Plan your early learning career

DEL, with input from more than 40 other early learning organizations, developed the   Washington state career lattice for early care and education professionals and school-age professionals to provide a clear professional development pathway.

There are 15 steps on the career lattice, each of which represents increased training and education for early learning professionals that align with the Washington State Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals. The steps on the career lattice align with career opportunities in licensed child care, ECEAP and Head Start programs, in addition to other roles that support family engagement, higher education and community-based training.

Learn more about the career lattice

Stackable Certificates Leading to an ECE Statewide Credential

DEL partnered with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) to create a more clear educational sequence for early learning professionals. Early Childhood Education (ECE) students may now earn "stacakble" certificates—reflected on the career lattice—that include common course titles, course numbers, course descriptions, and student outcomes. Currently, seven colleges offer stackable certificates that lead to a Washington statewide Early Childhood Education (ECE) credential.

All Washington state community and technical colleges with an ECE program are encouraged to offer these stackable certificates by Fall 2013.

Learn more about the stackable ECE credentials

Financial Support for Early Learning Professionals

Scholarships are available for professionals who work in child care facilities that participate in Early Achievers, Washington’s quality rating and improvement system, for pre-college-level coursework, CDA programs, the new stackable certificates and state credential, associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees.

Learn about financial support for early learning professionals.