TNPAL, Training and Professional Development Resources

Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning (TNPAL) is the official system of record for qualifications, training, and professional development for child care providers licensed by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) effective January 01, 2022. This free resource is designed to better support professional development and empower early childhood professionals who work in TDHS-licensed child care agencies by collecting and preserving completed trainings, accomplishments, credentials, education, certifications, and awards. TNPAL also directly supports verification of these records by directors and TDHS for compliance and regulatory purposes. Learn more at www.tnpal.org

TrainTN is the official clearinghouse for external early childhood professional trainings recognized as approved by the Tennessee Department of Human Services effective November 01, 2021. TrainTN users can apply for recognition and record attendance for approved trainings in this portal. TrainTN training records integrate with TNPAL. Visit TrainTN to view the current catalog and link to the attendance portal at www.traintn.org.

Tennessee Child Care Online Training System (TCCOTS) powered by ProSolutions Training is a free online learning management system supporting early childhood professionals and high-quality child care services in Tennessee. TCCOTS offers web-based trainings -which may be completed at any time – days, evenings, or weekends- to accommodate the busy schedules of early childhood professionals. TCCOTS trainings meet basic licensing and Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) requirements and transfer to your Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning (TNPAL) account when your TNPAL ID is added to your TCCOTS profile. To learn more, visit www.tccots.com.  

ChildcareTennessee, an initiative led by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, is a resource for licensed child care program directors and owners who can share thousands of resources with early childhood educators and child care professionals. Learn more at www.childcaretennessee.com

Tech Goes Home Tennessee provides free training and one-on-one coaching to reduce the digital divide and support a system of high-quality early care and education for children in Tennessee. The 15-hour training course is designed to teach foundational technical skills, such as email navigation and presentation building, small business technology skills. One-on-one coaching includes training on software that includes word processing, spreadsheets, slideshows, calendar, and email. Upon completion of the training, licensed child care programs may be eligible to receive technology incentives for use by their program staff. Learn more at www.techgoeshometn.org.

Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN) supports infants, young children, and the adults who impact their early relational health through education, technical assistance, and resources. AIMHiTN provides early childhood educators and child care professionals with free training, technical assistance and resources in support of their everyday interactions with infants, young children, and their families and offers free support to early childhood educators and child care professionals seeking to achieve Infant Mental Health Endorsement® and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®, an internationally recognized credential for professionals working with families with children prenatal through their 6^th birthday. Learn more at www.aimhitn.org

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) provides free training, technical assistance, and coaching to early childhood educators and child care professionals as well as resources for parents, employers, and the community that support high quality care and child development. Learn more at https://www.tnccrr.org/

Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) supports professionalism in the field of Early Childhood Education to meet the continuing education goals of early childhood educators and child care professionals. TECTA offers a variety of tuition and academic supports for students completing Early Childhood Career and Technical Education programs. TECTA and Tennessee State University also offer the Tennessee Early Childhood Program Administrator Credential (TECPAC), Tennessee Infant-Toddler Credential, specialized orientation courses, and a high school equivalency program. Learn more at www.tecta.info

Tennessee Family Child Care Network (TFCCN) offers free training, technical assistance, and peer-to-peer mentoring for licensed family and group home-based early childhood professionals, directors, and owners. Learn more by visiting www.tnccrr.org

Child Care WAGE$^® Tennessee provides Early Childhood Educators with incentives based on their education and continuity of employment.  By increasing teacher retention, WAGE$ provides children with more stable relationships and better-educated teachers. WAGE$ addresses individual professional development efforts and low wages, but does not affect budgets, regular wages or parent fees within the child care program. Learn more at www.tnwages.org