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01
Mar
2023

PQAS Requirements

March 1, 2023

The STARS Status Review, Reduction, Suspension, & Removal Process provides consistent guidance across all Early Learning Resource Centers for reviewing, reducing, suspending, or removing a provider’s STAR designation. It also provides procedures for developing STARS action plans. A detailed written process is attached to this announcement that provides step-by-step instructions for specific situations involving areas of noncompliance. As with any written procedure, specific scenarios may emerge that are outside the scope of this process. The Early Learning Resource Center should consult with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) to determine appropriate measures for unique situations.

OCDEL released this document as ELRC Announcement 19-02 (pakeys.org/elrc-19-02) on February 27, 2019.

Faculty

Faculty Instructors can only provide Professional Development under the Higher Ed Institute they are employed at.

Minimum Requirements

  • Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Faculty who have a Doctoral level degree, and do not have the ECE credits, may choose Competency Groups that can be supported by their educational background.
  • Faculty need to have taught a minimum of four courses over the last two years.
  • Faculty must have at least two years of experience, and be currently employed, as an instructor at an accredited institute of higher education.

Required Courses

  • Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) (no cost)
  • Engaging Adult Learners Course ($7.00 fee)
  • The Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (no cost)
  • Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry (no cost)

Application Process

To apply for PQAS:

  1. Login at papdregistry.org;
  2. Check the Apply to become a PQAS Instructor box; and
  3. Complete each section.

All required documents should be attached within the Education tab and the Instructor tab. If you do not have a PD Registry profile, create a new account.

Directions to do this are available on the PA Key website at pakeys.org/pdr-account. Please allow up to 90 days for the processing of an application.

Once processed, you will receive an email with your next steps.

Required Documentation

Education Tab

Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Faculty who has a Doctoral level degree, and do not have the ECE credits, may choose Professional Standard Areas that can be supported by their educational background.

Employment Tab

Faculty must have at least two years of experience, and be currently employed, as an instructor at an accredited institute of higher education. Employment must be listed to show currently employed as an instructor at an accredited institute of higher education.

Instructor Tab

  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
  • Faculty need to have taught a minimum of four courses over the last two years. Upload proof of four courses taught within two years.

Application Fee

$70.00

Pediatric First Aid & Pediatric CPR, Fire Safety, and/or Water Safety

To create your own curriculum in alignment with competencies you qualify for based on expertise and/or education, please review the information below to become a Professional Development Instructor.

Minimum Requirements

  • First Aid/CPR PQAS Instructors submitting an initial or renewal PQAS application for First Aid/CPR will expire on the date the Instructor’s First Aid/CPR instructor card expires.
  • Reference the Pediatric CPR/First Aid PQAS Requirements document when completing the application to ensure you have all the required documentation. An email will be sent if any additional documents are needed. Please allow up to 30 days for processing. Once processed, you will receive an email with your next steps.
  • PQAS Approval Pediatric First Aid and Pediatric CPR Requirements & Tipsheet (PDF) [Last Updated: May 2022]
  • Current approved First Aid/CPR PQAS Instructors expiration dates will not change until it is time to renew.
  • In order to add/update your Pediatric First Aid/CPR PQAS permissions, you will need to upload an up-to-date Pediatric First Aid/CPR Instructor Card within the Education Tab- CPR, First Aid, Fire Safety Requirements section, then email pqas@pakeys.org with your Name and Registry ID# to request First Aid/CPR permissions within the PD Registry. Please allow 2-3 weeks for this update.

Required Courses

  • Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) (no cost)
  • Engaging Adult Learners Course ($7.00 fee)
  • The Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (no cost)
  • Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry (no cost)

Application Process

To apply for PQAS:

  1. Login at papdregistry.org;
  2. Check the Apply to become a PQAS Instructor box; and
  3. Complete each section.

All required documents should be attached within the Education tab and the Instructor tab. If you do not have a PD Registry profile, create a new account.

Directions to do this are available on the PA Key website at pakeys.org/pdr-account. Please allow up to 90 days for the processing of an application.

Once processed, you will receive an email with your next steps.

Required Documentation

Education Tab

  • Document Highschool Graduation Year
  • Pediatric First Aid & Pediatric CPR, Fire Safety, and/or Water Safety (Pediatric CPR/First Aid)
  • Attach up-to-date Pediatric First Aid & Pediatric CPR, Fire Safety, and/or Water Safety
     

    Instructor Card

    • To be eligible to apply to become Pennsylvania Quality Assurance System (PQAS) approved for Pediatric CPR/First Aid, you must hold a certification by at least one of the Pediatric CPR/First Aid curricula that are approved in meeting the childcare licensing regulation.
    • View the complete list of approved Pediatric First/Aid CPR curriculum.
    • Lifeguard instructor certification does not qualify for Pediatric CPR/First Aid approval.
    • All PQAS approved instructors for First Aid/CPR must have a current First Aid/CPR instructor card uploaded to your education tab to maintain approval for First Aid/CPR.

  • Pediatric First Aid & Pediatric CPR, Fire Safety, and/or Water Safety section (Fire Safety)

    • Attach up-to-date Fire Safety Instructor Certification
    • To be eligible be PQAS approved for Fire Safety, an individual must be knowledgeable and competent in fire inspections, fire detection, fire suppression systems and practices, fire service training, emergency preparedness planning and emergency evacuation whose competence is demonstrated by membership in a professional organization which promotes fire safety education.
  • Pediatric First Aid & Pediatric CPR, Fire Safety, and/or Water Safety (Water Safety)
      • Attach up-to-date Lifeguard Instructor Card

Application Fee

$0.00

Professional Development

Instructors can provide their own curriculum to any Early Childhood Educator.

To create your own curriculum in alignment with competencies you qualify for based on expertise and/or education, please review the information below to become a Professional Development Instructor.

Minimum Requirements

n/a

Required Courses

  • Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) (no cost)
  • Engaging Adult Learners Course ($7.00 fee)
  • The Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (no cost)
  • Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry (no cost)

Application Process

To apply for PQAS:

  1. Login at papdregistry.org;
  2. Check the Apply to become a PQAS Instructor box; and
  3. Complete each section.

All required documents should be attached within the Education tab and the Instructor tab. If you do not have a PD Registry profile, create a new account.

Directions to do this are available on the PA Key website at pakeys.org/pdr-account. Please allow up to 90 days for the processing of an application.

Once processed, you will receive an email with your next steps.

Required Documentation

Education Tab

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a related field (OR Level C)

Instructor Tab

  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume
    • Must include:
      • Evidence to support training experience within the last five years
      • Summary of previous training experience including number of years and topics delivered
  • Professional Standard Area Support Form
  • Professional Development Overview, Module, and supporting handouts
    • Please make sure ALL fields are completed within the PD Overview and PD Module.
    • PD Overview/Module and supporting handouts should have NO personal information. Replace ‘name’ with ‘instructor’. Or if you have your contact information listed, replace it with ‘Instructor Contact Information’. (Ex: ‘Jane Doe’ to ‘Instructor’)
    • An original module and overview should be submitted. These cannot be shared between applicants during the application process.
    • Pennsylvania PD Registry is not a forum for advertising. The Pennsylvania Key strongly asks all presenters to refrain from marketing products during their sessions.

Application Fee

$70.00

Standardized Professional Development

Instructors are only able to provide specific approved Professional Development to Early Childhood Educator.

A professional license or other type of recognized credential/degree, who do not have early childhood/school-age educational backgrounds, but have important information to share (e.g., nurses, accountants, lawyers).

Minimum Requirements

  • Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Faculty who have a Doctoral level degree, and do not have the ECE credits, may choose Competency Groups that can be supported by their educational background.
  • Faculty need to have taught a minimum of four courses over the last two years.
  • Faculty must have at least two years of experience, and be currently employed, as an instructor at an accredited institute of higher education.

Required Courses

  • Overview of Keystone STARS: Pennsylvania's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) (no cost)
  • Engaging Adult Learners Course ($7.00 fee)
  • The Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators (no cost)
  • Submitting PQAS Courses in the PD Registry (no cost)

Application Process

To apply for PQAS:

  1. Login at papdregistry.org;
  2. Check the Apply to become a PQAS Instructor box; and
  3. Complete each section.

All required documents should be attached within the Education tab and the Instructor tab. If you do not have a PD Registry profile, create a new account.

Directions to do this are available on the PA Key website at pakeys.org/pdr-account. Please allow up to 90 days for the processing of an application.

Once processed, you will receive an email with your next steps.

Required Documentation

Education Tab

  • Transcripts to verify your degree(s) and ECE credits (Career Pathway: Entry Level)

Instructor Tab

  • Curriculum Vitae or Resume:
    • Evidence to support training experience within the last five years
    • Summary of previous training experience including number of years and topics delivered
  •  Professional Standard Area Support Form
  • Professional Development Overview, Module, and supporting handouts
    • Complete ALL fields are completed within the PD Overview and PD Module.
    • Remove personal information PD Overview/Module and supporting handouts. Replace ‘name’ with ‘instructor’. Or if you have your contact information listed, replace it with ‘Instructor Contact Information’. (Ex: ‘Jane Doe’ to ‘Instructor’)
    • Submit an original module and overview; do not share between applicants during the application process.

Application Fee

$0.00 (this will be waived when your application is processed)

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