PACE – Provider Access to a Community Equivalent

PACE (Provider Access to a Community Equivalent) is a community-based training series that meets the licensing staff qualifications for Family Home Licensees, Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers.  It is designed to provide content and knowledge equivalent to the WA State Initial and Short Certificates.

Check out the PACE Program Overview and Factsheet to learn more!

Use these questions and answers to help determine if PACE is the right pathway for you:

  • Is my current role eligible for PACE?
    • PACE is available for early learning roles that need the Washington State ECE Initial or Short Certificate for their licensing role. This includes Family Home Licensees, Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers.
    • PACE is not eligible to meet the ECEAP Performance Standards or Early Achievers Professional Development points.
  • Have I already completed some higher education or credentialing?
    • If you answered no, PACE might be the right option for you! PACE aims to provide similar content and knowledge to the WA State Initial and Short Certificates through flexible training series that lets you complete one small task at a time.
    • If you answered yes, then another equivalent pathway may be a better option for you. Visit the Alternative Credentials webpage to learn more about how your education may help you meet your roles staff qualifications.
  • What are my long-term goals?
    Are you interested in continuing your professional learning past the Initial and Short Certificates?
    • COMING SOON! DCYF is establishing how you can continue your certificate pathway in college once you complete PACE.

PACE is a training series that builds on already required trainings (like Child Care Basics) and your work hours. It includes both training modules and on-the-job learning.

Check out the PACE Program Overview to learn more.

  1. Child Care Basics
  2. Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (Year 1 and 2)
  3. Part 1: The Field of Care and Education (ECE)
    • Reflective Teaching Module
    • ECE Then and Now Module
    • The Early Learning Profession Module
  4. Part 2: Supporting Child Development and Wellness
    • Child Development Module
    • Children & Families Module
    • Child Wellness Module
  1. Child Care Basics
  2. Enhancing Quality of Early Learning (Year 1 and 2)
  3. Part 1: The Field of Care and Education (ECE)
    • Reflective Teaching Module
    • ECE Then and Now Module
    • The Early Learning Profession Module
  4. Part 2: Supporting Child Development and Wellness
    • Child Development Module
    • Children & Families Module
    • Child Wellness Module
  5. Part 3: Coming in 2023!
  6. Part 4: Coming in 2024!

To complete PACE, use the PACE Completion Checklist as you follow these steps:

Step 1: Ensure that you have active employment in an eligible role recorded in MERIT.
  • For step-by-step instructions on how to add or update your employment information in MERIT, please visit the MERIT Workforce Registry.
Step 2: Update the Job Role Education status bar on your MERIT Dashboard to “I am interested in PACE, the community based training.”
  • Your Dashboard is the landing page you come to after signing into your MERIT account.
  • Click on the individual status bars on your dashboard to view more details and make selections.
  • Only those in an eligible role will have the PACE option available on their Dashboard.
Step 3: Complete Child Care Basics and EQEL Year 1 and Year 2 trainings.
Step 4: Use the Find Training tool in MERIT to search for available PACE training modules. 
  • Use the PACE Checklist to help guide you on your next steps and track your completion!
  • Complete Child Care Basics and EQEL trainings.
  • Enter PACE into the search fields to look up all available trainings.

NOTE: Watch for PACE Parts 3 and 4 in the future to complete PACE through the Short Certificate.

PACE Training Pilot

DCYF conducted a pilot for this equivalent option that concluded in June 2021.