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Preschool Credential

Preschool-age children are at a pivotal stage of development — curious, social, and growing rapidly in language, cognition, and self-regulation. Teaching and caring for this age group is a specialized practice, and the Maine Preschool Credential is how Maine formally recognizes that expertise.This credential is for practitioners working with children ages three through five in any licensed setting — child care centers, public pre-k programs, family child care, or other early care environments. It documents your knowledge and skill across seven competency areas specific to preschool-age care and education.

The credential is built around seven competency areas:

  • Preschool growth and development
  • Health, safety, and nutrition
  • Relationships with children
  • Relationships with families
  • Observation and assessment
  • Curriculum and approaches to learning
  • Professionalism
  • Designing Early Learning: Curriculum and Assessment in Preschool — 30 hours
  • Foundations of Health, Wellness, and Safety — 18 hours
  • Inclusion: Laws and Practices (On-Demand) — 6 hours
  • Positive Supports and Challenging Behavior — 15 hours
  • Partners in Caring: Families and Caregivers — 15 hours
  • Your Professional Development Portfolio — 9 hours
  • Choose one pathway:
  • MELDS (online facilitated) — 30 hours, OR: Preschool Maine's Early Learning Development Standards / P-MELDS (8 hours) AND Early Childhood Education: Theory to Practice (9 hours) AND Social and Emotional Learning Birth to 5 (18 hours)

Note on MELDS: In 2024 the 30-hour MELDS training was phased out and replaced with the updated 8-hour on-demand P-MELDS training. Applicants who completed MELDS within ten years of their application date will meet the requirement. Applicants who completed P-MELDS will also need to complete Early Childhood Education: Theory to Practice and Social Emotional Learning Birth to Age 5.If you completed required training more than ten years ago or have comparable training from another source, you may apply for an alternative pathway.

Before applying, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Active membership in the Maine Roads to Quality Registry
  • High school diploma, GED, or HiSet
  • At least 480 hours of documented experience working or volunteering with preschool-age children (ages 3-5) within the past five years
  • Completion of a minimum of 99 hours of required MRTQ PDN Core Knowledge training within ten years of your application date

If approved, your credential is valid for three years. Renewal requires 45 contact hours of relevant training OR a 3.0 credit college course. Initial credentials renew after three years; subsequent renewals every five years.

  • January 15 — notified by February 28
  • April 15 — notified by May 31
  • July 15 — notified by August 31
  • October 15 — notified by November 30

Questions?

Contact our credentialing team at mrtq.credentials@maine.edu or 1-888-900-0055.