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Professional Certifications

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Attention Early Educators:  Do you have a Colorado early childhood professional credential?  If so you may qualify for the Early Childhood Educator Income Tax Credit.  Go to GetAheadColorado.org

Director Qualifications (Large Center Director Qualification Verification)

The Colorado Shines PDIS version 3.0 has improved our previous application process for Large Center Director qualifications. As of 6/4/2021, paper or email applications for Large Center Director Qualifications are no longer accepted. This process allows for quicker review times, the ability to see the status of your application, and immediate access to your Director Certificate in PDIS once approved. 

Log into the Colorado Shines PDIS.

Explore the links below for helpful information on navigating the Colorado Shines PDIS.

Click here to learn more about the application process.

 

Child Care Licensing and Administration
Division of Early Care and Learning, CDEC
710 S. Ash Street
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-866-4088
Fax: 303-866-4453
cdec_ecdq@state.co.us

Early Childhood Teacher Certification

As of 6/4/2021, paper or email applications are no longer accepted for Early Childhood Teacher qualifications. At this time Early Childhood Teacher qualification application submission in PDIS 3.0 is not available in PDIS Version 3.0. Licensing specialists will continue to review staff qualifications on site.

Until further notice, the process to determine if you meet Early Childhood Teacher qualifications is to submit copies of your educational coursework and verifiable experience letters to your employer for review. If you need assistance determining if you meet one of the qualifications pathways for Early Childhood Teachers or if you have questions pertaining to Early Childhood Teacher qualifications, please reach out to the Licensing Specialist assigned to the facility or email cdec_ectq@state.co.us.

View the Early Childhood Teacher Qualification Pathway Verification Worksheet.

Vea el Procedimiento para la verificación de maestro de primera infancia

Click here to learn more about the application process.

 

Questions? Contact Early Childhood Teacher Qualifications:

Child Care Licensing and Administration
Division of Early Care and Learning, CDEC
710 S. Ash Street
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-866-4091
Fax: 303-866-4453

cdec_ectq@state.co.us

Additional Information

Competencies detail what early care and learning professionals need to know and be able to do to work effectively with families and children.

Why Competencies are important

  • They provide clear descriptions of what early childhood educators and administrators need to know and be able to do to provide quality care and education.
  • They are an essential part of a comprehensive professional development system.
  • They recognize the importance of diversity in early childhood settings, which include culture, linguistics, and ability.
  • They support professionalism in early childhood education by serving as the foundation for practices carried out by early childhood educators in all early childhood settings.

Due to the previous backlog of Early Childhood Professional Credential (ECPC) applications, the Department of Early Childhood put in place the following temporary solutions:

  • An extension for the ECPC expiration date for those using it to meet licensing requirements.
  • An affidavit for those wishing to obtain a credential for a job role in licensed early childcare.

The Department is excited to announce there is no longer a backlog of ECPC applications. At this time, ECPC applications are reviewed within a two-week timeframe.


Effective December 31, 2023, those wishing to use an ECPC for job qualification should now have an active credential certificate available or on file. An application may be submitted through the PDIS. The extension of the ECPC expiration date and the licensing affidavit process will be discontinued.

Thank you for understanding as we work through challenges with the Credential Submission Interface. If you have any questions about these temporary solutions, please contact your Licensing Specialist or call our office at 303-866-5948.