Start Your Career

The following training options apply to Certified Center and Licensed Family Child Care program staff. Review various Program Types on the Department of Early Learning and Care Website. 

• Safety Set Classes (FREE)
  • Courses available at Learning with OCCD:
    • Introduction to Child Care Health and Safety(within 30 days of employment)
    • Recognizing/Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (within 30 days of employment)
    • Foundations For Learning (with 90 days of employment)
    • Safe Sleep (if the facility is licensed to care for infants up to 12 months old & within
      within 30 days of hire)
• Food Handler Certification (FREE)
  • Class available on the Central Coordination of Child Care Resource & Referral (CCCCR&R) website
• CPR/First Aid
  • Qualifying courses available at a discounted rate through Quality Care Connections. 
  • Courses must have a pediatric component and in-person CPR to meet Department of Early Learning and Care standards. 
• Enroll in Central Background Registry (CBR)
  • The CBR is specific to child care and early education and must be completed through the Department of Early Learning and Care. 

Oregon Registry Online (ORO): Professional Development System for Oregon's Early Education Workforce

• Create or sign in to your ORO account.
• If you have prior education, such as college coursework or structured training relating to child development, upload all transcripts and certificates to your ORO account for evaluation. Learn more about the Oregon Registry.
• Education and training help you advance in Oregon Registry Steps. These steps align with requirements for teaching staff within child care centers. Contact our office to learn more and create your Professional Development Plan for increasing your ORO step. 

Teaching Qualifications (Infant/Toddler and Preschool, Certified Centers): 

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have obtained qualifying teaching experience or education, including one of the following: (Full Details available in a Teacher Qualifications Handout ENGLISH/ SPANISH)
  • Oregon Registry Step 6
  • Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field
  • Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
  • At least 750 hours of qualifying teaching experience in a Certified Child Care Center, or comparable group care program in the appropriate age level.
  • One year or 1,500 hours of qualifying teaching experience in Registered Family or Certified Family child care. 
• School-Age Teacher Requirements differ. Refer to above handouts for details. 
• Outdoor Nature-Based (ONB) Teacher qualifications differ. Refer to the ONB Teacher Handout.

Meet with Quality Care Connections staff to learn about your career and education options. 

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• Intro to Registered Family Child Care
  • Part 1: Available on the OCCD website
  • Part 2: Provided by Quality Care Connections
• ERDC Child Care Orientation
  • Part 1: Available on the OCCD website
  • Part 2: Provided by Quality Care Connections

• Quality Care Connections Newsletter
• ERDC Provider Information
• Child Care Licensing Division
• USDA Food Program
• PASS Lane: Earn an ECE certificate with academic support
• Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
• Early Childhood Education Degree and Certificate Information
• Oregon QRIS Resources Website

• United Way of Lane County
• EC Cares

• Oregon Association of Early Learning Professionals (OAELP)
• Provider Resource Organization (PRO)
• OAEYC-Oregon Association For The Education of Young Children (OAEYC)

• Child Care Aware
• Child Care Law Center
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• IRS - Internal Revenue Service
• National Association for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
• National Association For Family Child Care
• U.S. Dept of Justice-Questions About The ADA and Child Care