Improve Your Professional Skillset

The IdahoSTARS Professional Development System (PDS) is a voluntary, statewide professional development system for child care professionals and early childhood educators.  IdahoSTARS offers scholarships, an array of specialized trainings, and advanced professional opportunities that help improve professional knowledge, competence, skill, and effectiveness.

Find out more in RISE

The PDS system

Training Scholarships

  • Training scholarships cover the cost of IdahoSTARS approved trainings, workshops and conferences taken in person or through distance learning.
  • Reimbursement scholarships are awarded after you’ve taken IdahoSTARS approved trainings, and the hours are recorded on your Professional Development Record (PDR).

If you have any questions about PDS scholarships, please email trainingscholarships@idahoaeyc.org.

PDS Recognition

You may apply for PDS annual recognition when you complete 20 or more hours of professional development during your PDS Registry Cycle. Any combination of IdahoSTARS approved training, Targeted Technical Assistance (TTA), or college credits related to Early Childhood Education (ECE) counts toward Recognition.

If you have any questions about recognition, please email pds@idahoaeyc.org.

PDS Anniversary Recognition by Level

Level Level of Education Requirements Recognition
1 PDS entry, high school/GED Enrolled in PDS entry $100
2 CDA Current CDA credential,
or 12 ECE-related college credits,
or montessori certificate.		 $200
3 Technical Certificate in ECE Technical Certificate in ECE,
or NIC Academic Certficate in ECE.		 $300
4 Associate Degree in ECE Associate degree in ECE-related field,
or associate degree wtih 30 ECE-related college credits.		 $400
5 Bachelor's Degree in ECE Bachelor's degree in ECE-related field,
or bachelor's degree with 36 ECE-related college credits.		 $500
6 Master's degree or higher in ECE Master's degree or higher in ECE $600