1. What do early childhood and afterschool professionals need to know to provide quality care and education to children? The Core Competencies documents describe the primary Core Knowledge Areas, across multiple levels of professional development. These help create the foundation for course and workshop offerings, professional self-assessment and staff evaluation. Core competencies for early childhood, after school professionals and early childhood family mental health professionals are currently available.  Fact Sheet: Core Competencies
2. Where can I find the professional development I want? The course calendar is found on the Bright Futures Information System under Resources. Each listing includes a simple coding system that helps you find the professional development opportunities you want. In addition, the Bright Futures Information System generates an individualized transcript of the workshops and courses you have taken, when the information is entered by Northern Lights Career Development Center through the sponsoring agency.  Fact Sheet: Professional Development Within BFIS
3. How do I develop my career? The Vermont Northern Lights Career Ladder guides you through professional development options. It is aligned with the Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals. In addition, the Career Advising Guide includes a career lattice, which connects work settings, education, and experience at all levels. The Guide outlines many options and resources for career development within the unified system of early childhood and afterschool fields. In addition, Planning your Professional Growth can guide you through the process of creating an Individual Professional Development Plan- a map of your professional growth. Vermont Northern Lights Career Development Center works with advisors across the state to inform and support professionals and others seeking to build their career options. The Resources Section of this website will give you more information about who can help you and where to find them.  Fact sheets: Career Ladder and Lattice, Career Ladder Level I, Career Ladder Level II, Career Ladder Level III, Career Ladder Level IV
4. What about instructing? A statewide Instructor Registry can help you search for early childhood and after school instructors by region and knowledge area. These instructors - from the affiliate to master level - apply to Vermont Northern Lights to be entered in the registry, and gain some benefits as a result.  Fact sheet: Instructor Registry
5. What about specialty endorsements? Vermont Northern Lights supports credentials that recognize advanced or specialized knowledge and experience in specific areas. We work to align credentials with existing professional development opportunities and create equivalency so there are multiple pathways to achieve the credential. The Credentials page describes many of the credentials currently available, including the Vermont Program Director Credential for early childhood and after school professionals. Other credentials are in process.  Fact sheet: Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Credential
6. What guides our work? The Vermont Northern Lights Career Development Center is advised by the Vermont Professional Preparation and Development Committee. This group reviews work in process, evaluates the work, makes recommendations and brings key issues to the attention of Northern Lights Career Development Center and its partners. It helps strengthen and broaden the career pathways.

© Vermont Northern Lights Career Development Center
Last modified August 14, 2008