Early Childhood Education / Child Care

In the 1-hour 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).

Format: Free, self-paced course and participant anytime, 24/7. Self-enroll today!

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. 

Format: Free, self-paced course and participate any time, 24/7. Complete the modules in any order. Self-enroll today!

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.

Format: Free, self-paced 2-hour course and participate any time, 24/7. Self-enroll today!

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. 

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. 

THIS COURSE IS CLOSED: This course remains available for those who completed the course in 2017-2022 and may need to replace a lost or missing certificate.

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.

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.