Alaska SEED Trainer & Training Approval System FAQs

The Trainer Approval System is a voluntary system that verifies and ensures high-quality trainers for workshops, classes, and other trainings provided for early childhood and school-age professionals in Alaska. Alaska SEED believes that consistent standards for trainers promote higher quality training and help professionals find and choose the best training opportunities for their own professional development. By implementing this system, Alaska joins 25 other states that have a Trainer Approval System.

The application is one page. To apply, you must join or renew through the Alaska SEED Registry. Trainer applications are processed within 30 days, but an individual may submit an expedited application for review and approval within two weeks.

The Trainer Approval System allows you to be the best trainer you can be. It provides a framework to structure your training (such as aligning your training with Alaska’s Early Care and Education Core Knowledge and Competencies) and encourages/requires the use of best teaching practices to perform at the highest level. The system is built to support trainers and will help build your reputation as quality trainer.

There are three trainer categories: Provisional Trainer, Basic Trainer, and Specialized Trainer. Learn more about the requirements for each type of trainer.

Yes, Alaska SEED provides up to $1,500 in Professional Development Reimbursements (PDR) for eligible professionals. Learn more about PDRs here.

A Specialized Trainer is an individual who works outside of the early childhood or school-age education field who is licensed, credentialed, certified, degreed, or a Culture Bearer in an area beneficial to the field.

The Trainer Approval System is a voluntary system, but we invite and encourage any administrator who is currently providing training for their staff to apply to become an Alaska SEED-approved Trainer.

A list of Alaska SEED-approved PAL trainings is available on thread’s training calendar.

The Training Approval System is a voluntary system designed to ensure the quality of professional development for early childhood and school-age educators in Alaska. Ongoing education and training is essential to providing high-quality services to children and families. This new system ensures training contains high-quality content that reflects current research, aligns with the Alaska SEED Registry, is based on Alaska’s Early Care and Education Core Knowledge and Competencies and Alaska’s Early Learning Guidelines, and is delivered in a way that reflects how adults learn best. By implementing this system, Alaska joins 20 other states that have a Training Approval System.

Alaska SEED-approved trainings are of higher quality and will improve the quality of your learning experience. If you have a professional development plan based on Alaska’s Early Care and Education Core Knowledge and Competencies (CKCs), you can feel confident that all Alaska SEED-approved trainings are tied to the CKCs and will help you advance on your plan. Educators can easily check the Alaska SEED website for a list of approved trainings and trainers.

Alaska SEED is Alaska’s System for Early Education Development and is housed and managed by thread, Alaska’s Child Care Resource and Referral Network. One of thread’s services is providing professional development to the early childhood field. All thread training staff are Alaska SEED-approved trainers, and submit their trainings to be Alaska SEED-approved trainings.

No, any SEED-approved trainer can apply to have their trainings Alaska SEED-approved.

Alaska SEED Trainer and Training Approval System does not require proof that an individual(s) attended a Alaska SEED-approved training.

Each training is approved separately. Once a training is approved, it is approved for five years and can be offered numerous times. Within that time period, a new application is only necessary if there are content changes made to the training.

The 15 training hours aligns with the 500-level/1 university credit Continuing Education Class offered at most early childhood/school-age conferences, which is the equivalent of at least two full days of conference, two face to face meetings, and the required writing assignments to earn the one credit CEU.

A test, quiz, self-reflection or self-assessment tool, a written paper, or an observation of improved practice.

Alaska SEED does not need to receive a copy of the assessment tool.