Core competencies are one of the basic tools of professionals - those who work with children and their families and those who support them. Core competencies describe the skills and dispositions professionals need to provide high quality early care and education. They are concrete, achievable and observable. The Core Competencies set the standards of practice all professionals need and share.

Vermont’s Early Childhood Core Competencies were first printed August 1, 2005 and the revised version was printed in October 15, 2008. Both times, a large group of Vermont early childhood professionals from many backgrounds reviewed current research, practices and the work of other states to describe and organize Vermont’s core competencies for early childhood professionals. To ensure continued quality and relevance, the current document will be in effect until further notice, with plans to review them on or before August 2013.

Make up of Core Competencies

The ‘core’ is the foundation. Many professionals who have been in the field a long time also develop more advanced skills and even specialties beyond the core. Credentials and endorsements are examples of specialties that come from the core knowledge base.

What does a “core competency” include?

Actually, “core competencies” are one of four parts in a framework.

Core knowledge refers to the big chunks: the knowledge needed by professionals to effectively work with young children and their families. There are 5 core knowledge areas that encompass Vermont’s core competencies for early childhood professionals.

Subheadings are helpful in breaking the core knowledge areas into smaller chunks. They describe the component parts that make up the core knowledge area.

Core competencies are the smallest pieces. They describe the core knowledge specifically. They are also called standards of practice. Core competencies are concrete and achievable. They detail the observable skills, values and attitudes needed by professionals in order to provide high quality services. In the document we have added examples of how you might see these core competencies in practice.

Levels sort the core competencies in order from entry level to advanced. This document details level I, II and III core competencies and describes Level IV, V and VI competencies. Inside the front cover of this document is the Northern Lights Career Ladder, which shows the education and experience related to each level.

This diagram illustrates how each of the 5 core knowledge areas make up the whole and how each level builds on and expands from the level below it.

The levels and core knowledge areas of Early Childhood Core Competencies in Vermont

How the Core Competencies are used

Frequently Asked Questions

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© Vermont Northern Lights Career Development Center
Last modified December 4, 2008