Why accreditation matters for your child
Choosing child care is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. An accredited program has chosen to go beyond what the law requires and has been reviewed against national standards for quality, safety and learning.
Look for this seal at your child's program.
Licensing is the minimum. Accreditation is the higher bar.
A licensed program
- Required by the state to operate
- Meets basic health and safety rules
- Inspected by the state licensing agency
A NECPA-accredited program also
- Chose, voluntarily, to be measured against national, research-based standards
- Was observed in person by a trained NECPA Verifier
- Asked its families and staff for feedback
- Was reviewed by an independent council of early childhood experts
- Reports every year and renews to stay accredited
What NECPA looks for, every day
NECPA standards look at the whole child and every relationship in their world: with teachers, with families and with the community.
Safe and healthy spaces
Safe rooms and play areas, healthy routines and nutrition, and clear plans for emergencies and first aid.
Warm, caring teachers
Teachers who build kind, respectful relationships with each child and guide behavior positively.
Learning through play
Planned activities that support how children grow: language, thinking, movement, creativity and social skills.
Partnership with you
Open communication, regular updates on your child's progress and real ways for families to be involved.
Qualified, growing staff
Staff who meet training requirements and keep learning, so your child benefits from current best practices.
Respect for every family
Classrooms that welcome and reflect each child's culture, language and abilities.
Questions to ask the director
Whether or not a program is accredited, these questions help you see quality in action.
Trust what you see and feel, too: Are children busy, happy and engaged? Do teachers get down to children's level and speak warmly?
- Is your program nationally accredited? May I see your certificate?
- What training and qualifications do your teachers have?
- How many children are in each group, and how many teachers?
- What does a typical day look like for my child's age group?
- How will you share my child's progress with me?
- How do you handle illness, injuries and emergencies?
- How can families get involved?
Find an accredited program near you
Search NECPA-accredited centers and family child care homes by name, city or state.
Questions families ask
Is accreditation required?
No. Every child care program must meet its state's licensing rules, but accreditation is voluntary. Programs that choose it are going above and beyond the minimum to show their commitment to quality.
What's the difference between licensing and accreditation?
Licensing sets the basic health and safety rules a program must follow to operate. Accreditation goes further. It looks at the quality of children's daily experiences, teacher interactions, learning, family partnerships and staff growth, measured against national, research-based standards.
Do families have a say?
Yes. As part of accreditation, programs share surveys with their families and staff. If your program asks you to complete one, your honest feedback helps shape its accreditation.
How long does accreditation last?
A NECPA accreditation award lasts three years. Programs submit annual reports to show they're keeping up with the standards, and then renew to stay accredited.
How can I tell if a program is accredited?
Search the NECPA Program Search by program name, city or state, and look for the NECPA seal at the program. You can also ask the director to show you their accreditation certificate.
My child's program isn't accredited. What can I do?
Ask the director if they have considered accreditation, and share this page with them. Programs can learn more on our accreditation page or contact us with questions.
Want your child's program to be accredited?
Share this page with your director, or point them to our accreditation information. Every program that raises its quality bar helps more children thrive.