Early Childhood Education / Child Care

Part 1. This free 2-hour, self-paced course is designed for Early Care and Education (ECE) providers and staff who give medications to children while in child care. Learn the principles and skills needed to safely administer medications to children, such as oral medications, eye drops, ear drops, nebulizer treatments, inhalers, and epinephrine pens.
Part 2. Complete the Initial In-Person (Skills) Test-Out within 30 days of course completion.
Part 3. Reassessment In-Person (Skills) Test-Out after 2 years to retain your certification.

Register for this course on i-PoWeR and review the course eligibility requirements.

Questions: Contact Deb Gimer at deb.gimer@idph.iowa.gov or Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu

In the Universal Precaution course, you will 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).

Register for this free, 1-hour self-paced course on the i-PoWeR website. 

Certificate Renewal:
If you have a: 

• "2021-2022 Universal Precautions Certificate," please complete this course.
• "2022-2023 Universal Precautions Certificate, please do not take this course a 2nd time. You can renew your certificate on October 12, 2023, when the 2023-2024 course becomes available on Moodle. 

Questions: Contact Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu. 

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. Receive up to 12-hours of professional development credit and a certificate for each module completed. 

Register for this free, self-paced course on the i-PoWeR website. 

Questions: Contact Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu. 

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.   

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.

Register for this free, self-paced 2-hour course on the i-PoWeR website.

Questions: Contact Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu. 

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. 

Register for this free course through the i-Power website. 

Questions: Email Shannon Wilson at shannon@iastate.edu

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

Register for this free course through the i-Power website. 

Questions: Email Shannon Wilson at shannon@iastate.edu

THIS COURSE IS CLOSED: This course remains available for those who completed the course in 2017-2021 and may need to replace a lost or missing certificate. Click on the blue course name/link to enter the course.

Questions: Contact Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu. 

THIS COURSE IS CLOSED: 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. Click on the blue course name/link to enter the course.

Certificate Renewal: If you need to renew your certificate, please self-enroll in the 2022-2023 Universal Precautions course.  

Questions: Contact Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu.

THIS COURSE IS CLOSED. This course remains available for those who have completed the course in 2016-2017 and need to replace a lost or missing certificate.  Click on the blue course name/link to enter the course.

Questions: Contact Mona Berkey at mberkey@iastate.edu