Welcome to the Certificate of Achievement and Stipend Program! This program is designed to recognize and reward early childhood professionals for their dedication and commitment to professional development. Our goal is to support your growth and enhance the quality of early childhood education.
As of today, we are currently processing applications submitted on 11/20/2024.
Eligibility and Requirements
To participate in the Certificate of Achievement and Stipend Program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Employment Duration: You must have been employed at your current facility for at least the last 6 consecutive months.
- Note: Time during extended breaks where children are not present (e.g., summer break) or any personal leave longer than 2 weeks will not be counted towards this 6-month period.
- Professional Development: Complete 30 hours of approved courses in the area of concentration you are applying for, or obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in one of the following areas:
- Infant/Toddler
- Preschool
- Family Child Care
- Note: CDA credentials are only applicable to the specific area of concentration for which they are awarded (e.g., Infant/Toddler CDA is only valid for the Infant/Toddler concentration).
- Facility Requirements:
- Work in a DHS licensed facility with a K8 number.
- Centers must have a Level 2 or higher Star rating.
- Family Child Care Homes must have a Level 1 or higher Star rating.
- Work Hours:
- Teachers and Family Child Care Home Assistants: Must work at least 30 hours per week in the classroom.
- Directors, Assistant Directors, and Family Child Care Home Owners: Must work at least 30 hours per week in the facility.
- Employment Status: Applicants must be employed at the time of processing to be eligible for the stipend.
- Professional Development Registry: Applicants must have an account in the Oklahoma Professional Development Registry.
- Eligible Positions:
- Teacher
- Assistant Teacher
- Master Teacher
- Probationary Master Teacher
- School-Age Teacher
- School-Age Assistant Teacher
- Substitute (must be in the classroom at least 30 hours per week)
- Large Family Child Care Provider
- Family Child Care Home Provider
- Family Child Care Home Assistant
- Center Director
- Assistant Director
- School-Age Center Director
- Curriculum Coordinator
Application Process
Submit Your Application:
- How to Apply: You can apply either on paper or online through your OK Registry page. Visit the “How to Apply” tab for forms and instructions.
- Required Documents: Include the Initial Employment Verification form and your latest pay stub. Download the Initial Employment Verification form from the “Forms” tab. If you do not receive pay stubs, email us at cecpdaward@ou.edu for assistance. Owners do not need to submit a pay stub.
- Processing Time: Applications are processed within 30 business days from the date of submission.
- Note: Applications submitted from mid-October to December may count towards the next calendar year due to processing times and holiday closures.
Review Process:
- A staff member will review your application to ensure eligibility.
- They will check that you have:
- Submitted all required supporting documents.
- Met the training hours or CDA requirements for your chosen area.
- Not received a stipend in this area before.
- Met all employment and facility requirements.
Application Decision:
- You will receive an email with the approval or denial decision at the email address associated with your OK Registry account.
Payment Set Up After Approval:
- If you are not set up for payments or need to update your name/address, you will be asked in the approval email to submit an Individual Supplier Registration form within 30 days of approval.
- Processing Time: Setting up payments with OU Financial Services can take up to 21 days after the Individual Supplier Registration form has been submitted.
- Example: If an acceptable Individual Supplier Registration form is received by us 30 days after approval, it could take an additional 21 days to set up the payment. This means the total processing time from the date of approval could be up to 51 days. Please ensure the form is filled out exactly as established in the included directions from OU Financial Services to avoid any delays.
Payment Request:
- A check request will be made once your application is approved or after your Individual Supplier Registration form is processed.
- A note will be added to your OK Registry account, and an email will be sent when your check has been requested.
- Processing and Delivery Time: It will take 3-5 weeks from the date of the check request to receive your stipend due to processing and delivery times.
Processing Times
Expected Timelines for Application Review and Stipend Disbursement:
- Application Review:
- Initial Review: 2-3 weeks
- Verification of Documents: 1-2 weeks
- Total Review Time: Up to 30 business days (approximately 6 weeks)
- Payment Set Up:
- Individual Supplier Registration Form Submission Time: Up to 30 days (if the applicant takes the full time)
- Processing Time: Up to 21 days after the form is submitted
- Payment Request and Delivery:
- Processing and Delivery Time: 3-5 weeks
Stipend Details
Information on stipend amounts, limits, and how they are awarded:
- Stipend Amount: Each stipend is $600.
- Annual Limit: You can apply for up to 2 stipends per calendar year.
- Note: Applications submitted from mid-October to December may count towards the next year due to processing times and holiday closures.
- Lifetime Limit: You are eligible to receive only one stipend per area of concentration for the lifetime of the program.
- One Active Application: Only one application can be active at a time. Any open applications must be closed before starting a new one.
- Award Method: Stipends are awarded by paper check or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
- Note: The first stipend is typically issued as a paper check. The option to switch to EFT will be provided on the Individual Supplier Registration form. EFT is set up with the State, and they will contact you at the email address you provided for further setup.
Areas of Concentration:
Our program offers certificates in the following areas of concentration:
- Approaches to Challenging Behavior
- Better Business in Family Child Care
- Childhood Resiliency
- Creating Effective Literacy Environments
- Cultivating Growth and Well-Being
- Healthy Children
- Infant and Toddler
- Preschool
- Quality Child Care
- School Age
Important Information
Training Hours:
- Training Record Updates: Your training record is not updated by submitted certificates. Training sponsors must update your record within 10 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) of course completion.
- Recommendation: Ensure all completed hours are reflected on your training record before applying.
- Action Required: If training is not added by the 10th business day, contact the training sponsor to update your record.
- CECPDonline Courses: CECPD is not the training sponsor for CECPDonline. For issues with courses on that website, contact Thermacube directly at (877) 710-5158 or email at support@cecpdonline.org.
Name/Address Changes:
- Address Changes: Update your address on both your OK Registry account and with OU Financial Services. Email your full name, new address, and the last 4 digits of your SSN to stipendandwage@ou.edu to update your address in both accounts.
- Legal Name Changes: Submit a new Individual Supplier Registration form for any legal name changes.
Got Questions or Inquiries?
Self-Help Resources:
- FAQs: Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for quick answers to common questions.
- How-To Guides: Visit our How-To Guides section for step-by-step instructions on various processes.
- Forms and Documents: Access all necessary forms and documents in our Forms section.
Email: Drop us a line at cecpdaward@ou.edu with any questions or concerns you may have. Our team is committed to providing timely and thorough responses to all inquiries.
Phone Calls: Give us a call at 405-799-6383 or toll-free at 888-446-7608. Please note - you will need to leave a detailed voicemail with your name, Registry ID, and question/concern. This will allow us to direct inquires to the appropriate program or department, ensuring that you receive the best assistance possible. Due to the volume of calls we receive, we kindly ask that you reach out via email for the fastest response.
Thank you for choosing to connect with us. We look forward to hearing from you!