’s broader Career Ladder, is available at http://www.the-registry.org/Resources/PDF/CareerLevels-faq2006.pdf.

Wyoming’s Child Care Licensing requires the Infant Director's Credential of at least one person in the infant facility whenever four (4) or more infants are enrolled.  More information about the credential is available at http://dfswapps.state.wy.us/DFSDivEC/Providers/ProvidersPD-ITDCR.asp.

* Information not verified by State at time of publication.

The examples in this fact sheet are provided for informational purposes and are not endorsed or recommended by the National Infant and Toddler Child Care Initiative or by the Child Care Bureau. The information presented is a snapshot of current activity related to credentials for infant/toddler caregivers and may not represent all existing efforts. National forms of professional recognition, such as the Infant/Toddler CDA credential, as well as credentials that are exclusively tied to special education or early intervention have not been include.

Last Updated March 2007