The Praxis is divided up into 20/4 extra credit documentation, evaluation and/or related activities. Each unit has 2 Praxis items attached to it and each of the praxis items are rated at 1.25 hours/.125 CEUs based on the estimated and previously documented amount of time that those activities will take. The entire praxis is worth 25 hours of the 45 hour NAC course. Students have up to 6 months to complete the praxis. The praxis is open-book. 

Optional Praxis Tutoring Session

An optional Praxis Tutoring Session is also provided to help participants be prepared for their Praxis prior to arriving. The Tutoring Session will also help them understand and get immediate help with the activities of their praxis. Participants who sign up for this session will be given a pre-conference documentation activity list that they will be able to work on prior to coming to event. At the event, they will have an opportunity to discuss their Praxis directly with their assigned mentor (all participants are assigned a mentor but customarily do not have access to the Mentor until days or weeks after the event is over.) The session can streamline the process of completing the Praxis by allowing participants to attend the sessions with a pre-understanding of the Praxis activities. This enables them to understand the necessary components prior to the discussion during the daily sessions and allows them to work on them during breaks and in the evenings. This is a great option for participants who are under a time crunch for receiving their NAC or who are busy working adults. This Tutoring Session is modeled after seminar based accelerated college and Master’s level programs.

Register for Tutoring Here

Obtaining your Unofficial UAF Transcript

Please do this from a computer

1. Below are the instructions to set up your account with University of Alaska at ELMO: Easy Login Maintenance Option.You must do this in order to login to UAONLINE to obtain your unofficial transcript.  https://elmo.alaska.edu/

1. Click on the Option 3 button
2. Using the pull-down menus, select your birth date
3. Enter your last name, your birthdate
4. Enter the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
5. Click the "Go ELMO" button.

To verify your identity, ELMO asks you a few verification questions.
Something to note:

If your high school isn't listed, select "None of these." If that fails, look for a high school with a state or country name your school was in, such as Michigan High School, or Canada High School

2. Below are instructions for obtaining your unofficial transcript via UAOnlinehttps://www.alaska.edu/uaonline/

Login using your UA username and password.

Once you're logged into UAOnline, you can access your unofficial transcript by:

1. Clicking on the Student Services & Account Information tab
2. Then, click on Student Records
3. Next, click on Academic Transcript
4. Click on Submit
5. Right click and choose Print to print off your Unofficial Transcript

Issues, please contact:

Kelly Jo Peissner 
Administrative Assistant
Early Childhood Education/Human Services
UAF Community & Technical College
(907)455-2842 voice
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.ctc.uaf.edu

In Florida DCF requires a credit to be issued by a university for the “Overview of Childcare Management Course” and the Florida Director Credential. We have partnered with UAF to offer credit for this class and issue transcripts. UAF issues transcripts once a month. Your paperwork and grades are submitted to UAF at the end of each session. This process takes about 1-3 weeks from the session end date.  

* Registering for Expedited grading does not change the date that paperwork is submitted to UAF. If you are considering expedited grading, call the office to see what they suggest.

*Contacting the NICCM or UAF prior to the expected certificate/transcript date will delay your certificate/transcript. 

Code of Ethics

NICCM (The National Institute of Child Care Management) Is an institute of higher learning and as such has a basic “Code of Ethics” to maintain the integrity of the certificates, training credit and credentials rewarded by the institute.  Violating any part of this code is grounds for expulsion from any or all programs. 

Participants must follow the “Rules of Collaboration” whenever collaborating with another student.   Ignoring, being unaware of, violating or refusing/failing to follow these “Rules of Collaboration” are immediate grounds for expulsion from the program.

Participants may not cheat in any way by any definition including those listed under the “Rules of Collaboration” including plagiarism in any form.  

Participants must take responsibility for their own course and must contact NICCM on their own behalf.  It is not acceptable to have someone else contact NICCM about your course. This includes the person who might have paid for your course. The course and any credit or credentials received belong to the participant and therefore the responsibility for all communication concerning said course work or credit is the responsibility of the participant as well.   In the case of a participant needing the help of a translator, the participant must be the one leading the conversation and the translator may only assist in translating. 

Participants must follow all the rules of the course.  This includes any rules that apply including but not limited to:  rules regarding arrival and attendance of a live event including sign-in participation, course completion, test and praxis Instructions, tutoring Instructions, all rules that apply to distance learning students, rules set by any college or university with which the course is associated, rules set by any association or organization with which the course is associated, rules specific to the state or region where you are being credentialed, and rules regarding submission of your test and praxis or portfolio by mail. 

Participant must be truthful.  A participant may not lie to an NICCM representative about anything related to their course, registration, or any above rules of the course. NICCM defines lying as the following but not necessarily limited to: a) Making an untrue statement with intent to deceive, b) To create a false or misleading impression, c) Intentional omission of the truth to create an alternate reality, d) An assertion of something known or believed by the speaker or writer to be untrue with intent to deceive,  e) an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed by the speaker or writer.

Participants may not lend or give copy-written materials including printed or video materials to non-enrolled individuals or organizations. 

Participants must follow the chain of communication and workflow of NICCM organizational structure in all course work and correspondence whether verbal or written.  Refusal to follow this chain of communication/workflow or refusal to cooperate with any member of our team is cause for immediate explosion.  All team members of NICCM have the authority to make the final decision concerning any issue with which they have been tasked.  Refusal to accept the decision stated by a team member and/or administration of set rules or policies and/or requesting to speak to someone else is immediate grounds for expulsion.

Individuals must speak to NICCM Team members in a professional manner.  All conversations in which participants are slanderous, (accusations of dishonesty or lying) and/or verbally abusive toward the team member, will constitute immediate grounds for expulsion.

Whenever a participant is expelled from any program, they are ineligible for any type of refund, discount or credit for course work, registrations or any fees paid during the course of that training.  The act of violating the “Code of Ethics” is an act of deception whether pre-meditated or incidental and the participant’s actions have caused the action of expulsion which in no way is the fault of NICCM or it’s instructors or team members.

Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers

1. Notify NICCM of any changes in job position, employer or contact information.
2. Show proof that you have met your states training requirement for each year, with at least 10 hours of training having been received from NICCM during the 2 you have been credentialed.
3. Complete renewal paperwork included the annual survey.

1. Notify NICCM of any changes in job position, employer or contact information.
2.  Have completed 10 hours of training having from NICCM during the 2 years you have been credentialed.
3. Complete renewal paperwork included the annual survey.

State of Florida Director Credential CORE REQUIREMENTS

1. High School Diploma or G.E.D.
2. 30 Hour Part I Department of Children and Families’ Introductory Child Care Training SCHOOL-AGE APPLICANTS may substitute training for Child Growth and Development and 
Behavioral Observation and Screening pursuant to 65C-22.008(4)(c)5., F.A.C.)
3. At least eight hours of in-service training regarding children with disabilities. The Department of 
Children and Families’ Special Needs Appropriate Practice course will meet this requirement.
4. Active Staff Credential Verification (CF-FSP 5206), excluding Employment History Recognition 
Exemption.

• Staff Credential Verification Must be active at the time of renewal. 
• Child Care Training Transcript will be used verify an active staff credential.

• Forty-five clock hours completed at a Florida Career Education Center (public vocational or technical school), Florida Community Colleges, or an institution licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education.
• Forty-five Department of Education district approved teacher in-service points.
• Any combination of the above training hours. (For example: 1 college credit +1.5 CEUs+15 vocational hours).
• Training must be completed within last five years. In-service hours, non-vocational class hours, or coursework previously submitted to earn an initial/renewal credential will not be accepted. Training must be under any of the following topic areas:
  • Overview of Child Care Management (cannot be the same course used for initial credential)
  • Child Care and Education Leadership and Management
  • Child Care and Education Financial and Legal Issues
  • Child Care and Education Programming

• Make a presentation in the field of early childhood or school-age education at a conference, association meeting, coalition meeting, or teach courses through an educational institution such as a college or career- technical center. (Documentation must include a copy of the presentation, agenda, syllabus AND sign-in sheet, class roster or conference brochure.)
• Serve as an officer, committee member, consultant, or mentor in a professional organization related to the field of early childhood or school-age education. (Documentation must include proof of role in organization, including length of time involved and duties. Letter should be from the organization, client, or person being mentored. Membership alone does not satisfy this requirement.)
• Publish an article related to the field of early childhood or school-age education in a professional journal, professional newsletter, newspaper article, letter to the newspaper editor, or book. (Documentation must include a copy of the published article and proof of publication such as the journal, newsletter, etc. Blog type activities do not satisfy this requirement.)
• Participate in an educational research project related to early childhood or school-age education. (Documentation must include proof participation was at least three months in the research project.)
• Complete initial or renewal of a Florida-recognized accreditation program. (Documentation must include proof of accreditation.) For a list of approved accreditation organizations, visit www.myflorida.com/childcare - select “Gold Seal Quality Care Program.”
• Serve as a validator or advisor for a Florida-recognized accreditation program, as a National Child Development Associate (CDA) advisor, or as a school-age certification representative for the Florida Child Care Professional Credential School-Age Program. (Documentation must include completion of one validation or accreditation visit.)
• Serve as an editor or reviewer for a professional journal or book. (Documentation must include proof of completion of review such as letter from publisher.)
• Participate in a rule development workshop for a governmental agency. (Documentation must include proof of active participation at the rule workshop from agency holding workshop and include information shared. Active participation requires providing information for change, rationale for change, providing written suggestions, or sharing information or opinions on proposed rule.)

According to Florida licensing regulations you must meet one of 4 educational requirements to receive a Florida Staff Credential.  One of the quickest and most cost effective ways to meet this requirement is to take NICCM’s CDA Fast Track 2.0 class and earn your National Child Development Associate (CDA). The CDA Fast Track 2.0 class can be taken through a live 3-day event or through the Distance Learning Program from home.

1. Formal Educational Qualifications 
a) B.A., B.S. or advanced degree in ONE of the following areas: Early Childhood Education/Child Development, Pre-Kindergarten or Primary Education, Preschool Education, Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly Home Economics/Child Development), Exceptional Student Education, Special Education, Mental Disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities, Physically Impaired, Varying Exceptionalities, Emotional Disabilities, Visually Impaired, Hearing Impaired, Speech-Language Pathology or Elementary Education with certification to teach any age birth through 6th grade (certification may be inactive provided the certificate is not suspended/revoked). 
b) A.S., A.A. degree or higher in Early Childhood Education/Child Development 
c) Associate's degree or higher WITH at least six (6) college credit hours in early childhood education/child development AND at least 480 hours experience in a child care setting serving children ages birth through eight (8).
2. National Early Childhood Certificate - Active National Child Development Associate (CDA) or other early childhood credential that meets or exceeds the requirements of the National CDA and is recognized by regulatory agencies in at least five (5) states. Recognition is determined by the Department.
3. Active Birth through Five Child Care Credential (Formerly the Florida Child Development Associate Equivalency Credential (CDAE))
4. Active School-Age Child Care Credential

It takes about 15 minutes to complete the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Application, but you have the option to save your application and come back later to finish.

You will need to create and login to your Children's Forum Portal account and gather the following materials or information in order to complete the application:

1. Personal email address**.
2. Proof of residency
3. Proof of high school diploma or GED
4. DCF transcript
5. Copies of ECE certificates and/or college transcripts
6. Email address for the child care program where you are employed
7. License number (or if unlicensed, employer's Federal ID number,) of the program where you are employed
8. NAEYC accreditation status of child care program where you are employed
9. Number of children enrolled in program, and number for which program is licensed
10. School or training organization you wish to attend. Check the ECE Education Directory for options available to you.
11. Many scholarship models require your employer to sponsor you. Speak to your employer about T.E.A.C.H. before you apply.

** If you do not currently have your own email address, you can create a free email account at Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL or other email providers.

https://login.thechildrensforum.com/login

It takes about 15 minutes to complete the T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Application, but you have the option to save your application and come back later to finish.

You will need to create and login to your Children's Forum Portal account and gather the following materials or information in order to complete the application:

1. Personal email address**.
2. Proof of residency
3. Proof of high school diploma or GED
4. DCF transcript
5. Copies of ECE certificates and/or college transcripts
6. Email address for the child care program where you are employed
7. License number (or if unlicensed, employer's Federal ID number,) of the program where you are employed
8. NAEYC accreditation status of child care program where you are employed
9. Number of children enrolled in program, and number for which program is licensed
10. School or training organization you wish to attend. Check the ECE Education Directory for options available to you.
11. Many scholarship models require your employer to sponsor you. Speak to your employer about T.E.A.C.H. before you apply.

** If you do not currently have your own email address, you can create a free email account at Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft, AOL or other email providers.

https://login.thechildrensforum.com/login