Trainers and Coaches

Level 1 trainers are usually people who train once in a while.  They have experience in a field outside of early care and education, like tax preparation or health care. They may also be guest speakers at a conference.

To teach a Level 1 training, the trainer must be working in a job related to the topic. Their name and qualifications are submitted with the training application. Each trainer is approved for that one training only.  The Registry does not keep a list of these trainers.

Early Childhood Instructors

To qualify, the trainer must be a member of the Registry and be placed in Career Pathways Category G–J. They must also have experience working directly with children from birth to age eight.

The trainer needs to have a current resume on file with the Registry and provide professional references. They must also show proof that they have experience teaching or presenting to adults.

Content Specialist Trainers

Content specialist trainers must be members of the Registry, but they do not need a Career Pathways level.

They must have education or a certificate in the topic they teach, and this must be verified. They also need to have a current resume on file and provide professional references.

They do not need experience working in early childhood, but they must have work experience in their field. They can only teach in the area they specialize in.

For Level 2 Training, the trainer must be approved as an early childhood instructor or content specialist. These trainers are approved for 24 months. To keep teaching Level 2 training after that, the trainer must renew their approval.

Level 1 courses provide basic information on a topic and apply toward clock hours for childcare license renewal.  They are for those interested in progressing through Career Pathways placement in Categories A-D. This course level is informative but not in-depth. Level 1 courses are usually quick to complete and in the case of online Level 1 courses, the clock hours may post to the individual’s training record immediately upon completion. 

Level 2 courses are designed for those seeking to advance on the Career Pathways to Category B or above or earn or maintain a professional credential. Level 2 courses are more rigorous and usually require completion of assignments, assessment or a test to demonstrate competence before clock hours are awarded. This means that it will take longer for Level 2 courses to appear on an individual’s Registry record. Level 2 courses also fulfill childcare licensing requirements. 

Level 3 courses are for the individual working toward a degree in Early Childhood or completing coursework to maintain a professional teaching license. These courses are offered by higher education institutions and are not listed on the Training Calendar. Rather, these courses are added to an individual’s Registry record after the fact. Level 3 courses also fulfill childcare licensing requirements if the course(s) was completed in the individual’s current licensing year.  NOTE:  Thesis and dissertation credits are not accepted as training hours and are not added to an individual’s Learning Record.  

A quality coach is a professional who provides support, resources, and technical assistance to early childhood professionals – including caregivers, teachers, supervisors, directors, and administrators — to build capacity for continuous quality improvement.

• Quality Coach Requirements

The CLASS® assessor is a professional who conducts onsite observations for early childhood programs participating in Bright & Early, North Dakota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). The CLASS® assessor must maintain certification and reliability in the infant, toddler, and/or pre-K CLASS® observation tool.

• CLASS® Assessor Endorsement Requirements 

The ERS® assessor is a professional who conducts onsite observations for early childhood programs participating in Bright & Early, North Dakota’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). The ERS® Assessor must maintain reliability in the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale®, Third Edition (ITERS-3™), the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale®, Third Edition (ECERS-3™), and/or the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale®, Third Edition (FCCERS-3™).

• ERS Assessor Endorsement Requirements

The child care health consultant is a professional who provides support, resources, and technical assistance to early childhood professionals - including caregivers, teachers, supervisors, directors, and administrators - achieving and maintaining health and safety standards.

• Child Care Health Consultant Requirements

The inclusion specialist is a professional who provides support, resources, and technical assistance to early childhood professionals - including caregivers, teachers, supervisors, directors, and administrators - caring for children with unique needs.

• Inclusion Specialist Requirements