Career Advancement and Planning

Career Planning

Career development focuses on your long-term career, not just your current job. It is about your goals, interests, and plans for the future.

Career development starts with exploring your career options. With the right training and education, you can work in many early childhood settings, including:

Head Start programs
Child care programs
Public schools
Religious organizations
Government agencies
Nonprofit organizations
Health care settings
Social service agencies

Use the resources below to plan your path and grow your career in early childhood.

Career Development

Higher Education and Your Registry Record

The North Dakota University System helps prepare the state’s early childhood workforce. As the need for quality early care grows, more trained professionals are needed.

You may take college classes to:

Build your knowledge
Renew your Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
Meet training requirements
Earn a degree

Add College Courses to Your Registry Record

To add a course, it must:

Be from an accredited college or university in the U.S.
Focus mostly on early childhood (birth to age 8)
Have a final grade of C or higher

Send Your Transcript

The Registry must get an official transcript sent directly from your school
We do not accept unofficial transcripts

How Courses Count

Courses may count toward your yearly training hours
College courses are listed as Level 3 training
1 college credit = 15 training hours

Courses from Outside the U.S.

If you took classes outside the U.S., follow these steps:

Have your transcript reviewed by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
Ask for a course-by-course evaluation
Have the report sent directly to: ecregistry@nd.gov

Thinking About Going Back to School?

Before you enroll, make sure the school is a good fit.

Some schools, especially online programs, are not regionally accredited. This can affect your credits.

If a school is not accredited:

Your credits may not count toward Career Pathways
Your credits may not transfer to another college

Before You Enroll

Check if the school is accredited through the U.S. Department of Education
Contact Registry staff for help reviewing your options

What Is a Credential?

A credential shows that you have completed training and have the skills needed for your job.

It is a way to prove your qualifications as an early childhood professional.

Credentials are different from college degrees
Some credentials may count for college credit, depending on the school
Some college courses may also count toward a credential

Why Credentials Matter

Credentials are often used for:

Hiring decisions
Meeting licensing requirements
Showing your professional growth

Many early childhood programs across the country recognize credentials as an important part of being qualified.

Common Early Childhood Credentials

Child Development Associate (CDA)

The Child Development Associate (CDA) is one of the most widely recognized credentials in early childhood.

Accepted in many state licensing systems
Often required or preferred for jobs in Head Start and Early Head Start programs
In North Dakota, a CDA can be used as a qualification for a center director

Credentials in Career Pathways

The Career Pathways system recognizes these national credentials:

These credentials can help you move forward in your career and meet professional requirements.

Keep Building Your Career

Earning a credential is an important step in your professional growth. It shows your commitment to learning and to providing quality care for children.

What Are Core Competencies?

The ND Core Competencies describe what you need to know and do to do your job well.

In early childhood, this means understanding how children:

Grow and develop
Learn new skills
Build relationships

As a practitioner, you use this knowledge every day to support children’s learning and well-being.

How the Core Competencies Are Organized

The core competencies are divided into 8 content areas.

Each area includes 5 levels:

Level 1: Beginning skills
Level 2–4: Building knowledge and experience
Level 5: Advanced knowledge and leadership

These levels help guide your professional growth over time.

Why Core Competencies Matter

The core competencies help you:

Improve your daily work with children and families
Understand what skills to learn next
Track your professional growth

Each competency is written so it can be observed and measured in your work.

ND Career Pathways

The ND Early Childhood Career Pathways show the education and training needed for jobs in early care and education.

They help you explore options and plan your next steps.

Each step in the Career Pathways builds on the one before it. As you continue your training, you grow your skills and strengthen your impact on children and families.

By completing training in Categories A–D (informal option), you will:

Complete 120 hours of foundational training
Build the skills needed to support children and families
Meet the education requirements for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

The CDA is a widely recognized early childhood credential across the United States.

Important note: Level 1 training completed after July 1, 2023, will count toward Career Pathway placement.

Who are the Career Pathways for?

These pathways are for anyone who works in early childhood or supports, children from birth to age 5, including:

Teachers and assistants
Family child care providers
Head Start staff
Trainers and coaches
College instructors
Program directors and school administrators

Why do career pathways matter?

Research shows children do better when professionals have strong training and education.

They help you:

Understand job options in the field
Plan your education and training
Work toward qualifications for new roles

How do career pathways connect to standards?

The Career Pathways align with:

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) licensing requirements
North Dakota Core Competencies for Early Education and Care
Head Start requirements
Bright & Early ND quality system

Will my course work count?

Registry staff review your official transcript.

Courses must meet the requirements below to be added to your account.

To qualify:

Courses must be for college credit
Credits must be in semester hours
- Quarter credits will be converted
At least 80% of the course must relate to early childhood, including:
- Infants and toddlers
- Preschool-age children
- School-age children (Kindergarten–3)
- Managing a child care business

Important:

You must earn a grade of C or higher
Credits must come from an accredited college or university

Related fields include:

Elementary education
Special education
Child development and family science
Human development and family science

Non-related fields include:

Psychology
Social work
Sociology
Nutrition
And similar fields

How do I get started?

Use the Career Pathways to explore your options and plan your next steps.

To get started log into the ND Early Childhood Hub and become a Workforce Registry member.

Step Requirements

Log into the ND Early Childhood Hub and apply for a ND Workforce Registry Membership.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Have a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED)
Complete the following training:
- ND Safe Sleep (if required)
- Getting Started
- ND Mandated Reporter