CF-FSP 5211, May 2019 [65C-22.001(7)(d), F.A.C.] Page 1 of 5
FLORIDA CHILD CARE
STAFF CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION APPLICATION
RESOURCE PAGE
A staff credential is used by child care providers to validate credentials and experience for licensing
compliance and participation in the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Program. A staff credential may be
earned if you have completed one of the following requirements:
A. Formal Educational Qualification: Degrees must be from an accredited and U.S. Department of
Education recognized institution. Unaltered copies of transcripts or unofficial transcripts are accepted.
Degrees earned outside the U.S. must be evaluated by a credential evaluation agency approved by the
Bureau of Educators Certification or an accredited college/university and determined to be equivalent to a
U.S. Degree.
1. Bachelor’s degree or Higher 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
● Elementary Education with certification to teach any age birth through 6th grade (certification may
be inactive, provided the certificate is not suspended/revoked)
2. Associate degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development
3. Associate degree or higher WITH at least 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 years of age
B. National Early Childhood Credential: 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 states. For a list of recognized credentials, please visit the Child Care
Website (see below).
C. Birth Through Five Child Care Credential: Completion of an approved Florida Child Care Professional
Credential (FCCPC), Florida Department of Education (DOE) Child Care Apprenticeship Program (CCAC)
or DOE Early Childhood Education Program (ECPC). Approved programs require a high school diploma or
GED, a minimum of 120 hours of training, a minimum of 480 hours of experience in an early childhood child
care setting, early childhood portfolio, and a formal observation.
D. School-Age Child Care Credential: Completion of an approved Florida Child Care Professional
Credential (FCCPC) or Florida Department of Education (DOE) School-Age Credential Program (SAPC).
Approved programs require a high school diploma or GED, a minimum of 120 hours of training, a minimum
of 480 of experience in a school-age child care setting, School-Age Portfolio, and a formal observation.
Child Care Website – www.myflfamilies.com/childcare
The child care training website has useful information regarding staff credentials. Select “Training &
Credentialing” – then select “Staff Credential.”
For a list of approved training programs for each credential in Sections 3, 4, 5, select the type of credential
(National, Birth Through Five, or School-Age) you wish to earn.
Use "Tab" key to move to next field.
CF-FSP 5211, May 2019 [65C-22.001(7)(d), F.A.C.] Page 2 of 5
FLORIDA CHILD CARE
STAFF CREDENTIAL
VERIFICATION APPLICATION
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Date
Processed:________________
Processed
By:_________________
Date:_____________________
This application is used for initial staff credential verification and renewals, pursuant to s. 402.305(3), Florida
Statutes.
Please complete all the required sections and submit the application, with documentation, to:
ONLINE:
Upload documents via the Credential Application
Portal on your Child Care Training System Student
Account at https://training01-
dcf.myflorida.com/studentsite/admin/login.jsf
MAIL:
Florida Department of Children and Families
Child Care Program Office – Credential Unit
2415 North Monroe St., Suite 400, Room N216
Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4190
Section 1 Candidate Information (all applicants must complete):
Last Name
First Name
MI
DCF Student ID/Last 5 Digits of SSN
*
Mailing Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
County:
Email Address:
Date of Birth:
Home Telephone:
Business Telephone:
ATTESTATION
I hereby attest that all information pertaining to this application is true, correct, and complete. I
understand if any of the information provided is found to be false, the verification will be rescinded.
Signature of Applicant
Date of Application
*The department is requesting the last 5 digits of your social security number, but you are not required to provide it under the law.
However, providing the last 5 digits of your social security number will assist the department in processing your application quickly
and determining your eligibility faster and more accurately. Social security numbers are used by the department for identity
verification only. You may use your Department of Children and Families Student ID found on your Child Care Training Transcript.
Go To Page 1 To review information regarding staff credential verifications, as well as additional
resources available.
Go To Page 3 If you are submitting documentation for verification of a Formal Education
Qualification or National Early Childhood Credential.
Go To Page 4 If you are submitting documentation to renew a Birth Through Five Child Care
Credential or School-Age Child Care Credential.
Incomplete applications will only be retained for 3 months from the date of receipt.
Clear
(including area code)
(including area code)
If applicable,
enter extension number
Go To Page 1
Go To Page 3
Go To Page 4
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CF-FSP 5211, May 2019 [65C-22.001(7)(d), F.A.C.] Page 3 of 5
STAFF CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION
Provide all the documentation to support one of the following (Section 2, 3, 4, or 5):
Section 2 Formal Education Qualification:
● You must submit a copy of your college transcript, which must document the following:
● applicant’s full name,
● name of college/university,
● degree earned (see page 1 for a list of acceptable degrees),
● date degree was earned, and/or,
● six college credits of early childhood education (only for option c below).
● Complete page 5 to document experience (only for option c below).
If your degree was earned outside the U.S., it must be evaluated by a credential evaluation
agency approved by the Bureau of Educators Certification or an accredited college/university and
determined to be equivalent to one of the below requirements.
Select one qualification (a, b, or c below) which matches your education and experience:
a. Bachelor’s degree or higher in one of the areas listed on page 1;
b. Associate degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development; or,
c. Associate degree or higher WITH at least 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 years of age.
Section 3 National Early Childhood Credential:
● Complete the following information and include a copy of your National Early Childhood
Credential
● If the certificate submitted does not specifically state an expiration date and has an issuance
date greater than five years, please submit a dated and signed statement from the issuing
body on their letterhead that includes the following:
● Addressed to the person whose is submitting this application;
● Must be dated within 180 days of the date this application was submitted;
● Must include the certificate number or, at least, the issuance date that appears on the
submitted certificate; and,
● Must include language that the issuing body recognizes the submitted certificate as
“active” by that issuing body.
Name of National Early Childhood Credential Program Issue Date Expiration Date
Check the box if documentation provided. Press space bar once to
check a box; press space bar once to uncheck a checked box.
(mm/dd/yyyy)
(mm/dd/yyyy)
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CF-FSP 5211, May 2019 [65C-22.001(7)(d), F.A.C.] Page 4 of 5
Section 4 Birth Through Five or School-Age Child Care Credential Renewal:
To maintain your staff credential, every 5 years you must submit documentation of completion of
the following requirements:
● If you are renewing a Birth Through Five Child Care Credential, your CPR certificate, hours of
experience, and training courses must be completed related to children ages birth through age
five.
● If you are renewing a School-Age Child Care Credential, your CPR certificate, hours of
experience, and training courses must be completed related to children ages five through
twelve.
Copy of original training credential or Training Transcript verifying date of credential
issuance being renewed.
A copy of an active CPR certificate. CPR training must be instructor-based (online courses
will not be accepted). Please ensure that training is not expired when you submit your
application.
A copy of an active First Aid certificate. Please ensure that training is not expired when you
submit your application.
Within the past year, complete 80 hours of experience working with children. Document
work experience using the Documentation of Experience form (page 5 of this application),
completed by a child care director or owner. You may also submit a copy of W-2 records,
licensing records, or income tax returns to verify experience.
A letter of recommendation, on company letterhead, from an owner, director or other child
care professional. If you are the owner or director, the letter may be provided by a parent of
a child in care. The letter must be signed and dated. The letter of recommendation must
include information about the quality of care you provide.
Proof of current individual membership in an early childhood/school-age professional
organization.
Within the past five years, complete training focused on the education of children in either
early childhood education for the Birth Through Five Child Care Credential or elementary
education for the School-Age Child Care Credential through one of the following:
● 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Training certificates must clearly list the number
of CEUs awarded and the date earned.
● Three college credit hours from an accredited or U.S. Department of Education
recognized institution – copy of college transcript documenting the semester and year
the college credits were earned. If the subject area and age range is not clear on the
transcript, please include a course description provided by the university or college in
which you attended the training.
● 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.
Note: In-service hours, non-vocational class hours, or coursework previously submitted to earn
an initial/renewal credential will not be accepted.
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CF-FSP 5211, May 2019 [65C-22.001(7)(d), F.A.C.] Page 5 of 5
Section 5 Documentation of Experience:
Use this form to document your experience in a child care setting for
renewal of a professional early childhood credential or a Staff Credential
(option c) with formal education qualifications. You may copy this page or
use separate forms to document experience with each program.
Name of Staff Credential Applicant:
Type of Credential (check one):
Formal Education Qualification
Credential Renewal
Program where experience was earned:
Supervisor’s Name & Title:
Dates Employed (month/year):
(
/
)
to
(
/
)
Total Hours Worked:
Provide a brief summary of the staff credential applicant’s duties and responsibilities at your program:
Attestation:
I hereby attest that all information pertaining to this documentation of experience is true, correct,
and complete. I understand if any of the information provided is found to be false, the verification
will be rescinded.
Signature of Facility Owner or Operator
Date
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