Renewal Requirements
Renewal requirements are based on the individual’s EEC level and mirror the amount of required training mandated for individuals working in a licensed child care program. In July 2010 the validity period for renewal was expanded from two to three years and the number of CEUs or college credits required for certified individual was reduced to allow time for an accessible, affordable supply of continuing education for Early Educators to be developed, in response to feedback from administrators.
Is continuing education required to maintain EEC? Yes. As with all occupations, ongoing education is required to stay up-to-date on the latest research and resources to inform practice, increase knowledge and grow skills. Certified individuals have three or five years to complete their renewal requirements, based on their EEC level. To maintain your certification:
- Individuals certified on the Early Care and Education Professional Scale must continue their professional development by completing four semester hours or six Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or a combination of the two within their certification validity period.
- Individuals certified on the School Age Professional Scale must complete two semester hours or three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or a combination of the two within their certification validity period.
**CEU sessions must be worth at least .5 CEUs (5 contact hours) to count toward renewal.**
Do general education courses count for EEC renewal? Courses in general education, school age or early childhood will count for renewal for those who have at least six semester hours focused on the age group for which they are currently certified.
All certified Early Educators must have a base of content knowledge. Therefore…
- Early Educators certified at level 4 or 8 with NO focused coursework must take semester hours focused on the age group for which they are currently certified. CEUS will not be accepted for renewal.
- Early Educators assessed with one to five hours of focused coursework for their certification level may take CEUs, but if they choose to take semester hours to meet their renewal requirements, they must take semester hours focused on the age group for which they are currently certified.
What are the required continuing education topics? Are they the same as DCD’s training topic areas? The nine topic areas, which are the same as DCD’s training topic areas are below.
- Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
- Children’s physical & intellectual development
- Children’s social & emotional development
- Productive relationships with families
- Program management
- Professionalism
- Observing & recording children’s behavior
- Child growth development
- Inclusion of children with special needs
If I am certified at the highest levels and provide continuing education options do those count toward my own EEC renewal requirements? Yes. Those certified at the highest levels may count their provision of CEUs or college credits as follows:
- Professionals certified with a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree and 12 semester hours of coursework focused on the age groups of their certification scale and above may receive credit for teaching a CEU session for a minimum of 5 contact hours (or .5 CEUs) that meet renewal requirements. Each CEU session may be counted toward renewal only once per validity period.
- Professionals certified at levels 12 or 13 may also receive credit for teaching formal coursework that meets renewal requirements. The same course may receive credit toward renewal only once per validity period.
If I was certified before July 2010 do I have additional time or less requirements to complete? Yes. Individuals certified prior to July 2010 will receive a letter from the Institute outlining modifications to their renewal requirements.
Do I still have to meet the DCD in-service annual training requirements? Yes. However, approved CEUs and college credits count toward your ongoing education requirements for both EEC and in-service training.
If I received my certification prior to the new law, will I be responsible for completing renewal requirements before the certification expires? Yes, in order to keep certification current and valid, Early Educators must complete the professional development requirements for renewal prior to the expiration date. If you do not renew on time, a $25 fee will be applicable. However, the law does not impact ongoing staff members until July 2012.
When do I apply for EEC renewal? The Institute encourages you to apply at least four months prior to the expiration date to guarantee renewal before your certificate expires. Your individual expiration date can be found on the bottom right corner of your certificate. You have until this date to renew your EEC and pay the $25 fee for renewal on one scale and $35 for renewal on both the Early Care and Education Professional (ECE) Scale and the School Age Professional (SA) Scale. If your certificate expires prior to your application for renewal, a $50 fee applies for one scale and $65 for both.
What are the renewal requirements if someone is certified on both scales? If someone is certified on both scales, s/he must meet the renewal requirements for both. Each person’s specific requirements will be shared in the certification letter. In general, if someone must take or chooses to take formal coursework to complete her/his renewal requirements, the most effective method would be to select coursework that covers both age groups and would count as “focused” on either scale. The list of focused semester hours offered through the North Carolina community colleges can be downloaded here.
If an individual reapplies out of cycle (before my certification expires) to have their certification level increased, do they have to pay the $25.00 fee prior to the issuance of a new certificate? How often can a person reapply for a new certificate? Education may be submitted at any time free of charge. However, to have a certificate printed at a higher level, the applicant must pay $25. If the professional development requirements have been completed for renewal, a new three or five year cycle will be printed on the certificate. If an applicant pays for a new certificate at a higher level and the professional development requirements have not been fully met, the original expiration date will still be in effect. In this case, the applicant will need to pay an additional $25 and submit a new application to officially renew prior to her/his deadline.
If someone is certified on both scales, are the renewal requirements based on the ages of children served at the time of renewal? No. The renewal requirements are based on the certification scale. If someone is certified on both scales, then s/he must meet the renewal requirements for both. Each person’s specific requirements will be shared in the certification letter. In general, if someone must take or chooses to take formal coursework to complete her/his renewal requirements, the most effective method would be to select coursework that covers both age groups and would count as “focused” on either scale. The list of focused semester hours offered through the North Carolina community colleges can be downloaded here.
Do non-early childhood technology CEUs count towards renewal? Yes. Effective March 1, 2011, Individuals who qualify to take CEUs to meet their renewal requirements may take a maximum of 1 CEU (10 contact hours) of non-early childhood technology based sessions per renewal cycle.
