Reviewed/Updated June 2025
To initially qualify as an approved trainer in the Generalist, Out of State and Corporate trainer categories, individuals must present evidence of having previously delivered a minimum of 15 hours of training (in addition to meeting all other criteria). Individuals who do not meet these criteria in full cannot proceed with the trainer qualification and application process, regardless of whether all other criteria have been met. The Adult Learning Academy (ALA or “the Academy”) is the pathway available through The Nevada Registry’s training approval system (TAS) to help individuals interested in becoming approved trainers obtain the training delivery hours needed to initially qualify. Additionally, the ALA is designed to increase the number of publicly offered training sessions available to Early Childhood educators in Nevada. Therefore, the ALA is not designed for individuals whose primary focus or intent is to deliver in-house training to their own staff. This page outlines the selection process, program requirements, qualification requirements and benefits of the Adult Learning Academy.
Description
The Nevada Registry partners with the University of Nevada Reno, Extension to offer the Adult Learning Academy a minimum of one time per year (two times if funding is available). It is a classroom-style training session designed to help prepare individuals with less than 15 hours of previous training experience to qualify as trainers for the first time.
The ALA is focused on adult learning and provides prospective trainers with fundamental principles and foundational information to help support the delivery of high-quality training sessions. Additionally, the ALA provides an opportunity for participants to develop effective presentation skills through the development and delivery of a one-hour presentation with peer-to-peer feedback. Each Academy is delivered by Registry-approved trainers from the University of Nevada Reno, Extension.
Academy participants are selected through an application process. To ensure the highest level of effectiveness and participant engagement, registration to the Academy is limited to no more than twelve attendees per training. A minimum of eight attendees is required for the Academy to be offered. While the Academy is open to both Early Childhood and Topic Trainers, priority is given to those working in Early Childhood and to those who commit to deliver training to the general Early Childhood public. Generally, multiple individuals from the same place of employment will not be selected for the Academy (per the discretion of The Nevada Registry). Participation in the Adult Learning Academy is voluntary. If selected to participate, neither instructors nor participants are considered employees of The Nevada Registry.
Program Requirements
The Adult Learning Academy consists of 30 hours of virtual classroom instruction and training delivery that occurs over the course of twelve weeks. Additional independent study and prep time is required each week to complete assignments in between classes. Familiarity with technology, including Power Point, is essential. Hours completed by the participant as part of the ALA can be applied toward the annual training requirements of Child Care Licensing (if applicable); however, individuals must complete all components of the ALA program to be eligible to apply for trainer approval.
The ALA is divided into two sections:
- Section I: Theory and Design
This section consists of 20 classroom hours related to adult learning principles theory and training design. Classes are held for 2.5 hours per week for eight consecutive weeks. - Section II: Training Delivery/Demonstration
This section consists of 10 classroom hours focused on the delivery and presentation of the training developed in Section I. Classes are held for two and a half hours per week for four consecutive weeks.
Participants must complete both sections to be eligible to apply for trainer approval. The full 30 hours of training is required regardless of whether an individual already possesses a portion of the 15 hours of previous training delivery experience needed to qualify.
The cost to participate in the Academy is $125 per person*, which is paid directly to the University of Nevada Reno, Extension upon selection to the program two weeks prior to the first class. Invoices will be provided at the time of selection. Individuals who have not paid in full prior to the first class will not be permitted to attend the Academy and their spot will be given to the next qualified applicant on the list. Registration fees are non-refundable.
*Scholarships may be provided by The Nevada Registry to offset the cost for participants (dependent on funding).
Participant Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for participation in the Adult Learning Academy, an individual must:
- Submit an ALA Participant Interest Application;
- Accept the Academy Participant Agreement;
- Be an active member of The Nevada Registry (required if applying for ECE Trainer approval);
- Early Childhood Trainer Candidates: Possess a Level 4.2, 5.2, 6.2 or 7.2 on the Career Ladder (associate degree or higher with two years of direct ECE experience); Topic Trainer Candidates: Possess an associate degree or higher with a current license, certification or credential relevant to the desired training topics to be delivered;
- Participate in a one-hour orientation prior to first day of class (required); and
- Complete additional required pre-training orientation activities and post-training requirements as applicable.
Participant Evaluation
Participation in/completion of the Adult Learning Academy does not guarantee eligibility for trainer approval. Each ALA participant is evaluated at the end of each section of the Academy using a standardized rubric based on the established Standards of Quality (outlined in The Nevada Registry Training and Professional Development Quality Assurance System) and must receive a 3.5 or higher rating (on a five-point Likert scale). Participants scoring below 3.5 on their evaluation at the end of Section I may not be eligible to continue to Section II (determination made on a case-by-case basis). Participants scoring below 3.5 on their evaluation at the end of Section II will be provided with resources and suggestions for further growth and development and may not be eligible to apply for trainer approval until additional training is completed. Evaluation results and recommendations may also be shared with each participant’s direct supervisor (if sponsored by employer). Individuals may also be required to retake the ALA to receive an acceptable evaluation score of 3.5 or higher prior to being eligible to apply for trainer approval in the future.
Academy/Course Evaluation
An online ALA course evaluation is sent to each participant following the completion of the ALA to solicit feedback about the course. This feedback is used to determine what is working well in the Academy and where improvements can be made to enhance the effectiveness and participants’ experience. Survey responses are anonymous, reviewed independently from individual’s evaluation results and are not factored into trainer approval eligibility decisions.
Expectations
Because the intent of the ALA is to increase the number of publicly offered training sessions available to Early Childhood professionals, graduates who have received a 3.5 or higher are expected to apply to become approved trainers with The Nevada Registry and begin delivering Registry-approved training within two months of completion of the Academy. At a minimum, ALA graduates are expected to deliver at least two of the four required training sessions during their first trainer qualification period to the general ECE public (four training sessions must be held on four separate days throughout the 12-month qualification period). Individuals who do not meet the requirements by the end of the qualification year are not eligible to renew their trainer approval status for a period of 12 months.
Benefits
All graduates of the Adult Learning Academy will receive the following benefits (subject to change based on funding and resources available to The Nevada Registry):
- Receive a copy of Lose the Lecture: Engaging Approaches to Early Childhood Professional Learning by Teresa A. Byington, PhD.;
- Receive 20 hours of Registry-approved training hours at the conclusion of Section I and 10 hours of Registry-approved training hours at the conclusion of Section II for a total of 30 hours (if successfully completing both sections). These hours can be applied toward annual training requirements for Child Care Licensing (if applicable) and used as documentation for initial trainer approval;
- Eligibility to apply for trainer approval with The Nevada Registry upon successful completion (if minimum evaluation score is achieved);
- The requirement to complete a 2-hour online training; PROF105: Adult Learning: Theories and Strategies for Trainers, Coaches and Directors offered by the ChildCare Education Institute to initially qualify is waived;
- The requirement to complete 15 hours of continuing education required for trainer renewal with The Nevada Registry will be waived in year one; and
- Trainer Resource package (books, etc.) from The Nevada Registry.
This document may undergo periodic review and revision.