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Applying to the Registry for Career Ladder Placement

Membership with The Nevada Registry is open to all Early Care and Education (ECE) professionals regardless of role or setting. This includes anyone working with children and families (both directly and indirectly) in a variety of settings (Center-Based, Family Child Care, Head Start, State-Funded Pre-K, Tribal Child Care, Out-of-School, etc.) and applies to professionals who are new to the field as much as to those who have served children and families for many years. Membership with The Nevada Registry is free of charge.

Becoming a Member for the First Time

Complete the Membership Application the first time you apply to The Nevada Registry for Career Ladder placement. After your application is processed, you will access your membership certificate from within your Online Portal. Your certificate will include your level on the Career Ladder* based on your documented formal education and experience (up to 4000 hours) and will be valid for one year. Use the Membership Application and Career Ladder Placement Checklist  as a guide to ensure that your application is complete when submitted (incomplete applications will be recycled after a specified period of time).

*Though considered active members of The Nevada Registry and in compliance with Child Care Licensing regulations for mandatory participation (if applicable), members with fewer than 1000 hours of direct service experience at the time of application are considered “Pre-Level” and will  not be issued a Career Ladder level on their certificate. 

Career Development Files

When you join The Nevada Registry, a confidential Career Development File is created on your behalf. Your Career Development File* contains:

  • Personal information from your initial Membership Application (home address, etc.)
  • A record of your current and previous employment
  • Copies of the initial training requirements required by Child Care Licensing such as Signs and Symptoms of Illness, CPR, etc. (applicable to anyone working in a licensed child care setting). Click here for more information.
  • Copies of training certificates received for informal, non-college training sessions taken (i.e. the training that is required by licensing on an annual basis). The Nevada Registry verifies and saves formal education and training as far back as possible. Submit all of the training certificates you have accumulated throughout your entire career for the most complete record of your professional development.
  • Copies of formal education records (high school diploma/GED, college and university course transcripts and/or degrees earned)
  • Copies of any ECE licenses, teaching certificates or endorsements received
  • Copies of any other miscellaneous documentation provided at time of application (resumes, letters of recommendation, etc.)
  • Current level on the Nevada Early Care and Education Professional Career Ladder

Questions? Go to Career Ladder FAQs to find answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding the application process.

* One of the primary purposes of The Nevada Registry is to help collect valuable data about the ECE workforce in Nevada. It is important to note that none of the information collected through the application/renewal process (i.e., the information contained in your Career Development File) is ever disclosed with any identifiable information attached. Any data that The Nevada Registry publishes is combined in order to report on large groups of people, rather than on any individual member. This and ALL other information contained in your Career Development File is confidential. View our Program Statistics page to see how the data collected by The Nevada Registry is reported.