Trainer Criteria Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Reviewed/Updated September 2025

A trainer qualification and approval criteria process was developed in 2017 as part of the statewide training and trainer approval system. Since that time, all individuals wishing to deliver Registry-approved training to the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) community in Nevada are subject to the requirements and are required to apply to qualify as an approved trainer, regardless of whether they were registered as a trainer with The Nevada Registry prior to 2017.

This FAQ page has been created to answer some of the most frequently asked questions related to trainer approval. Additional questions and answers will be added to this page as they arise.

For your reference:

This page has been broken down into four sections to help you easily find the answers to the questions you may have regarding the Trainer Qualification and Approval Criteria.

Section 1: General Trainer Criteria/Approval Questions

When did trainer criteria go into effect?

The Nevada Registry’s training approval system was created in 2004. Training sessions were approved primarily on the content of the training, not the qualifications of the trainer. Trainer qualification and approval criteria requirements went into effect on January 9, 2017.

What does the application process entail and when should trainers apply?

The Nevada Registry accepts new trainer qualification applications year-round. To be eligible to apply for trainer approval, specific criteria must be met as stated within the Trainer Qualification and Approval Criteria pages linked above. Once eligibility criteria has been met, individuals are required to complete a trainer qualification application.

Where does a person with specific content knowledge in a Core Knowledge Area (CKA) fit? Is there a way to qualify as a Topic Trainer in one CKA?

Individuals are not approved to train in specific Core Knowledge Areas (CKA). Rather, Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Trainers qualify to provide training in any of the 8 CKA, not limited to specific topics. Topic Trainers qualify in specific topics based on their certifications and are limited to train in those topics only, regardless of CKA.

Trainers are required to present documented evidence of at least 15 hours of previous experience delivering training to adult learners. What previous training delivery experience counts?

This requirement can be met in any of the following ways (verification required):

Delivery of 15 or more hours of Registry-approved training prior to 2017;
Documented evidence of completion of The Nevada Registry-approved Adult Learning Academy (ALA certificate of completion);
Documented evidence of completion of a course specific to adult learning principles accepted by The Nevada Registry;
Documented coaching hours completed as an approved QRIS Coach (i.e., formal verification of coaching hours as documented in QRIS database);
Documented evidence of experience as an instructor of higher education (i.e., course syllabus with name listed);
Documented trainer Approval status from another state’s Registry (i.e., trainer approval certificate/other documentation); or
Documented training delivery experience as a trainer with a recognized ECEC organization (i.e., proof of employment and training attendance records verifying 15 or more hours of delivered training).

What qualifies as “documented evidence of at least 15 hours of previous experience delivering training to adult learners”? Does Registry-approved training delivered in partnership with other registered trainers in the past qualify?

Documented Registry-approved training delivered in the past will be used to verify whether an individual meets this requirement, regardless of whether that training was provided by an individual or in partnership with other registered trainers. Individuals who do not possess the required number of hours necessary to meet the requirement within their own trainer account will be asked to provide the name/organization for which they provided training with (if applicable) and/or be encouraged to meet the requirement in one of the alternative ways listed on the trainer criteria pages referenced above.

Each trainer is assigned a type and a category. What is the difference?

Before a trainer type is assigned, an individual’s trainer category is determined based on their training delivery intent, the frequency that training will be delivered, whether they are being sponsored by a center/organization and whether they represent a national organization recognized by The National Workforce Registry Alliance or other recognized organization included on the Professional Development Acceptance Guidelines page of The Nevada Registry’s website. An individual’s type determines the content they can provide, whereas an individual’s trainer category determines their initial application/renewal requirements, regardless of their assigned trainer type. Seven trainer categories have been defined and are outlined in the ECEC and Topic Trainer criteria.

Section 2: Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Trainer-Related Questions

Does a person who qualifies as an ECEC Trainer have restrictions on what topic(s) they can teach? For example, can ECEC Trainers who have completed the Train the Trainer courses for Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) and Sudden Infant Syndrome (SIDS) still deliver those training topics?

ECEC Trainers are not limited by training topic and are approved to provide training in any of the eight Core Knowledge Areas (CKA), including CA/N and SIDS if they have completed the Train the Trainer courses (other topics such as ‘Love and Logic’, ‘TACSEI’, etc. also require instructor certification). The only restriction to the topics ECEC Trainers can provide is regarding medically-related topics requiring specific certification and/or expertise as prescribed by State Child Care Licensing requirements (i.e., CPR, Signs and Symptoms of Illness, etc.).

Do the initial requirements to qualify as an approved ECEC Trainer differ based on Career Ladder level?

All individuals are subject to the same requirements to initially qualify as an approved ECEC Trainer, regardless of Career Ladder level. In other words, all individuals must meet or exceed the minimum qualification criteria for education (associate degree or higher), possess 4,000+ hours of direct experience working with young children, and present at least 15 hours of previous qualifying experience delivering training to adult learners.

ECEC Trainers are required to possess 4,000+ hours of direct experience to qualify. How is “direct experience” defined?

Direct experience is defined as experience working directly with children in a child care setting and includes all of the direct service positions listed on The Nevada Registry Membership Application (Director, Assistant Director, Teacher, Assistant Teacher, Floater/Substitute/Breaker, School District PreK and K-3rd Grade Teacher/Special Education Teacher, Before/After School Teacher, Licensed Family Child Care/Group Home Provider, Registered Family, Friend and Neighbor, Unlicensed Kith & Kin Providers, and Early Intervention Providers).

Section 3: Topic Trainer-Related Questions

What topics can Topic Trainers deliver training on?

The Nevada Registry has not created a prescribed list of topics for which a Topic Trainer can apply to qualify. Instead, the topics an individual qualifying as a Topic Trainer will be approved to deliver training in is determined by and based on, the documentation collected through the application process. For example, if an individual submits a copy of their nursing license, they would be approved to train on specific health-related topics. If this was the only certification provided at the time of application, that would be the only topic they would be able to deliver Registry-approved training on, as a Topic Trainer.

Topic Trainers are required to possess a current, official and verifiable license, certification or degree from outside the field of ECEC specific to their area(s) of specialization. What qualifies as a certification and what form of documentation is required?

Certification is defined as a formal procedure by which an accredited or authorized person or agency assesses and verifies (and attests in writing by issuing a certificate) the attributes, characteristics, qualification, etc. of an individual in accordance with established requirements or standards. Certification in a given area of study means that the individual has undergone examination by some form of governing body or professional association that is willing to ensure a candidate’s competence in the given field of knowledge. In most cases, a certificate is issued for a set duration of time, at which time the candidate must recertify with the same governing body. For the purposes of trainer approval, to be considered a “certification”, the following criteria must be met:

Must be verifiable through the issuing entity;
Must be current at the time of application;
Must have included a demonstration of knowledge and skill;
Must include some level of continuing education requirements to recertify;
Must be issued for a specific duration of certification; recertification is required

Train the Trainer certificates previously issued for Child Abuse and Neglect and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome do not meet the definition of certification and therefore will not be accepted to meet these criteria for Topic Trainers.

Many Topic Trainers are already required to complete continuing education units (CEUs) in order to maintain their license/certification. Can that training be accepted to meet the 15 hours of continuing education necessary to requalify/renew as an approved trainer?

The hours required to maintain professional licensure can be used to satisfy the continuing education requirement when aligned with approved topics. The specific requirements for the type of training that is required and/or accepted to meet the continuing education requirements for trainer requalification/renewal is outlined here.

Section 4: Trainer Renewal Requirements

How will I know if I have met the requirement to complete 15 hours of continuing education?

Trainers are required to complete 15 hours of continuing education annually to be eligible to renew their approved trainer status for the next 12-month qualification period. The specific requirements for the type of training that is required and/or accepted to meet this requirement is outlined on the Trainer Renewal Requirements page of The Nevada Registry’s website. Trainers can check their progress toward meeting the criteria by reviewing the ‘Trainer Eligibility Renewal Status’ tab within their portal.

Why are approved trainers required to renew annually? It seems unnecessary since The Nevada Registry will know whether a trainer has delivered the required number of training sessions.

In addition to verifying the required number of training sessions delivered (on file with The Nevada Registry), The Nevada Registry also verifies the required number of continuing education hours have been met and that a current Trainer Agreement has been signed. Trainers may also submit documentation to support the addition of approved training topics at this time.

Does an individual’s trainer approval status expire at the same time as their membership with The Nevada Registry? How will approved trainers know when to renew?

The qualification process to become an approved trainer is separate from the membership application and renewal process for members. While Nevada Registry membership coincides with an individual’s application/renewal processing date and can expire during any month in a given year, approved trainers are required to renew on an annual basis, in conjunction with their unique qualification period expiration date that is one year from the date of their trainer approval/renewal. For instance, an individual’s membership with The Nevada Registry may expire in June, but their trainer approval status expires in January, regardless of the expiration date listed on their membership Certificate of Achievement. Trainers may view their trainer approval expiration date within the ‘My Trainer Profile’ section of their trainer account, on their Certificate of Trainer Approval and/or within their ‘Trainer Renewal Eligibility Status’ tab.

How do I upload my continuing education documents? How will I know when they have been received?

To upload your continuing education documents, login to your Online Portal and click on the ‘My Trainer Account’ tab. Click on the ‘Upload Button’ within the blue ‘Trainer Renewal Eligibility Status’ tab. A new window will pop-up allowing you to attach and upload your documents. Once you upload your documents, you will receive an email confirmation within 1-2 business days regarding the status of your continuing education.

I submitted documents verify completion of 15 hours of annual continuing education hours but the requirement still shows as ‘partially met’ rather than ‘fully met’. Why?

Each trainer must complete 15 hours of continuing education training/professional development and/or college coursework related to their approved training topics/expertise within each qualification period. There are several reasons completed continuing education you uploaded may not be reflected in the total hours of continuing education completed:

The continuing education was completed outside (before or after) your unique expiration date.
The continuing education was already on file and applied to your account.
The continuing education was not related to your approved training topics.

I’ve met the trainer renewal criteria in full before my trainer expiration date. Can I renew now?

Trainers fully meeting the trainer renewal requirements early will be eligible to renew their trainer approval status up to 45 days prior to their trainer expiration date. When eligible to renew, the trainer renewal application will be available within the trainer’s Online Portal account.

What if I do not meet the trainer renewal criteria by my trainer approval expiration date?

Trainers who DO NOT fully meet the annual trainer renewal requirements by their unique trainer expiration date will not be eligible to renew their trainer approval status for a period of one year***. Trainers not meeting the requirements for a second time will not be eligible to reinstate their trainer approval status.

***Trainers failing to meet the annual trainer renewal requirements by their unique trainer expiration date have the option to pay a $250 reinstatement fee to waive the twelve-month waiting period.