Minnesota's Career Lattice
Minnesota's Career Lattice recognizes the hours of informal training, formal education and credentials of professionals in the field of early childhood and school-age care. The Minnesota Career Lattice details the 12 steps practitioners can take to climb the career lattice. However, the career lattice is multidimensional and should not be viewed as a strict hierarchy. Practitioners may begin their journey toward professional development at any step (that is, you can enroll in college courses prior to completing the noncredit training in Steps I-V).
Foundational Awareness
The career lattice begins with a Foundational Awareness step. This step is designed primarily for family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) or legally unlicensed caregivers. The Foundational Awareness step includes a minimum of six hours of training. It is recommended that FFN providers/legally unlicensed providers participate in training on topics that include:
- sudden infant death syndrome
- shaken baby
- child development
- car seat/passenger restraint
- first aid
- cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults and children
- cultural dynamics
- disabilities
These training topics can count toward Step I of the career lattice if the training and trainer have been approved by the Minnesota Center for Professional Development.
Step I to Step XII
Practitioners working in the field are eligible to participate in Steps I - XII if they are at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma/GED. Practitioners in direct care positions (for example, family child care provider or center-based classroom staff) must also have a current First Aid and CPR Certificate.
Practitioners can climb the career lattice by participating in training that corresponds to the Minnesota Core Competencies. The Minnesota Core Competencies for early childhood and school-age education and care practitioners define what practitioners need to know, and should be able to do, to provide quality education and care. The core competencies provide guidelines for education and training programs in meeting the needs of practitioners in the field. The Minnesota Core Competencies are divided into eight content areas including:
- Child Growth and Development
- Learning Environment and Curriculum
- Assessment and Planning for Individual Needs
- Interactions with Children
- Families and Communities
- Health, Safety and Nutrition
- Program Planning and Evaluation
- Professional Development and Leadership
Each of the eight areas contain five levels of indicators that build upon the skills and knowledge of a beginning practitioner to the more advanced skills and knowledge possessed by a professional with a master degree.
Practitioners must take approved training that is aligned with the Minnesota Core Competencies from a trainer approved by the Minnesota Center for Professional Development or an accredited college or university. Practitioners can locate approved training and education by searching the training database on the Registry by core competency area, level and location. Once practitioners complete a step, they will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
Determining Career Lattice Steps
Practitioners who would like to receive recognition for their professional development in the field of early childhood education and school-age care must first enroll in the Minnesota Registry. The Minnesota Registry applications for practitioners and trainers may be completed online or a paper copy may be downloaded and printed.
During the application process, practitioners report their hours of informal training, formal education, credentials and degrees awarded in the field of early childhood and school-age care. After enrolling in the Minnesota Registry and turning in all of their official college transcripts and copies of noncredit training certificates for at least two years, the staff at the Minnesota Center for Professional Development will verify the training and place the practitioner on the career lattice. Practitioners who have less than eight approved college credits can submit up to five years of training certificates to document more hours of training and reach a higher step on the career lattice.
The practitioner will receive a certificate of completion for the highest step s(he) has reached, and information about how s(he) can continue climbing the career lattice. Practitioners will also receive a gold seal on their certificate if they are a member of a professional association related to the field.
Acceptable Documentation
The Minnesota Center for Professional Development must have copies of original training certificates, certifications and official transcripts from colleges to review. Only official college or university transcripts will be accepted. Copies of diplomas cannot be accepted because they do not list the specific courses completed. Contact the colleges and universities you have attended and ask them to mail an official transcript to the Minnesota Center for Professional Development. In addition, only noncredit training documentation for the past five years will be used to determine the steps you have achieved on the career lattice. You will receive a step certificate and a learning record as recognition of your achievements.
If you are a member of an early childhood and/or school-age care professional association, provide proof of your membership along with your training documentation. A gold seal will be printed on your step certificate to indicate that you are a member of a professional association. This symbol will provide evidence of your commitment to the field of early childhood education and/or school-age care.
Career Lattice Steps
Minnesota Career Lattice for Early Childhood and School - age Care Practitioners - PDF
Foundational Awareness
- 6 clock hours of approved training for Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers. These 6 hours can be applied toward the training requirements needed for Steps I-V.
Step I
10 clock hours of training related to the MN Core Competencies.
- 4 clock hours in Child Growth and Development
- 4 clock hours in Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- 2 clock hours in Interactions with Children
(10 hours total)
Step II
15 clock hours of training related to the MN Core Competencies.
- 6 clock hours in Child Growth and Development
- 6 clock hours in Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- 3 clock hours in Interactions with Children
(25 hours total)
Step III
30 clock hours of training related to the MN Core Competencies.
- 5 clock hours in Learning Environment and Curriculum
- 5 clock hours in Assessment and Planning for Individual Needs
- 5 clock hours in Interactions with Children
- 5 clock hours in Families and Communities
- 5 clock hours in Program Planning and Evaluation
- 5 clock hours in Professional Development and Leadership
(55 hours total)
Step IV
35 clock hours of training related to the MN Core Competencies.
- 10 clock hours in Child Growth and Development
- 5 clock hours in Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- 5 clock hours in Interactions with Children
- 10 clock hours in Learning Environment and Curriculum
- 5 clock hours in Families and Communities
(90 hours total)
Step V
30 clock hours training related to the MN Core Competencies.
- 5 clock hours in Interactions with Children
- 5 clock hours in Learning Environment and Curriculum
- 5 clock hours in Assessment and Planning for Individual Needs
- 5 clock hours in Families and Communities
- 5 clock hours in Program Planning and Evaluation
- 5 clock hours in Professional Development and Leadership
(120 hours total)
Step VI
8 approved semester credits
OR
Child Development Associate (CDA)
OR
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation
Step VII
16 approved semester credits (back to top)
OR
2 approved semester credits and a Diploma from Association Montessori Internationale or preprimary credential, primary diploma, or provisional certificate from the American Montessori Society
OR
Certificate in Child Development or Early Childhood Education from a Minnesota Community or Technical College
OR
Director's Credential
Step VIII
30 approved semester credits
OR
Diploma in Child Development or Early Childhood Education from a Minnesota Community or Technical College
Step IX
a. Associates Degree with 6 approved semester credits or 60 semester credits from a college or university with 6 approved semester credits.
b. Associates Degree with 24 approved semester credits or 60 semester credits from a college or university with 24 approved semester credits.
c. Associate Degree with 30 approved semester credits or 60 semester credits from a college or university with 30 approved semester credits.
Step X
a. Baccalaureate Degree with 6 approved semester credits.
b. Baccalaureate Degree with 24 approved semester credits.
c. Baccalaureate Degree with 36 approved semester credits.
Step XI
a. Master Degree with 6 approved semester credits.
b. Master Degree with 24 approved semester credits.
c. Master Degree with 36 approved semester credits.
Step XII
a. Doctorate Degree with 6 approved semester credits.
b. Doctorate Degree with 24 approved semester credits.
c. Doctorate Degree with 36 approved semester credits. (back to top)
