How To Apply for the Director Credential Renewal Application

Ensure you complete all the requirements for the appropriate Director Credential pathway before submitting your application. For requirements and additional information, visit pakeys.org/director-credential.  

Requirements for Renewal Pathway:

Education/Professional Development:

  • Education: 3 ECE credit college course in the past 5 years
    OR 
  • Training: 90 Professional Development hours in the past 5 years 

Professional Membership/Contributions:

  • Current membership in an early childhood professional organization 
  • Provide 3 detailed write-ups, each demonstrating a professional contribution, including supporting evidence for each. 
  • An Individual Professional Development Plan Statement 
  • A Pedagogy Statement 

PD Plan & Self-Assessment:

NOTE: The below items are verified within the PD Registry by the Director Credential team.

To complete the requirements below, visit How to Complete PD Self-Assessment + Professional Development Plan (pakeys.org/complete-pd-self-assessment-and-professional-development-plan). 

  • Completed Professional Development Plan within the past year 
  • Completed PD Self-Assessment within the past year 

How To Apply

1

Go to papdregistry.org 

2

Click Login in the top right corner.

Turquoise rectangular button with a white right-facing arrow icon followed by the text "Login" in white.

3

Enter your email address and password, then click Login.

4

Click Apply for Career Pathway/DC/PQAS.

5

Click Apply/Renew.

6

Check Renew my Director Credential.

NOTE: This will automatically check the Career Pathway box if you do not have a current Career Pathway Placement. 

Click Next.

7

Click Review next to each to make all necessary updates, then click Save/Confirm, OK, for each section. If you are unable to complete all steps at once, you can return and finish later.

Below are brief instructions for each item. Continue reading the document for detailed steps. 

  •  Personal Information 
    • Update as needed. 
  • Director Credential 
    • Review all requirements for Initial Director Credential. If you meet these requirements, choose Regular Pathway within the dropdown. 
  • Education 
    • Transcripts from an accredited college/university showing completion of 3 ECE college credits in the past 5 years. 
      OR 
    • 90 hours of Professional Development within the past 5 years.  
  • Employment 
    • Update as needed. 
  • Training – NOTE: This is verified with the PD Registry by the Director Credential team. 
    • If you have not completed the Education requirement (3 ECE credit college course), then 90 Professional Development hours within the past 5 years are required. Review your Training section in the PD Registry to ensure you meet this requirement. 
  • Professional Membership/Contributions 
    • Professional Memberships section: 
      • 1 current ECE membership documentation 
    • Director Credential Professional Contributions Section: 
      • 3 sources of evidence demonstrating your professional contributions. For each source, include documentation and a 150-word paragraph explaining the contribution. 
    • Director Credential Documentation section: 
      • Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) Statement  
      • Pedagogy Statement 
    • For more details on what’s needed, go to pakeys.org/director-credential 
  • PD Plan & Self-Assessment – NOTE: The below items are verified with the PD Registry by the Director Credential Team. 
8

Director Credential Section

Ensure that you have completed all the requirements for the Director Credential Pathway before submitting your application. If you meet these requirements and have the correct documentation, choose Regular Pathway within the dropdown. 

Click Confirm. 

Click OK. 

9

Education Section

If you have completed a 3 ECE credit college course in the past 5 years, ensure transcripts are uploaded. 

To add new entry: 

  • Click on Add Education Entry 
  • Select Completed Higher Education from the dropdown 
  • Complete the remainder fields 
  • Documentation must be uploaded to be verified. Click I have documentation to add 
  • Upload transcript(s) and click Save 
  • Click OK 

To update or upload documentation to an entry: 

  • Click Manage/Edit next to the entry you need to update 
  • Update needed fields 
  • Click Save 
  • Click OK 

If you need further instructors on how to complete your Education, follow the How to Add/Update your Education tipsheet. 

10

Employment Section

Update as needed. 

Click Confirm. 

Click OK. 

11

Training Section

NOTE: This is verified with the PD Registry by the Director Credential team. 

If you have not completed the Education requirement (3 ECE credit college course), then 90 Professional Development hours within the past 5 years are required. Review your Training section in the PD Registry to ensure you meet this requirement.  

Click Confirm. 

Click OK. 

12

Professional Memberships/Contributions

Click Add Membership within the Professional Memberships section to add 1 Current ECE Membership and documentation.

To upload your Current ECE Membership: 

  • Select a Professional Membership from the dropdown.
  • Enter the Expiration Date.
  • Click I have documentation to add.
  • Click +File and select your saved file from your computer or device. 
  • Select a File type from the dropdown. 
  • Click Save.
  • Click OK.

Click Add Contribution within the Director Credential Professional Contributions section to upload three sources of evidence demonstrating your professional contributions. For each source, include documentation and a 150-word paragraph explaining the contribution. 

To upload your documentation: 

  • Select a Contribution Type from the dropdown 
  • Enter the Date Earned 
  • Enter the Contribution Description 
  • Click I have documentation to add 
  • Click +File and select your saved file from your computer or device. 
  • Select a File type from the dropdown. 
  • Click Save Contribution 
  • Click YES to add two more professional contributions and documentation 

Click Edit within the Director Credential Documentation section to upload your Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) Statement and a Pedagogy Statement.

To upload: 

  • Click +File and select your saved file from your computer or device. 
  • Select a File type from the dropdown. 
  • Click Save 
  • Click OK 

Click Confirm. 

Click OK. 

13

Ensure you have completed your PD Self-Assessment + Professional Development Plan in the past year.  

Visit How to Complete PD Self-Assessment + Professional Development Plan for instructions. 

  • Completed Professional Development Plan 
  • Completed PD Self-Assessment 
14

Once all sections are Confirmed, click Review Application. 

15

Review Application Page:

Ensure that you have entered and uploaded all your required documentation for review.  

NOTE: If you see anything you would like to revise, click the Go Back at the top of the page to make changes and click Review next to the sections that need to be revised.  

Next, check Pay Online/Credit Card  

To submit your application, you must review/agree to the Terms and Agreements.  

  • To do so, click the Terms & Agreements link. 
  • Read the Terms and Agreements and check I agree to the privacy policy 
  • Click on Agree to Terms. 
  • Check Terms & Agreement. 
  • Click Submit. 

16

Online Payment:

Enter your Payment Information.

Click Submit Payment.

Click OK.

After You've Applied

Thank you for applying for the Director Credential. You will now be redirected to the Home Page. 

Please note that processing your application may take between 60 to 90 days. If additional information is required or there are any questions regarding your application, you will receive an email from dircred@pakeys.org. The same information will also be displayed at the bottom of your Home Page within the Notes section. 

Contact

dircred@pakeys.org
1-800-284-6031