Department of Children and Families Child Care Training Overview of Important Information (This presentation should follow the welcoming of students and prior to the initial introduction of training curriculum) June 2010

www.myflorida.com/childcare Child Care Regulation Website Location of Child Care Training Transcript (important!) Source of Department-approved web-based (online) child care training Resource to register for child care professional competency examinations and DCF web-based or approved classroom-based courses Official comprehensive source of Training Requirements for child care personnel, including State Statutes and Rules. The Department of Children and Families website is a resource that can assist you while you acquire the training to meet DCF child care licensure compliance. The Child Care Training Transcript is unique to you as it tracks your progress towards meeting the Department’s training requirements for child care staff. DCF (or local county) licensing staff use your transcript to verify training compliance. It is important to understand that the transcript is not a registry, meaning that it will not track child care training you may acquire now or in the future that is not provided by DCF. (Refer to the Child Care Training Overview document that was provided to the student prior to the presentation) Current law recognizes the successful passing of a child care competency examination as mastering professional competency in a subject matter.

www.myflorida.com/childcare Child Care Regulation Website Source of new and important information as it occurs related to child care regulation Provides a statewide Child Care Provider Search Provides comprehensive Licensing and Regulatory Information for Child Care Facilities and Family Child Care Homes Official source of forms, brochures, reports, web links, and contact information for state and local county licensing agencies In addition to supporting you during your training, the Department’s website also offers features and resources in your role as child care staff and as a parent.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) CEUs are available for Department of Children and Families Child Care Training courses at no charge. CEUs will be issued for class participants who complete the following three (3) requirements: 100% attendance of the training course (your trainer will verify this requirement within two (2) business days of course completion). Completion of a Training Course Evaluation. Passage of CEU Assessment with a score of 80 or better. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for this course. CEUs are often important when applying for or renewing a professional credential. IACET (International Association for Continuing Education and Training) is recognized nationwide for its standards in accreditation excellence. You must meet the 3 requirements listed here to acquire CEUs for this course. CEUs are not required to meet the child care licensure requirement. The CEU assessment is NOT the competency exam you are required to pass to meet licensure compliance.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) When the 100% attendance and Training Course Evaluation requirements are documented, you will have access to the CEU assessment through your Child Care Training Transcript. You will have access to the CEU assessment for 60 days from the last day of the course. You will be granted three (3) opportunities to successfully complete the CEU assessment. CEUs, if all three (3) requirements are met, will be noted on your Child Care Training Transcript. (Touch briefly on each point in this slide)

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) CEUs are also available for Department web-based (online) Child Care Training courses. For more information on the requirements for acquiring CEUs for the Department’s web-based Child Care Training courses, visit: www.myflorida.com/childcare Information on the requirements for acquiring CEUs for the Department’s online training courses are available at www.myflorida.com/childcare once you register for the course.

“Scheduling Your Competency Exam” Competency Exams “Scheduling Your Competency Exam” Competency exams are required to meet the Department’s licensing requirements. By law, the successful passage of a competency exam proves you have mastered the subject matter in this course. (Refer students to the hard copy version of the “How to Register for a Child Care Competency Exam Online” document distributed prior to the presentation) The “How to Register for a Child Care Competency Exam Online” document explains how you will schedule for your exam online. The Scheduling Your Competency Exam document pictured here is available on the DCF website, but was developed for those who take an exam without attending training. You may feel, because of your experience or prior training, that you may be able to pass one or more of the exams that are required to complete DCF’s training requirements. You may take an exam prior to training ONCE to see if you can pass. If you try and do not pass, you will have to go through training. In order to register for an exemption exam, that is an exam taken prior to the corresponding training, you will have to register through DCF’s toll-free call center, the Child Care Training Information Center. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that you print a copy of the confirmation letter that appears on your transcript once you register for your exam online, as it explains some key points to follow regarding when you show up to take the actual exam, including…

Competency Exams Exams are available in English and Spanish The cost of a competency examination is $1.00 per course-instructional hour. You must register in advance for an exam, and exams may be scheduled through your Child Care Training Transcript. It is important to schedule your exam as early as possible. You will register for the exam for this course on the DCF website. You may register for the exam for this course at the time your payment is processed after the first class meeting. Be sure to request Spanish exams when you register online, if necessary. The cost of the exam for this course is $___________. No walk-ins to exam sessions are permitted. You have to register in advance. Exam seats are limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis, so register early.

Competency Exams Once you have selected an exam location/date/time, you may register for an exam seven (7) calendar days prior to the date of the exam. Once you register for an exam, a confirmation notice will immediately be issued on your Child Care Training Transcript. Your full name on the exam confirmation notice MUST MATCH your full name on the approved identification you bring with you to the exam. Seven (7) calendar days are required to prepare an exam session. You may not register for an exam seven (7) calendar days prior to an exam session date. QUESTION: What document should you print out prior to the exam date and bring with you to the exam session? (ANSWER: The confirmation letter) PLEASE study the confirmation letter IMMEDIATELY when you register for the exam. If you see any information respective to you (your name, address) the exam you selected (the exam name, the language you selected), or the exam date and time, it is IMPORTANT that you notify the CCTIC immediately so that changes can be made within seven (7) days of the exam date.

Competency Exams If you arrive late to an exam, you may not take the exam or be permitted to enter the site. You will not be permitted to bring personal belongings or other people with you into an exam. The results of your exam will be issued on your Child Care Training Transcript within two (2) weeks of completing your exam. So check your transcript! If at all possible, PLEASE do not bring personal belongings with you to an exam site. If you feel that this is a problem, PLEASE discuss this with (trainer) prior to the end of the course or contact your Training Coordinating Agency to discuss.

Competency Exams The format of the Child Care Competency Exams is a bubble-sheet format. This is an example of what you will be expected to complete and the format that you will experience at the exam site.

Child Care Training Information Center 1-888-FL-CCTIC 1-888-352-2842 The toll-free Child Care Training Information Center (CCTIC) is available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST). A team of professional call center specialists will answer questions about child care training and credential requirements. The Child Care Training Information Center (CCTIC) is an additional resource besides the DCF website that can assist you as you acquire the required training and during your career in child care.