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Providers > Accreditation

Accreditation

Unlike licensing, which is required by law for certain types of child care, accreditation is a decision made by the provider. Accreditation means a provider has successfully shown that she or he meets standards based on a national scale of professional quality child care or education.

Accreditation for Family Child Care

To receive accreditation from the National Association for Family Child Care, family child care providers must first go through an in-depth review process. Website: National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)

This process includes: Proof of licensing; observation by an NAFCC representative; review of family child care records; a written self-evaluation by the provider; a parent review of the provider’s self-evaluation; interviews with the provider.

Accreditation for Child Care Centers

Accreditation for Child Care Centers - the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through age eight. Founded in 1926, the organization now has nearly 100,000 members, and a national network of over 350 local, state, and regional affiliates. NAEYC and its affiliates work to improve professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education, and to build public support for high-quality early childhood programs
NAEYC has measured the quality of child care centers, preschools, kindergartens, and other center- and school-based early childhood programs through its accreditation system for more than 20 years. The NAEYC Accreditation system recently underwent a thorough redesign to better meet the needs of families and programs with a more credible and reliable system.
Child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens must complete a rigorous four-step review process to earn NAEYC Accreditation, including an on-site visit by a highly-trained NAEYC assessor. There are more than 400 criteria that programs use to demonstrate that they are meeting the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards. NAEYC Accreditation lasts for five years, during which programs must submit annual reports and are subject to unannounced visits by assessors to ensure they remain in compliance.

Child Care Resources offers support to programs seeking NAEYC Accreditation. For additional information about NAEYC Accreditation and the support that Child Care Resources offers, please contact Adrienne Wingo, (206) 329-1011 ext 217, wingo@childcare.org

Come to an Accreditation Orientation

National Academy of Early Childhood Program Accreditation

Accreditation for School Age Programs

The National Afterschool Association is the accrediting body for school age programs. Website: The National Afterschool Association

Child Development Associate (CDA)

Individuals working with children age 0-5 years are eligible to become a Child Development Associate. The CDA is a national credential administered by the Council for Professional Recognition. Website: Council for Professional Recognition

To qualify for a CDA, the individual must: Be 18 years or older; have 480 hours of experience working with children in the past 5 years; have 120 clock hours of formal child care education within the past 5 years; complete a professional resource file consisting of a collection of resource materials, and autobiographical statement and 6 statements of competency; parent Opinion Questionnaires; a formal observation; and a Verification visit conducted by a CDA representative.