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Professional Development Credits

4 Ways to Earn Iowa QRS or Professional Development Credit

1 point  - Iowa Quality Rating System (levels 3-5, Leadership and Administration) www.dhs.state.ia.us/iqrs/ for child care center programs that fully implement this program.

16 contact hours - Iowa Department of Human Services professional development credit for center and preschool staff:

  • 10 hours can be applied to the required annual professional development credit.
  • The additional 6 can be applied to the QRS Professional Development category levels 3-5.


1.6 CEUs - Iowa State University Continuing Education Units (added cost - $10)

6 hours - National Administrators Credential (NAC) continuing education units for attending the full day NSO Director's training.

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credit

Better Kid Care Iowa – New Staff Orientation (NSO) offers 16 clock hours of training credit that may be applied toward the 120 clock hours of formal child care education required for a CDA credential. View how NSO content is applied to the CDA credential.