Are you looking for Washington MERIT hours for your annual training? If so, Care Courses offers excellent distance-learning courses for completing your required Washington STARS hours.
Washington’s State Training and Registry System (STARS) / Merit
Washington’s State Training and Registry System (STARS) records all employment, training, and educational histories for early childhood professionals in the state. Run by Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), STARS – also referred to as the MERIT registry – is a great tool for learning valuable information about childcare. It can also help you locate relevant training opportunities.
Additionally, early childhood professionals in Washington State must complete STARS/MERIT approved continuing education. Providers in Washington who have been cumulatively working in child care for 12 months must complete 10 hours of annual STARS hours training each year. This requirement ensures that child care providers in Washington State are continually enhancing and improving their own skills.
Worried about completing your STARS hours on time? Look no further than Care Courses.
All Care Courses are approved through Washington STARS for continuing education clock hours. Our continuing education courses can be used for early childcare professionals who work in child care centers, family home child care programs, and school-age child care programs. Care Courses is for directors, volunteers, assistants, teachers, and everyone in between! To see our STARS hours approved courses, please visit MERIT’s website. Care Courses is found using the organization search.
When you create your Care Courses account, make sure to add your Washington state MERIT Registry ID number to your Care Courses account under the Info area of your account. We will report your training to the registry.
Opening a center or home-based child care facility in Washington
Are you interested in starting a day care or home-based child care facility in Washington State? Please contact your state licensing agency first using the contact information on our Washington State training page. Washington DCYF will give you advice on the requirements, rules and regulations for starting a child care program.
Care Courses Support
Questions about Washington’s training requirements? Please let us know how we can be of additional assistance! Call us: 1–800-685‑7610, Monday through Friday, 9–5 ET, or email us days, evenings and weekends: info@CareCourses.com. We’re here to help!