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PITC Trainer Institute Application Information

Brief Program Overview

The Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) Trainer Institutes provide training for educators, program managers, and other professionals responsible for supervising and training infant/toddler care providers and teachers. Certification requirements include a training outline for each of the 16 PITC topics, one expanded training plan for a topic for each module, and reflective journaling related to the topics, and participation in the interactive virtual sessions in October and May. Upon completion of the PITC Trainer Institute and all certification requirements, participants receive a certificate of completion from WestEd and the California Department of Social Services, Child Care and Development Division (CDSS-CCDD) that recognizes them as trainers for Modules 1-4.

Previous PITC Trainer Institute participants who are already certified in two or more modules may enroll for the PITC Completion Option by emailing PITCEvents@wested.org.

Who Will Benefit?

  • Trainers
  • Coaches
  • Mentor teachers
  • Program leaders
  • Early Head Start staff
  • Higher Education faculty
  • Child Care Resource specialists
  • Early Interventionists
  • Early Childhood Mental Health consultants
  • Family Child Care providers who serve as trainers or leaders in their communities
  • Prior PITC Trainer Institute participants who need to complete certification in two or more modules

Fees

The tuition fee for the PITC Trainer Institute is $6,100. For those who are enrolled in the PITC Completion Option, the tuition fee is $3,400. This fee covers: 

  • PITC caregiving guides, trainer’s manuals, and supplementary reading materials
  • Brief pre-enrollment orientation (multiple dates and times in late Summer-early Fall 2023)
  • Five-day launch of virtual sessions with faculty and asynchronous study
  • One facilitated 2-hour Learning Experience Plan session in late October (multiple times to choose from)
  • Participation in the 24-week online learning with facilitators with embedded certification
  • Four facilitated, 90-minute module opening sessions to highlight resources, climate of care, and training strategies for each module
  • Two-day wrap-up of virtual sessions with peers and faculty

Limited Fellowship Opportunities for California Residents

A very limited number of fellowships are available to applicants living in California and will be determined by the review criteria listed below. Fellowships are only available to those who are new to the PITC Trainer Institute.

PITC also works jointly with Quality Counts California hub leads and county representatives to identify funding opportunities. PITC will notify applicants regarding fellowships and hub or county funding.

PITC Completion Option

The Completion Option is available to those who attended a previous PITC Trainer Institute, hold certification in two or more modules, and want to return for full PITC certification. For those who hold certification in one module, we invite you to join the PITC Trainer Institute for Modules 1-4. While much of PITC content remains relevant, some of our topics have evolved due to new learning from the research. Also, our new approach embeds certification in the learning community of peers and a facilitator.

Each module includes:

  • The development of one Learning Experience Outline (LEO)
  • Weekly journal for each topic and module
  • Facilitator review week; no assignments are due
  • Two weeks to expand the LEO of your choice to a full Learning Experience Plan (LEP)

The modules open sequentially and are available to you a week prior to the dates listed below:

  • Module 1: Social-Emotional Growth and Socialization, October 2-November 26
  • Module 2: Group Care, November 27-January 28
  • Module 3: Learning and Development, January 29-March 17
  • Module 4: Culture, Family, and Providers, March 18-May 5

Please note that participation in both the Launch Week and Wrap-Up events are among the requirements for certification. 

The PITC Completion Option application process begins with an email request to PITCEvents@wested.org.

Application Submission

First consideration will be given to applications received by the due date. Applications received after the due date will be considered when cancellations occur.

Groups of Applicants

If you are coordinating submission of applications for a group of more than five people, please contact Elizabeth Crocker at elizabeth.crocker@wested.org or 415.289.2334. Each person in the group must complete an individual application by the application due date to be considered.

Application Content

The application consists of five sections:

  • Contact Information
  • Organization Information
  • Education and Employment
  • Training Experience: Please share previous training, group coaching, and/or teaching experiences individually provided.
  • Statement of Interest to Participate: Please be detailed about how your participation will positively impact your program and/or community.

Application Completion

  • All sections must be completed. The review criteria section below provides guidance.
  • Once all sections are completed, make sure to select the Submit button.
  • Be sure to check your email (including junk/spam folder) for confirmation that your application was submitted.

Application Review Procedure

WestEd will review and consider each completed application based on the review criteria listed below and space availability.

WestEd does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

Review Criteria

  • Applicant’s Title and Position: Description of the applicant’s current position and role in training activities in the field of child development, specifically infant and toddler development and care. Priority is given to those currently providing professional development to programs serving infants and toddlers, as well as to applicants nominated by their local quality rating and improvement system administrator.
  • Education/Professional Certification: The applicant’s educational background, including credit hours in early childhood education and child development, CDA, and other ECE or child development-related certificates and degrees.
  • Past Professional Experience: The quality and relevance of the applicant’s professional experiences in child development, with a focus on infant and toddler training activities the applicant has planned and conducted.
  • Interest and Intent to Provide Training: Why the applicant wishes to participate; what the applicant hopes to learn from the training; how the applicant plans to utilize the training experience in the future; and what types of training experiences the applicant plans to conduct. Emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s capacity to conduct future trainings.
  • Consideration of geographic, linguistic, and program type diversity is part of the review process for California applicants. 

Pre-Enrollment Orientation

The orientation is the first step in the enrollment process. The orientation is a short conversation to support each applicant and their supervisor (when applicable) to learn about and plan for the nine-month, PITC Trainer Institute journey beginning with the Launch Week in October, through the Online Learning, and concluding with the Wrap-Up Event in May.  

Knowing what to expect and having a partner to support you in being present at the synchronous events and for the 24 weeks of certification activities that occur between October and May provides a path to success in certification.  

The meetings will be scheduled individually or for multiple participants within one agency to allow PITC to address your questions fully. For those who do not have a supervisor, please invite a colleague who works closely with you. The PITC Trainer Institute experience is most successful when you have support from your personal, professional community, and your PITC learning community of faculty, peers, and your facilitator. 

Application Status Notifications

  • Application Confirmation: Once you submit your application, you will automatically receive an email confirmation.
  • Application Status: If you submit your application by August 4, 2023 and attend a pre-enrollment orientation session, you will be notified of your status within a week.
  • Invitation to Enroll: Accepted applicants will receive an email notification to complete the enrollment process and submit payment by August 22, 2023.
  • Waitlist: Qualified applicants who are waitlisted will be invited to update their application for participation in a future PITC Trainer Institute. 
  • Fellowship Announcements: Fellowships funded by CDSS-CCDD for California residents are based upon a review of your application. Fellowships will be announced in late August 2023.

Cancellation Policy

  • Once enrolled, the full fee for your participation will be charged for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start of the event.
  • WestEd will make every effort to enroll a replacement participant when a cancellation occurs more than 30 days in advance. However, an administrative fee of $100 will be charged.
  • All cancellations must be submitted in writing to PITCEvents@wested.org.

Questions?

  • For questions about the application procedure and/or the status of your application, please email PITCEvents@wested.org.
  • For questions regarding the content of the PITC Trainer Institute and who should attend, please email Elizabeth Crocker at elizabeth.crocker@wested.org.
  • Visit www.pitc.org for updates regarding the PITC Trainer Institute and other training opportunities and resources.
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