Accreditation Pathways
Finding the Right Accreditation Pathway
National accreditation offers early childhood programs an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to quality, reflect on current practices, and continue growing.
Below, you'll find information about two national accreditation pathways supported through Montana's Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program: NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation and NAFCC Family Child Care Accreditation.
Each pathway has its own eligibility requirements, standards, and process. Exploring both can help you understand which option may best fit your program's setting, structure, and goals.
NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation
For early learning programs across diverse settings, including family and group child care programs, preschools, and child care centers.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers a nationally recognized accreditation system that supports early learning programs in demonstrating quality through research-based standards and continuous improvement.
NAEYC offers three levels of recognition and accreditation, allowing qualifying programs to pursue the pathway that best aligns with their goals and readiness.
NAEYC Recognition
NAEYC Recognition provides an opportunity for programs to demonstrate foundational quality practices and begin engaging with national standards.
Recognition can be a meaningful first step for programs working toward full accreditation, helping establish a foundation for continued growth.
NAEYC Accreditation
NAEYC Accreditation recognizes programs that demonstrate their commitment to national quality standards through self-assessment, documentation, and continuous improvement.
Programs pursuing Accreditation may be randomly selected for an observation as part of the assessment process, but an observation is not required for every program.
NAEYC Accreditation Plus
NAEYC Accreditation Plus builds upon the Accreditation pathway and includes a required observation for every participating program.
This pathway provides an opportunity for programs to demonstrate their quality practices through both documentation and direct observation of their early learning environment.
Learn more about NAEYC's accreditation pathways:
NAEYC Accreditation Enhancements
NAEYC Program Standards and Assessment Items
NAFCC Family Child Care Accreditation
For qualifying home-based family and group child care programs.
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) offers accreditation specifically designed for home-based family child care settings.
NAFCC accreditation recognizes the unique strengths of family child care, including relationships with children and families, home-based learning environments, and individualized approaches to care.
What Does the NAFCC Process Involve?
The NAFCC accreditation process includes several key steps:
Self-Study and Reflection
Providers review NAFCC quality standards, reflect on current practices, and identify areas for growth.
Application and Documentation
Programs complete the required application and provide information demonstrating their alignment with accreditation standards.
Observation
An observation is conducted to assess how accreditation standards are reflected in the program's daily practices and environment.
Accreditation Decision
Following the assessment process, NAFCC reviews the information and determines accreditation status.
Understanding NAFCC Eligibility
NAFCC accreditation is designed for home-based family child care programs.
If your child care program operates in a setting other than your own home, you may still have accreditation options! Mtaeyc can help you explore NAFCC's eligibility requirements and determine which accreditation pathway may be the best fit for your program.
Learn more: National Association for Family Child Care
Which Pathway Is Right for My Program?
Choosing an accreditation pathway depends on several factors, including:
- Your program's physical setting and structure
- The ages of children served
- Your program's current practices and readiness
- Your professional and program goals
- The eligibility requirements of each accrediting organization
Some programs may have multiple accreditation options, while others may be better suited to a specific pathway.
You don't have to make this decision alone!
The Accreditation Manager can help you explore the available pathways and determine which options may be appropriate for your program.
Support Through the Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program
No matter where you're starting, having support along the way can make a difference.
Mtaeyc's Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program provides free support to Montana early childhood programs pursuing NAEYC or NAFCC accreditation.
Participating programs may have access to individualized mentorship, cohort learning, accreditation resources, and financial assistance opportunities.
Explore the Montana Accreditation Mentorship Program
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you're interested in NAEYC Recognition, NAEYC Accreditation, Accreditation Plus, or NAFCC Accreditation, we're here to help you explore your options.
Contact Mtaeyc's Accreditation Manager to learn more about accreditation pathways and available support.
Email: accreditation@mtaeyc.org
Let's find the right pathway for your program!