Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
As mentioned earlier in this module Wisconsin Stats. 48.651(1d)(b) and DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.a.n, requires all child care providers to complete qualifying professional development annually.
At least 5 hours of continuing education must include a topic broadly or specifically related to health and safety or child development under DCF 202.08(1)(b)5. a.-n., and may be non-credit or credit-based education. Types of training acceptable may include workshops, conferences, seminars, lectures, correspondence courses, home study courses and independent reading/viewing of educational materials. The time spent renewing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training may be counted towards the required continuing education hours. For any continuing education that is completed as independent study, it is recommended the agency require an operator to complete and submit the Continuing Education Record – Independent Reading / Video Viewing form.
Technical Assistance/consultation provided by a YoungStar Technical Consultant may count towards the required hours of continuing education if the discussion with the YoungStar TC is related (broadly or narrowly) to health, safety, or child development. The topic areas of Health/Safety/Child Development are broad categories, and it is likely technical assistance provided by a YoungStar TC could fit under one of those categories. YoungStar consultation provides an appropriate and helpful way for a certified operator to obtain continuing education because the TA is tailored to the specific program’s needs. Certifiers may determine what documentation or verification from the YoungStar consultant (or operator) is necessary. A copy of the consultant’s notes signed by the consultant could be accepted as documentation that the continuing education occurred. It is not a requirement that continuing education be entered into The Wisconsin Registry in order to be counted. Certifiers are also welcome to request access to the YoungStar case management system and could view any consultation / TA entered by a YoungStar consultant.
The department does not approve specific professional development agencies or trainers for continuing education purposes.
This page last updated 11/2021.