Professional Preparation and Recognition

This framework is designed to provide information about existing types of professional preparation and recognition available for practitioners in the field of parenting education. Individuals enter parenting education from a broad range of experience and educational levels – from high school education or GED to doctoral degree. This framework is not meant to be a career ladder but can be used as a resource in the development of one. A person can be engaged in more than one of the types of professional preparation and recognition listed simultaneously.

There is currently no widely accepted consensus regarding definitions for the terms “credential” and “certificate” as is evident in the terms used in the examples below. The following are working definitions of these terms as used in this document:

• Certificate – completion of a course of study (e.g., 10-day course, 12-credit graduate program; can be credit or non-credit)
• Credential – verification or validation of one’s qualifications (experiences and education) as a professional by a third party based on defined criteria

*The programs/resources listed below under the five types of Professional Preparation and Professional Recognition that constitute the Framework are posted only to illustrate the type of Professional Preparation and the type of Professional Recognition under which they are listed and are not endorsed by NPEN.

Professional Preparation

Parenting education professional development training

• Nurturing Parenting
• Parents as Teachers: 32 hour Prenatal to Three Institute and 15 hour Three to Kindergarten Entry Institute carrying 2-3 college credits depending upon institution offering
• Parent Coach Certification: one-year, graduate-level, distance-learning program offered in collaboration with Seattle Pacific University’s Department of Education
• The Incredible Years

College-level degrees and certificates

• North Carolina State University (12 credit hours)
• University of Minnesota Family Education Graduate Certificate Program in Parent Education (16 course credits)
• Adelphi University –The Institute for Parenting offers a post-master’s training program in parenting education and parent guidance, a comprehensive one-year program for parent educators.

Professional Recognition

Voluntary Registries or Directories

Verification of Competencies (Generally referred to as a credential)     

• National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) The CFLE credential is the nationally recognized standard in Family Life Education and validates a professional’s experience and knowledge as a Family Life Educator.
• New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) The NYSPEP Parenting Educator Credential is a professional recognition system that formally assesses and acknowledges professional parenting educators’ education, training, skills and experience.
• North Carolina Parenting Education Network (NCPEN) North Carolina Parenting Educator Credential 
• Oregon Parenting Education Network Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative (OPEC) Recognition System is a tool for Parenting Educators to 1) build and maintain a professional portfolio that documents education, training, and work experience and 2) apply for recognition as a Parenting Educator.
  

Licenses

State of Minnesota Board of Teaching License as Parent and Family Educator

• MN Educator License and MN Standards of Effective Practice
• Available in Child and Family Studies at St. Cloud State University (MN) and Family Education at the University of Minnesota.

Other Professional Development Resources

• LAPEN Louisiana Parenting Education Network (LAPEN) Core Competencies and Professional Development Portfolio for Parenting Educators are resources to guide parenting educators in their professional development.
• Wisconsin Core Competencies for Family Support Professionals define knowledge, skills and attitudes that guide the professional development and growth of parent educators, family resource providers and supervisors in their work with families.

Professional Liability Insurance FAQs

Professional Liability Insurance protects against lawsuits claiming professional errors, omission, and/or negligence.  Anyone working in a service field where they provide education or give advice should carry liability insurance to protect themselves from legal fees and financial loss.

Liability Insurance FAQs is a list of common questions and answers to support Parenting Educators in seeking and obtaining Professional Liability Insurance. If you have additional comments or resources that you feel are helpful to add, please email info@npen.org.