What’s Involved?

The accreditation process is completed in 6 months.
The program is easy because your own NAEC mentor guides you through each step!

1. Contact National Academy for Educators and Caregivers for your FREE application. This gets the process started. Once NAEC receives your application your mentor will set up a time to meet with you to discuss your accreditation and your center’s unique needs.

2. Schedule your staff orientation. This is an opportunity to get the whole team on board. NAEC does all the work. It is a fun meeting with teambuilding activities and fun decorations and snacks!

3. Meet with your mentor as your program is assessed. NAEC accreditation uses the nationally recognized Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) and Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS). Your mentor will visit your center at least once a week to assess each room using these tools as well as NAEC’s unique quality curriculum checklist. But that is not where it ends. Your mentor will sit with you at each visit to review their assessment and provide feedback and ideas to help you offer the best quality care you can.

At the end of your 6 month period, NAEC will send an evaluator to conduct a professional assessment of your center and award you the NAEC Quality Seal of Approval.

No other accreditation program offers the guidance NAEC provides. This is because NAEC wants to work with you and join together with you in a community of child care centers offering the best in care for our children and families!