Alaska Relationship-Based Professional Development (RBPD) Specialist Credential

A Relationship-Based Professional Development (RBPD) Specialist provides technical assistance, consultation, and coaching to early childhood and school-age professionals to help them thrive in their careers. This credential ensures RBPD Specialists have the knowledge and skills to offer guidance, encouragement, and tailored support to educators to help improve the quality of early care and learning in Alaska.

Alaska’s Four-Tiered RBPD Credential System

Alaska’s four-tiered RBPD Credential System is designed to help individuals progress in their careers while strengthening the overall quality of early childhood and school-age education across the state. The four tiers are progressive, meaning applicants must complete the first before moving to the next. The system includes the following levels:

RBPD I: Technical Assistant Specialist

Entry-level role focusing on providing technical assistance to early childhood and school-age educators.

RBPD II: Consultation Specialist

A higher level that involves offering in-depth consultation services, helping professionals improve their practice through feedback and advice.

RBPD III A: Practitioner/Teacher Coach

This role involves hands-on coaching and mentoring to support teachers in the classroom, promote best practices, and improve teaching effectiveness.

RBPD III B: Program/Administration Coach

The highest level focused on working with programs and organizations to improve overall systems, strategies, and structures to support teachers and staff.

One-Time Funding and Supports to Jump-Start Your RBPD Credentialing Efforts

Alaska SEED will begin accepting applications for RBPD I – III in September 2025. Get started now with one-time funding and support to help you pursue the RBPD Specialist Credential. These supports are available from November 2024 to November 2025 and include several key opportunities:

Monthly Peer-to-Peer Group

This is a recurring opportunity to connect with fellow RBPD professionals, share case presentations, and engage in reflective facilitation to support your coaching skills and competencies. You’ll also have the chance to earn mentor coaching hours.

When: First Tuesday of each month, starting November 5, 2024
Time: 12 – 1 pm Alaska Time

REGISTER IN ADVANCE

Monthly RBPD Credential Open Office Hours

This is an opportunity to receive personalized assistance with assessing your progress toward meeting RBPD criteria and understanding the credentialing process.

When: Third Friday of each month, starting February 2025
Time: 12 – 1 pm Alaska Time
Meeting ID: 853 7027 4604
Passcode: 394589

JOIN HERE

Free Training

Various training opportunities will be available to support your RBPD coaching skills and early childhood content knowledge. Be sure to check the RBPD Coaching and Early Childhood (EC) Content Training Description Document for more information.

TRAININGS
Timeline for One-Time Funding and Supports:
  • September 2025: RBPD Specialists may begin submitting their RBPD credential applications.
  • November 2025: Alaska SEED will evaluate applications and assign RBPD credentials.
  • November 15 – December 15, 2025: Alaska SEED will issue RBPD stipends, ranging from $500 to $1,500 based on your RBPD level and the number of applicants.

After December 2025, the RBPD credentialing process will remain available, but funding and monthly peer-to-peer groups will depend on securing individual funding.

Resources

These resources are designed to support you through each stage of the RBPD credentialing process and provide you with the tools you need to succeed.

Accepting Applications in September 2025

Expand the sections below to learn about the eligibility and requirements for each RBPD Specialist level and to access each application form. For questions about the RBPD credentialing process, please contact Meghan Johnson directly at mjohnson@threadalaska.org or 907.265.3104.

RBPD I: Technical Assistant Specialist
Tier I Roles

The RBPD I Specialist provides targeted support for instruction and guidance on best practices for early childhood education.

Tier I Responsibilities

Provide support and guidance to practitioners around foundational Tier I/promotional early childhood education (ECE) best practices. Support implementation of ECE program expectations, policies, and procedures.

Types of support may include:

  • Provide resources
  • Model teaching strategies 
  • Identify and support actionable objectives
  • Review data
  • Side by side hands-on support
  • Co-planning
  • Recommend training(s), observation, and feedback
Tier I Required Education & Experience
  • At minimum Alaska SEED Level 7
  • 2 years of early childhood experience
  • Required Trainings:
    • Coaching 101/Introduction to Coaching (2 hour minimum)
    • Implicit Bias (2 hour minimum)
    • Culturally Responsive Practices (2 hour minimum)
    • Utilizing Adult-Learning Theory to Cultivate Positive Coaching Relationships (offered via ProSolutions)
    • Introduction to Pyramid Model
    • Introduction to Strengthening Families
    • Introduction to Alaska Early Childhood Core Knowledge & Competencies
    • Introduction to Alaska Early Learning Guidelines
Required Documentation

The following documents will be required to complete this application:

  • Any & all certificates related to coaching and ECE training that are not already uploaded to your Alaska SEED Registry profile. These certificates must contain the following:
    • training hours 
    • training title 
    • training organization 
    • official signature or seal from training entity
  • Two professional letters of recommendation supporting your role as a RBPD specialist.
  • Professional development plan. 
  • Log of RBPD contact/coaching provided in the last 12 months.
  • Log of RBPD mentor coaching/reflective supervision received in the last 12 months.
  • RBPD competencies self-assessment (see Resources section above).
  • Applicant MUST be active/current in the Alaska SEED Registry to be eligible to apply.

Note: You must complete RBPD I to move onto RBPD II or III.

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Applications being

RBPD II: Consultation Specialist
Tier II Roles

The RBPD II Specialist utilizes coaching strategies to create a collaborative partnership that supports reflective problem solving.

Tier II Responsibilities

Provide collaborative, reflective support and guidance to practitioners around Tier I/Promotional & Tier II/Prevention ECE best practices.

Types of support may include:

  • Conduct informal focused observations of practitioner practices
  • Collaborate to respond to practitioner’s strength and needs
  • Collaborate to support data informed decisions
  • Provide group or 1:1 consultation that may include action planning
Tier II Required Education & Experience
  • RBPD I certification
  • Alaska SEED Level 8 and 2 years early childhood (EC) experience OR Alaska SEED Level 6 and 6 years EC experience
  • 80 hours of RBPD delivered by applicant
  • 12 hours of qualified reflective supervision* or mentoring** received by applicant
  • Required Trainings:
    • All of RBPD I Coaching Training, plus 12 hours of Relationship-Based Coaching Training
    • ACEs Overview (2 hour minimum)
    • Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care (2 hour minimum)
    • Developmental Screening and Monitoring, including training on specific screening tools the program is using, e.g. Ages and Stages Questionnaire (exempt for school-age professionals)
      • Watch Me! Learn the Signs Act Early
      • Help Me Grow
    • Training(s) in EC child assessment and curriculum OR school-age curriculum equivalent (2 hour minimum)

*Qualified Reflective Supervision = someone who has met one of the following qualifications:

  • Infant Early Childhood Family Associate (IECFA) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on
  • Infant Early Childhood Family Specialist (IECFS) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on
  • Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IECMHS) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on

**Qualified Mentor Coaching = someone who has met one of the following qualifications:

  • Associate Certified Coach(ACC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Master Certified Coach (MCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Required Documentation

The following documents will be required to complete this application:

  • Any & all certificates related to coaching and ECE training that are not already uploaded to your Alaska SEED Registry profile. These certificates must contain the following:
    • training hours 
    • training title 
    • training organization 
    • official signature or seal from training entity
  • Two professional letters of recommendation supporting your role as a RBPD specialist.
  • Professional development plan. 
  • Log of RBPD contact/coaching provided in the last 12 months.
  • Log of RBPD mentor coaching/reflective supervision received in the last 12 months.
  • RBPD competencies self-assessment (see Resources section above).
  • Applicant MUST be active/current in the Alaska SEED Registry to be eligible to apply.

Note: You must complete RBPD I to move onto this application.

APPLY NOW

RBPD III A: Practitioner/Teacher Coach
Tier III A Roles

The RBPD III facilitates a coaching cycle of plan, do, study, act (PDSA) to empower continuous professional and/or program growth.

Tier III A Responsibilities

Provide group or 1:1 coaching including goal setting, action planning, observation, reflection, and feedback. Consider Tier I, II, and III supports, along with individual child and program data.

Types of support may include:

  • Selection and use of data tools
  • Fidelity of practices
  • Collect and analyze data
  • Individual child support plan
  • Communication with families and outside consultants
  • Family and child referrals
  • Internal capacity for reflection
  • Equity, diversity, inclusion
Tier III A Required Education & Experience
  • RBPD I and II certification
  • Alaska SEED Level 9 and 2 years early childhood (EC) experience OR Alaska SEED Level 7 and 6 years (EC) experience
  • 200 hours of RBPD delivered by applicant
  • 24 hours of qualified reflective supervision* or mentoring** received by applicant
  • Required Trainings:
    • All of RBPD I Coaching Training, plus 40 hours of Relationship-Based Coaching Training (12 can be from the RBPD II requirement)
    • Inclusionary Practices (2 hour minimum)
    • Preventing Expulsion & Suspension (2 hour minimum)
    • Trauma-Informed Care (5 hour minimum)
    • Tier 3 Positive Behavioral Supports (e.g. Pyramid Modules 3 & 4), including use of Behavioral Incident Reports (BIRs) (9 hour minimum)

*Qualified Reflective Supervision = someone who has met one of the following qualifications:

  • Infant Early Childhood Family Associate (IECFA) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on
  • Infant Early Childhood Family Specialist (IECFS) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on
  • Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IECMHS) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on

**Qualified Mentor Coaching = someone who has met one of the following qualifications:

  • Associate Certified Coach(ACC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Master Certified Coach (MCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Required Documentation

The following documents will be required to complete this application:

  • Any & all certificates related to coaching and ECE training that are not already uploaded to your Alaska SEED Registry profile. These certificates must contain the following:
    • training hours 
    • training title 
    • training organization 
    • official signature or seal from training entity
  • Two professional letters of recommendation supporting your role as a RBPD specialist.
  • Professional development plan. 
  • Log of RBPD contact/coaching provided in the last 12 months.
  • Log of RBPD mentor coaching/reflective supervision received in the last 12 months.
  • RBPD competencies self-assessment (see Resources section above).
  • Applicant MUST be active/current in the Alaska SEED Registry to be eligible to apply.

Note: You must complete RBPD I and RBPD II to move onto this application.

APPLY NOW

RBPD III B: Program/Administration Coach
Tier III B Roles

The RBPD III facilitates a coaching cycle of plan, do, study, act (PDSA) to empower continuous professional and/or program growth.

Tier III B Responsibilities

Provide group or 1:1 coaching including goal setting, action planning, observation, reflection, and feedback. Consider Tier I, II, and III supports, along with individual child and program data.

Types of support may include:

  • Policies, procedures, and practices
  • Development of program leadership team, program wise implementation of evidence informed practices, staff recruitment, retention, & professional development
  • Selection and use of data tools
  • Fidelity of practices
  • Collect and analyze data
  • Individual child support plan
  • Communication with families and outside consultants
  • Family and child referrals
  • Internal capacity for reflection
  • Equity, diversity, inclusion
Tier III B Required Education & Experience
  • RBPD I, II, and III A certification
  • Alaska SEED Level 9 and 2 years early childhood (EC) experience OR Alaska SEED Level 7 and 6 years (EC) experience
  • 200 hours of RBPD delivered by applicant
  • 24 hours of qualified reflective supervision* or mentoring** received by applicant
  • Required Trainings:
    • All RBPD III A training
    • Program Leadership
    • Overview of Implementation Science

*Qualified Reflective Supervision = someone who has met one of the following qualifications:

  • Infant Early Childhood Family Associate (IECFA) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on
  • Infant Early Childhood Family Specialist (IECFS) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on
  • Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IECMHS) with Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on

**Qualified Mentor Coaching = someone who has met one of the following qualifications:

  • Associate Certified Coach(ACC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Master Certified Coach (MCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF)
Required Documentation

The following documents will be required to complete this application:

  • Any & all certificates related to coaching and ECE training that are not already uploaded to your Alaska SEED Registry profile. These certificates must contain the following:
    • training hours 
    • training title 
    • training organization 
    • official signature or seal from training entity
  • Two professional letters of recommendation supporting your role as a RBPD specialist.
  • Professional development plan. 
  • Log of RBPD contact/coaching provided in the last 12 months.
  • Log of RBPD mentor coaching/reflective supervision received in the last 12 months.
  • RBPD competencies self-assessment (see Resources section above).
  • Applicant MUST be active/current in the Alaska SEED Registry to be eligible to apply.

Note: You must complete RBPD I, RBPD II, and RBPD III A to move onto this application.

APPLY NOW