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Get Your PD Approved
Rhode Island’s dedicated early childhood workforce deserves the very best in professional development opportunities.
RIDE, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, is adopting the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators held by NAEYC as core competencies for the early childhood workforce as well as the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership – Whole Leadership Framework.
For your reference, there is an alignment document available to assist you with the transition: PSCECE to WKC Alignment Standards 1-6 (PDF) and a reference document developed as a Standard 7 for Leadership Competencies (PDF).
To ensure that PD for the early learning community meets high-quality standards, the Center administers the state’s PD Approval Process. The process certifies that PD offered by individuals and organizations across the state:
- Aligns with the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (PSCECEs) , the Rhode Island Early Learning and Development Standards (RIELDS) and, when appropriate the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership – Whole Leadership Framework
- Incorporates presentation methods appropriate for adult learners
- Includes methods to assess and evaluate participants’ learning
- Cites references grounded in current research, theory, and best practice
- Is facilitated by trainers who have content-matter expertise and relevant qualifications
Professional Development
For Trainers and Organizations
If you are seeking approval for an in-person or online training you are offering, complete and submit the electronic PD Approval Application. We recommend that you submit the application thirty (30) days before the session date to allow adequate time for review.
Please note that the electronic application can now be saved and completed at a later time. We recommend that you download and review the PD Approval Application Guidance document, the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (PSCECEs), Rhode Island Early Learning and Development Standards (RIELDS), and if applicable, the McCormick Whole Leadership Framework prior to beginning the online submission.
Initial PD approval is for a period of two (2) years. Trainers may apply for subsequent approval by completing the PD Renewal Application. Please review the Renewal Application Guidance Document form for more information. Please note that the electronic renewal application can now be saved and completed at a later time.
FAQ for Trainers and Organizations
Any in-person or online training session conducted by either a staff member or a consultant must be approved in order for participants to apply the PD hours toward the state’s licensing requirement for approved PD hours.
PD offerings eligible for approval must align with the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (PSCECEs), the RIELDS, and when appropriate, the McCormick Center’s Whole Leadership Framework.
Credit-bearing courses—both in-person and online—at an accredited college or university are exempt from this approval process.
RIELDS trainings provided by the RI Department of Education are also exempt from the PD approval application process.
If your PD Approval Application is approved, you will receive an email from the Center with the application score, reviewer feedback, effective and expiration dates, and an approval code.
If the application is for a training that is under development and does not meet the criteria for high-quality professional development, you will receive an email with reviewer feedback. We encourage you to use the feedback to revise and resubmit the application before the training event occurs.
If the application is for a training that is already published online or currently operating with registrants, it must meet the criteria upon first review.
The approval code lets participants know that the PD they completed counts toward the state’s licensing requirements. Trainers must provide each participant with a certificate of completion that includes the approval code and the number of PD hours earned. This certificate serves as documentation for participants.
For Participants
For external PD training verification, there is a new electronic process to submit for review and approval. The external PD referenced is 1) not CELP PD and, 2) not the 18-hour health and safety courses issued by ProSolutions, nor other approved ProSolutions PD. This process meets the same standards as the previous training verification protocols for approved hours. This new process of submitting external PD details via your CELP account will enable you to track PD information and hours in your RISES account. Training Verification and Professional Development Approval Applications will continue to be reviewed by the CELP Admin team within 30 days.
Log into your CELP account to get started.
If you have any questions, please contact us via our Infoline at: info@center-elp.org or call 401-736-9020.
FAQ for Participants
Any external professional development hours you would like to apply towards the state’s licensing requirement must undergo the training verification process.
CELP PD, ProSolutions courses, and RIELDS trainings do NOT need to go through the training verification process.
Credit-bearing courses—both in-person and online—at an accredited college or university are exempt from this verification process. Transcripts for credit-bearing coursework can be uploaded directly to your RISES account.
If your training verification submission is approved, the PD will show on the ‘My Courses’ page of your CELP account. With the correct Workforce ID entered into your CELP account, the PD hours will then transfer to your RISES account. This automated process typically takes 1-2 days.
If the training verification submission is not approved, a message will be sent to the email in your CELP account and will no longer show on your ‘My Courses’ page. The message will include an explanation for why the submission was not approved.
Training verification submissions will be reviewed by the CELP Admin team within 30 days.
Any completed courses from ProSolutions, such as Health and Safety courses, can be pushed into your CELP account IF you have entered your Workforce ID into both your ProSolutions AND your CELP accounts.
- For assistance entering your Workforce ID into you CELP account, please contact the CELP team at info@center-elp.org.
- For assistance entering your Workforce ID into your ProSolutions account, you will need to contact their support team at 800-939-9694 or email at support@prosolutionstraining.com.
