2021-2022 Universal Precautions for Iowa Early Childhood and School-age Professionals

Learn ways to prevent the risk of infection in child care and how to protect yourself and others using Universal Precautions. Discover how to access, develop and use an Exposure Control Plan; a requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

Access from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone!

  • Free, self-paced course. 
  • Participate online any time, 24/7.
  • Receive a certificate for 1-hour of training.
  • This training meets Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) licensing requirements for Universal Precautions training requirements.
  • Self-enroll if you already have an existing Moodle account (e.g., used for other Moodle Early Childhood Education (ECE) online courses). 
  • You will need to create an i-PoWeR (DHS Child Care Training Registry) account to complete this course. 

2021-2022 Essentials Child Care Preservice Online Series

The Essentials Child Care Preservice Series provides useful information for creating safe and healthy early childhood and school-age care environments. This series also includes helpful information on child development, cultural diversity and homelessness.

NOW MOBILE FRIENDLY! - Access from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone!

  • Free, self-paced course and participate any time, 24/7 
  • Complete the modules in any order.
  • Receive up to 12-hours of professional development credit and a certificate for each module completed.
  • This training meets Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) licensing requirements for Child Care Preservice training requirements.
  • You will need to create an i-PoWeR (DHS Child Care Training Registry) account to complete this course. 
When does this training have to be renewed?
Each Essentials Child Care Preservice module certificate is valid for 5 years from date of completion. You are not required to re-take the Essentials Series when your certificates expire. If 5 years has passed, you may choose to retake the series and will earn professional development credit hours for each module you complete. 

Growing Up WILD

Growing Up WILD provides exciting hands-on activities and resources to help you lead children out the door for your own nature explorations. Activities use age-appropriate practices and concepts to build on children’s sense of wonder. Developed for children 3-7, early learning activities focus on: math, science, language, literacy, healthy living, play, and creativity. Participants are required to complete online pre-workshop activities and attend the virtual workshop.   

2020-2021 Universal Precautions for Iowa Early Childhood and School-age Professionals

This course is no longer taking new enrollments.  If you need to renew your certificate, please complete the 2021-2022 Universal Precautions course.  This course remains available for those who need to complete the course or have previously taken the course and may need to replace a lost or missing certificate. 

    2017-2021 Essentials Child Care Preservice Online Series

    This course is no longer taking new enrollments. This course remains available for those who need to complete the course and have previously taken the course and may need to replace a lost or missing certificate.

    If you prefer to use a mobile device to finish this course:

    Iowa Early Learning Standards 3rd edition Orientation

    Receive a detailed overview of the Iowa Early Learning Standards (IELS) 3rd edition Orientation. Learn how to use the IELS to plan developmentally appropriate activities and lesson plans. Discover why the IELS are important to impact child development.

    Access from a computer, tablet, or smartphone!

    • Free, self-paced course
    • Participate online at any time, 24/7
    • Receive a certificate for 2-hr training.
    • This training is approved by Iowa of Human Services (DHS) for Child Care Professional Development Credit. You can only receive credit for this course one time every five years. 
    • Self-enroll if you already have an existing Moodle account (e.g., used for other Moodle Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses). 
    • You will need to create an i-PoWeR (DHS Child Care Training Registry) account to complete this course. 

    Passport to Early Childhood Education for Program Administrators

    Passport to Early Childhood Education for Program Administrators provides supervisors with practical, real-world strategies to guide and support teachers and staff. Learn how to share your goals and vision for children and families and instill a sense of meaning and purpose. Refine your skills as a coach and mentor. Discover how to give effective feedback, challenge growth and nurture ongoing professionalism.

    • 3-week course 
    • Quick video mini-lessons that easily fit within busy schedules. 
    • Chat discussions with other program administrators 
    • Useful handouts and resources 
    • 6-hours professional development credit 
    • NAC approved 
    • Instructor: Shannon Wilson M.S. 

    Passport to Early Childhood Education: Teacher and Staff Orientation

    Passport to Early Childhood Education: Teacher and Staff Orientation for teachers and staff, introduces the basic skills and knowledge to teach and care for children in center-based programs.  Teachers quickly learn how to support early learning, build positive relationships, and ensure children’s health and safety. This self-paced curriculum can be implemented immediately and is designed to easily fit within busy schedules. Program administrators are encouraged to work with teachers and staff to align the Passport to ECE Orientation with their specific program policies and state guidelines