Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Career Ladder?
Who can participate in the Career Ladder?
How many levels of Career Ladder certification are there?
What kind of training can be  used on the Career Ladder?
What are CCR&R Career Ladder Courses?
Where can I find CCR&R Career Ladder Courses?
Which college credits can I use on the  Career Ladder?

What is the Career Ladder?

The Career Ladder Program is a voluntary, statewide training certification program for child care providers.  The goal of the Career Ladder Program is to increase providers' participation in ongoing training in the field.  Participants receive a certificate and cash bonus for each level of training they complete.  Each level received represents 40 hours or more of training completed.

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Who can participate in the Career Ladder?

To be eligible for participation in the Career Ladder Program, providers must meet the following requirements:

• You must be currently employed, working at least 20 hours per week with children ages birth through preschool in an early childhood and/or child care program.  OR
•  You must be currently employed, working at least 10 hours per week with children kindergarten through Grade 6 in an eligible licensed or legally exempt out-of-school  time child care program.  (See 4G below)
• You must have been continuously employed in this capacity in the same program, same location for at least the past six months.  If your program closes for more than 4 continuous weeks during the year, such as summer break, you must wait until the current attendance year has been in session 6 months before applying.
• Your employment must be in one of the following positions:

1. a licensed or residentially certified family child care provider caring for at least two unrelated children.
2. a licensed family group 2nd caregiver.
3. a licensed child care center teacher, caregiver, or director or owner.
4. a legally license exempt child care/preschool teacher or director or owner.  (All License Exempt providers must include a copy of their Parent Information Booklet, if not already on file.
5. a licensed center sub/floater who works in the same licensed child care program every day, is paid at least 20 hours per week, and works directly and consistently with children birth through preschool at least 20 hours per week or kindergarten through Grade 6 at least 10 hours per week.
6. a regular every day classroom teacher, classroom teacher's aide, or education specialist in a Head Start Program.
7. a teacher, caregiver, or director working in an eligible out-of-school time child care program which is defined as a program that offers child care Monday through Friday from the time school gets out until at least 5:30 pm.  An out-of-school time child care program that operates during summer or off-track periods is defined as one that offers full day, full-time care (until at least 5:30 pm) Monday through Friday for the full period of time that school is not in session (except legal holidays).

• It takes approximately 8 weeks to process your Career Ladder application.  In order to be eligible, you must be employed in an eligible position at the time you apply, and at the time you receive your certification and bonus money.

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How many levels of Career Ladder certification are there?

There are 10 possible levels of Career Ladder Certification.  You may apply for each level of certification once.  There is no set order the levels must be received, but you must completely fulfill the requirement for each level option you choose to use.  Applicants may receive 2 Career Ladder level advancements per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30).  Dates are based on the completion of the award process through CCPDI and not the submission date. 

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What kind of training can be  used on the Career Ladder?

NEW!!   To download a copy of the Career Ladder Path Planner, click here.  This will help you plan for the courses you will use to earn your Career Ladder levels.

Three different types of training completed within the last 5 years can be used on the Career Ladder.  They are:

1. Community-based CCR&R (Child Care Resource & Referral) Training.  Specific Career Ladder courses offered statewide through your local CCR&R Agency and completed within the last 5 years may be used to enter and move up the Career Ladder.  For more information or to locate your local CCR&R click here.
2. Continuing Education Units (CEUs).  New continuing education  units in topics specific to the ages of children you are working with (birth through preschool OR kindergarten through Grade 6), at the time you receive your award, may be used on the Career Ladder for levels 4 through 8, provided they have been completed in the last 5 years and/or you complete them after your application for the Career Ladder level you are using them to build on has been approved and processed by CCPDI.  CEU certificates must clearly display the organization that awarded the CEU, the total number of CEUs earned and the date on which the CEUs were awarded.  Only one level of advancement may be obtained at a time.  Each level of advancement requires 3 or MORE new CEUs.
3. College Credit Coursework from an approved accredited college, completed in the last 5 years, can be used on the Career Ladder.  Any courses used must be specific to the ages of children with which you are working (birth through preschool OR kindergarten through Grade 6), at the time you receive your award, and you must have received a passing grade of C or higher.  Only original, official transcripts will be accepted.  Transcripts may be "issued to student."  Photocopies and internet copies will not be accepted.

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What are CCR&R Career Ladder Courses?

CCR&R Career Ladder courses can be used on the Career Ladder for up to 5  years after the course completion date.

Early Childhood Career Ladder Level 1 Courses

• Child Development - Healthy Care (10 hours)
• Child  Development – Ages & Stages (10 hours)
• Child Development - Learning in the Early Years (10 hours)

Early Childhood Career Ladder Level 2 -3 Courses

• A Great Place for Kids!  Creating Positive Learning Environments for Young Children (10 hours)
• Strong & Smart! Promoting Young Children’s Physical & Intellectual Development  (10 hours)
• Learning to Get Along – Supporting Young Children’s Social & Emotional Development  (10 hours)
• Advanced Child Development – Theories of Development  (10 hours)
• Looking to Learn – Observing & Recording Children’s Behavior  (10 hours)
• Working Together – Productive Relationships With Families  (10 hours)
• Creating Good Child Care – Effective Program Management  (10 hours)
• More than Babysitting – Your Commitment to Professionalism  (10 hours)

Career Ladder Endorsement Classes - Levels 4 - 8 Courses

• Infant Toddler Endorsement Courses
• School Readiness Endorsement Courses
• Special Needs Endorsement Courses
• Center Director's Endorsement Course (NCCA National Administrator’s Credential, NAC).  For information about this course, contact the Utah Private Child Care Association in Salt Lake at (801) 205-7574.
• Family Child Care Endorsement Courses (These courses may only be used by providers who are currently employed in a licensed or residentially certified family child care program, or a home-based license exempt preschool program.
• Guidance & Emotional Wellness Endorsement Courses

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Where can I find CCR&R Career Ladder Courses?

All CCR&R Career Ladder courses can be found on the Utah Office of Child Care Training Registry http://trainingregistry.jobs.utah.gov/ or by contacting your local CCR&R Agency.

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Which college credits can I use on the Career Ladder?

In order for college credits and degrees to be used on the Career Ladder, they must be from an approved accredited college or university.  In addition, the accrediting agency must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a valid accrediting agency.  To see a current list of approved accredited colleges or universities click here.

All classes must cover topics specific to the ages of children with which you are working (birth through preschool OR kindergarten through Grade 6).  You must have received a passing grade of C or higher in order to use a college course on the Career Ladder, and have completed the class in the last 5 years.

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