The New Jersey Registry For
Childhood Professionals
Serving Children Birth through Age Thirteen

The New Jersey Registry for Childhood Professionals Serving Children Birth through Age Thirteen (The NJ Registry) is a statewide system that guides, tracks and recognizes the professional growth and development of people who work in early care and education, out-of-school time, and primary education settings in New Jersey.

The NJ Registry will keep track of professional development achievements by maintaining confidential records for each individual who participates in the system. Participants will be approved at one of the seven professional development levels of the New Jersey Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education (NJPDCECE) Career Lattice (see page 3). Each level represents various combinations of education and experience.

The purpose of The NJ Registry is to create a seamless plan that would define expectations for advancing through levels of professional development in New Jersey.

The NJ Registry is maintained in the office of the Clearinghouse, at the New Jersey Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education at Kean University in Union.

"Click here for NJ Registry application in adobe acrobat format NJ Registry Application"

The NJ Registry…

• encourages career development and professionalism for members of the early care and education, out-of-school time, and primary education fields
• supports quality standards in early care and education, out-of-school-time, and primary education programs
• distributes information about professional development to early care and education, out-of-school time, and primary education professionals, parents, policymakers, funders and other stakeholders
• receives, reviews and approves applications
• provides recognition to practitioners based on their achievements
• maintains records of an individual's education and work experience

Who Should Participate?

The NJ Registry has been designed for individuals at all levels who work in fields related to early care and education, out-of-school time, and primary education in many different settings, including:

• Colleges, universities, and other professional development organizations
• Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, and related health services programs
• Family child care organizations
• Head Start and Early Head Start programs
• High school child development and teen parent programs
• Licensed or license-exempt early care and education programs serving children birth through age eight
• NJ State Agencies
• Out-of-school-time programs and organizations
• Public, private, or charter schools serving pre-K through seventh grade children
• Resource and Referral Agencies/Unified Child Care Agencies
• Other programs or settings related to early care and education, out-of-school time, or primary education

What Is Requested in the Application?

• General information
• Employment information
• Employment history
• Education level (if college education was not received in US, have transcripts evaluated by a transcript evaluation service)
• Professional development experiences
• Work experience
• Other credentials and requirements

What Are the Benefits of The NJ Registry?

To Participants…

• Documents professional qualifications and experiences
• Provides a pathway for advancement
• Provides a professional development level certificate that you can use:
  o When applying for a promotion or new position
  o When negotiating for a salary increase
  o To document continuing education in your profession
  o To reflect on your future plans and career goals

• Provides a tool that assists in maintaining licensing and accreditation records
• Provides a tool that assists in hiring staff by providing documented qualifications for prospective employees
• Provides a tool that assists in staff evaluation and promotion
• Promotes your program by demonstrating your commitment to quality care through the professional development of staff

  
  NEW JERSEY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION CAREER LATTICE

  The NJ Registry is based on the New Jersey Early Care and Education Career Lattice. The New Jersey Early Care and Education Career Lattice is described in the document Core Knowledge and Competency Areas - Professional Standards for Adults Working with Young Children Birth through Age Eight and In Out-of School-Time Programs (enclosed). A summary of the content of the document follows.

  Children learn best in environments where learning opportunities are meaningful and relevant, where they can construct their knowledge of the world through activities and interactions with others, and where their needs are reflected, recognized, and addressed. Professionals working with young children use their knowledge to create environments that facilitate a healthy balance in all areas of development, and foster the growth of confident and competent individuals. Recognizing that children are served in a variety of settings, including programs in centers, homes, and schools, these Professional Standards for professionals are an integral part of the mission of the New Jersey Professional Development Center for Early Care and Education to establish a statewide comprehensive professional development system.

  Many titles are used to describe those who interact with children from birth to eight years of age: teachers, caregivers, practitioners, providers, trainers, educators and advocates. Our Career Lattice is designed to describe and recognize work experience and increased training and education for those committed to the field of early care and education. New Jersey's Career Lattice includes adults working directly or indirectly with children and their families in a variety of settings: family child care homes, child care centers (infants/toddlers, preschool and pre-kindergarten), Head Start programs, public and private schools (through grade 3), school age programs, and higher education (colleges/universities). Understanding that positions and titles will vary (based on current staffing needs and site environments) all professional levels may or may not be represented. The Core Knowledge and Competency Areas and current State licensing requirements were used as the foundation for this Career Lattice.

  By definition, the term 'career lattice' implies multiple entry points and multiple pathways; a progressive professional development system that allows for horizontal, vertical, and diagonal movement. We are confident that those currently in the field, as well as those entering the field can identify their current level and determine their next step on the career path.

  
  The chart that follows summarizes the experience and education required for each level.

  LEVEL I - Individual has an entry position into the field, which can be a part-time or full-time position. A person at this level holds a high school diploma or GED.

  LEVEL II - Individual has a Child Development Associate credential (CDA), is a Certified Childcare Professional (CCP), or has 120 non-credit training hours, and has one year experience working with children.

  LEVEL III - Individual has an A.A. or A.A.S. degree in Early Care and Education, or an A.A. or A.A.S. in an approved major with six credits in Early Care and Education, or sixty college credits in an approved major.

  LEVEL IV - Individual has a B.A. or B.S. degree in Education with the P-3 endorsement, or any Bachelor's degree with 27 credits in the Core Knowledge Areas.

  LEVEL V - Individual has a Bachelor's degree plus 30 credits in an approved area of concentration, and a minimum of three years' teaching experience.

  LEVEL VI - Individual has a Master's Degree and a minimum of three years' teaching experience.

  LEVEL VII- Individual has a Doctoral Degree and a minimum of five years' experience in the field.

  How Do You Apply?

  Download and Complete the application form and send with all required documentation to

  NJ Registry Application

What Happens When You Apply?

1. The NJ Registry staff will review your application.
2. After your qualifications are verified, you will receive a Registry Card that indicates the professional development level that you have achieved.
3. Your professional development records will be kept on file in
The NJ Registry database for you to update and access as needed.

When Do You Send an Application?
1. To enter The NJ Registry system
2. To renew your application every year.
3. To change or update your information.
4. To advance to a higher level.
5. To become an approved Individual Instructor.
6. To document "Maintenance" of your current level.