Reflecting Oklahoma's commitment to high quality early care and education by providing professional development that produces results!
FAQs
- What is the Professional Development Ladder and why is it important?
- When should a staff member obtain their PDL?
- How do I apply for a PDL?
- How do I renew my PDL?
- Will I be notified when my Professional Development Ladder (PDL) is expiring?
- Is there a fee when applying for the Professional Development Ladder?
- Is there an application that I need to fill out?
- Do I need to mail my application in to be processed?
- How long does it take to process my application?
- Where can I see the requirements in order to receive a Professional Development Ladder?
- Can I apply for a Professional Development Ladder even though I'm not currently working in a facility?
- What documentation is needed for verification of the training I have?
- Why do I have to send in an official transcript and will I get it back?
- How can I tell if my college courses for ECE/CD, SA, or ADMIN/MGMT are approved?
- What if I have completed college courses for ECE/CD, SA, or ADMIN/MGMT that aren't listed on the Approved Coursework Listing?
- Can I count any of the Entry Level Child Care Training courses toward meeting the criteria for the Professional Development Ladder?
- What should I do if I've moved, changed my name or my place of employment?
- How do I print my PDL certificate?
- I have a current PDL, but have recently completed coursework that I would like to have shown on my training record. How can I do that?
- Can my employer call CECPD to make inquiries on my behalf?
Renewal FAQs
- On what date should my Professional Development Ladder renewal hours start?
- Is there a fee when applying for renewal of my Professional Development Ladder?
- How long does it take to process my renewal application?
- Can I renew my Professional Development Ladder even though I'm not currently working in a facility?
- What are the requirements to renew my Professional Development Ladder?
- Can I use college level coursework as renewal hours? Do I need another official transcript?
What is the Professional Development Ladder and why is it important?
The Professional Development Ladder reflects formal job related education and credentials gained through universities, 2-year colleges, technology centers, credentialing bodies, and Registry approved training sponsors. The various levels provide milestones for child care providers and connect with other areas of the state’s professional development system, such as Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), and Scholars for Excellence in Child Care.
The Professional Development Ladder is renewable annually. In order to renew, you must meet the criteria for a level and complete the required number of job related renewal training hours. There is no fee to renew your PDL.
When should a staff member obtain their PDL?
- New staff who have never had a PDL have 12 months from their hire date to obtain a PDL. Once the PDL is issued, they must keep it current (not let it expire).
- Staff who have expired PDLs when they are hired have 12 months from their hire date to obtain a current PDL regardless of when their PDL expired. Once the PDL is issued, they must keep it current (not let it expire).
- Staff hired with a current PDL must keep it current (not let it expire).
If you have additional questions regarding when you or your staff must obtain a current PDL, please contact your Licensing Specialist.
Go to www.okregistry.org and use your email address and password to log in. Click on the box that says, “Apply for the Professional Development Ladder” and follow the online instructions. If you do not wish to apply online, you can download a paper application on the forms page of the CECPD website.
You will need to submit documentation for any training and professional development that does not already appear on your record. College transcripts must be “official” and mailed in. Other documents can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to cecpd@ou.edu.
Processing may take up to 30 business days.
Click here for a handbook to assist you with applying online.
Renewal is easy. You follow the same process as you did when applying for your initial PDL.
Will I be notified when my Professional Development Ladder (PDL) is expiring?
Yes, renewal reminders will be sent to participants approximately 2 months prior to the expiration date.
Is there a fee when applying for the Professional Development Ladder?
There is no fee to apply.
Is there an application that I need to fill out?
Yes. You may apply online at www.okregistry.org or download a paper application on the Forms page.
If you are unable to download an application, you may request an application be mailed to you by emailing us at cecpd@ou.edu.
Do I need to mail my application in to be processed?
If you are applying online, you will only need to mail in supporting education.
If you are completing a paper application, please mail your application and supporting education documentation to:
CECPD/Oklahoma Registry
1801 N. Moore Ave.
Moore, OK 73160
We will accept a faxed application.
How long does it take to process my application?
Applications are processed in order by the date received. Please allow up to 30 business days from the date materials are received for correspondence from The Oklahoma Professional Development Registry.
Where can I see the requirements in order to receive a Professional Development Ladder?
A chart listing requirements for levels 1-10 are available on the Criteria page.
Yes. Experience is not necessary to achieve a level on the Professional Development Ladder. Anyone may apply for a Professional Development Ladder whether they are currently employed in a facility or not.
What documentation is needed for verification of the training I have?
- College degrees and completed coursework must be shown on an official transcript. If you request an E-script, it must be sent directly to CECPD at cecpd@ou.edu.
- Photocopies of a current Child Development Associate Credential (CDA), Child Care Professional certificate (CCP), and Oklahoma Competency Certificate (Master Teacher/Director)
- Photocopies of training certificates if not already shown on your Learning Record
- DHS Training logs are not accepted by The Oklahoma Registry as approved documentation
Why do I have to send in an official transcript and will I get it back?
If a participant has completed college coursework or earned a degree, an official transcript must be submitted to the Registry. All degrees and credit hours must articulate to a two- or four-year college or university.
If you need to send in a transcript from a college or university, please have the institution send an official electronic transcript directly to cecpd@ou.edu on your behalf. We cannot accept transcripts emailed from any other source. You can also mail in official transcripts. Official transcripts must be printed on official transcript paper, bear an authorized signature of the appropriate official at your institution, bear the institutional seal, and have any other security features intact. Transcripts received that do not meet these requirements will not be considered official. We do not require that they come in a sealed envelope.
Please note that official transcripts coming from the participant cannot be sent via fax or email.
All official transcripts must be kept securely on file with The Oklahoma Registry to verify training completed and coursework counted is valid.
How can I tell if my college courses for ECE/CD, SA, or ADMIN/MGMT are approved?
Approved Early Childhood Education (ECE/CD) School-Age (SA), and Administration/Management (ADMIN/MGMT) coursework can be viewed by clicking the Approved College Coursework link from the Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder section of our website.
Should a course not be listed and the individual would like to inquire if it meets requirements for ECE/CD, SA, or ADMIN/MGMT, the individual can provide the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) with written documentation to include a course syllabi and/or course description as provided by the higher education institution for review by Registry staff members.
Yes. The Oklahoma Registry will recognize Entry Level Child Care Training (ELCCT), Family Child Care Home Entry Level Training (FHELT), Director's Entry Level Training (DELT), and Out-of-School Time Entry Level Training (OST-ELT) as approved training. Each course may be counted as valid training only one time.
What should I do if I've moved, changed my name or my place of employment?
To report any changes, you will need to log onto our online Registry and make the necessary changes or you can complete a Participant Update Form. This form can be found in the Forms section. Participants may mail or fax this form to the Registry staff to make any changes requested.
How do I print my PDL certificate?
Click here for a guide to printing your certificate.
Training taken from a Registry approved organization or CECPD approved educator will added to a participant's training record within 2 weeks of course completion by the educator or organization approved staff.
All other training can be submitted to the Oklahoma Registry with an Education Update Form (downloadable from the Forms section of the ODC section of the website).
Instructions are listed on the Education Update Form regarding any Registry restrictions of using an Education Update Form. The form includes information on submitting training, including college level coursework.
Can my employer call CECPD to make inquiries on my behalf?
The Registry will copy your director on emails sent to you regarding incomplete applications. We encourage you to contact the Registry because some information is protected, and we cannot share that with your employer.
Renewal FAQs
On what date should my Professional Development Ladder renewal hours start?
If your Professional Development Ladder is current when your renewal application and Participant Agreement is received by the Registry, renewal hours will start the day after the issue date of your previous Professional Development Ladder.
If your Professional Development Ladder has expired when your renewal application and Participant Agreement is received by the Registry, renewal hours will be counted 12 months back from your most recent renewal application.
Is there a fee when applying for renewal of my Professional Development Ladder?
There is no fee.
How long does it take to process my renewal application?
Applications are processed in order by the date received. Please allow up to 30 business days from the date materials are received for correspondence from The Oklahoma Professional Development Registry.
Can I renew my Professional Development Ladder even though I'm not currently working in a facility?
Yes. Experience is not necessary to achieve a level on the Professional Development Ladder. Anyone may apply for a Professional Development Ladder whether they are currently employed in a facility or not.
What are the requirements to renew my Professional Development Ladder?
The Professional Development Ladder is renewable annually. In order to renew, you must meet the criteria for a level and complete the required number of job related renewal training hours as shown on the PDL criteria.
Can I use college level coursework as renewal hours? Do I need another official transcript?
Yes, approved ECE/CD, or SA courses can be counted toward meeting the PDL renewal criteria (shown on official transcripts) 1 credit hour equals 16 clock hours.
If you have completed college coursework or obtained a degree since you last applied for an Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder, then you will need to submit an official transcript for verification.
5-31-2022
