INTERESTED IN THE UTAH SCHOOL-AGE CREDENTIAL?
The Utah Afterschool Network (UAN) School-Age Credential was inspired by the processes and observation tools used to obtain the Child Development Associate (CDA). It is also aligned with the National Afterschool Association Core Knowledge Skills and Competencies for Afterschool and Youth Development Professionals (NAA-CKCs). The NAA-CKCs provide a foundation of 10 content areas in which professionals should increase their knowledge and skills through ongoing training and education.
This statewide credential not only sets a high standard by requiring professionals to complete 120 hours of targeted professional development and undergo rigorous observation, but it also demands a comprehensive portfolio that demonstrates their competencies across ten critical areas. By implementing such a credential, we ensure that those who are most engaged with our children are equipped with the latest skills, knowledge, and best practices in the field. This structured approach guarantees that the professionals working with kids are not only experienced, but also continuously advancing their expertise, ultimately enhancing the quality of afterschool programs and fostering better outcomes for the children they serve.
ELIGIBILITY
The Utah Afterschool School-Age Credential can be completed at any time during the year, as long as all requirements are met. Incomplete applications, such as missing training hours, an unqualified observation, or missing portfolio documents, will be rejected.
If you're using the School-Age Credential to meet Level 6 requirements for the Afterschool Incentive, your application and portfolio are due by 11:59 PM on March 19, 2026. Your observation, credential training log, and credential work history log are due by the Incentive due date, 11:59 PM on April 10, 2026.
To meet the School-Age Credential requirements, candidates must:
- Complete 480 hours of work experience in a center-based or eligible licensed exempt school-age setting with K–12 youth.
- Have at least 120 hours of professional development aligned with the NAA Core Knowledge and Competencies (CKSCs) within the past five years.
- Receive an internal observation by a supervisor.
- Complete the UAN School-Age Credential Portfolio.
- Maintain a current National Afterschool Association (NAA) membership.
REQUIREMENTS
School-Age Credential Portfolio
All Credential applicants are required to complete a portfolio that demonstrates their growth and development. This portfolio is designed to align with 9 of the 10 National Afterschool Association's Core Knowledge Skills and Competencies (CKSCs) and the Utah Afterschool Professional Development Incentive. The portfolio is a dynamic tool used for assessment, reflection, and communication of an afterschool professional's development. It is recommended that applicants begin developing their portfolio at least 4 months before completion.
You can view the full Portfolio Requirements for a detailed description of all the requirements and standards to complete your portfolio.
Basic requirements include:
- Authenticity Statement
- Professional Statement
- 9 Demonstrated Competencies - 16 total work samples
- 480 Hours of Work Experience in a center-based or licensed, licensed-exempt school-age setting with K-12 documented on the Credential Work History Log.
- 120 Professional Development Training Hours: 10 Hours in EACH of the 9 required NAA CKSC areas + 30 additional hours in any CKSC documented on the Credential Training Log. All certificates MUST be uploaded to your URPD profile. Certificates must include your name, the title of the session, the date the training was completed, and the number of hours. Certificates that are not correctly named will not be counted.
- A list of pre-approved virtual trainings that can be used to meet the training requirements can be found on the Approved Training Courses and are already sorted into the correct CKSCs. If you would like a virtual training that is not on this list to be added, you can submit a review request here.
Incomplete, poorly written, inauthentic, or unprofessional work examples will result in a denial of your School-Age Credential application. Please note that revisions are not allowed after submission.
To support your preparation, we’ve also provided two key resources:
- Portfolio Rubric – This rubric outlines the criteria by which your portfolio will be evaluated, giving you a clear understanding of expectations and standards.
- Portfolio Writing Samples – These examples demonstrate the level of quality and format expected in your written submissions. They serve as helpful guides as you develop your own work.
If you need support or have questions about the expected standards, we encourage you to reach out to us at
School-Age Internal Observation
As part of the Credentialing process, all applicants must receive an observation from a supervisor using the UAN Observational tool, which is designed specifically for the Utah School-Age Credential. The observation tool will be available to applicants and supervisors after the conflict of interest form has been completed.
If you have been requested to complete an observation for an applicant, then you must complete the conflict of interest form. After you complete the conflict of interest form, UAN will contact you with the next steps and provide you with the observation tool.
To learn more about the process and next steps, check out the UAN School-Age Credential Training Guide and FAQ's.
Submitting Your Credential Documents
To submit your Credential application, you must properly format and organize your documents before emailing them. You should have the following documents:
- Your portfolio must be saved as a single PDF file and include the following sections in order: your authenticity statement, philosophy statement, and all 16 demonstrated competencies samples. The file should be named using the format FirstName_LastName_Year_Portfolio (for example, Jane_Doe_2025_Portfolio.pdf).
- Your Credential Training Log MUST be submitted as an Excel File. Name the file in the format FirstName_LastName_Year_Training Log (for example, Jane_Doe_2025_Training Log.xsl).
- Your Credential Work History Log MUST be submitted as an Excel File. Name the file in the format FirstName_LastName_Year_Work History Log (for example, Jane_Doe_2025_Work History Log.xsl).
- Your observation must be saved as a single file, including the completed form and supervisor's signature. Use the naming format FirstName_LastName_Year_Observation (for example, Jane_Doe_2025_Observation.pdf).
Once all documents are correctly formatted and named, submit them via email to
Once you have submitted your complete application, including all required documentation, your Credential will go through a review process, which can take up to two (2) months. If your Credential is approved, you will receive an official certificate with the date your Credential was awarded and the expiration date of your Credential.
If Your Credential is Not Approved
If your application does not meet the requirements:
- You will receive feedback outlining what went wrong and how to improve.
- You will have one opportunity to resolve any issues by resubmitting the necessary corrections within 7 days of receiving feedback. Failure to resubmit within the 7 day window will result in a denial.
- If your application is still not passing after the resubmission, you will not receive the credential and must wait six (6) months before reapplying.
Maintaining and Renewing Your School-Age Credential
Your Utah Afterschool School-Age Credential is valid for three years. To remain in good standing, you must renew your Credential before it expires. If you fail to renew by the required time, you will be required to complete the entire credential process again before becoming eligible for the Level 6 Incentive.
While your Credential is valid for three years, you will need to complete the Level 6 Incentive Verification Form each year to continue receiving the Incentive. Level 6 is the final level of the Incentive and can be repeated annually as long as all requirements are met. This includes completing 30 hours of new professional development training each year and participating in two new professional activities, as outlined in the Incentive guidelines. 20 hours out of the 30 hours must be aligned with the NAA Core Knowledge Skills and Competencies. When applying each year, you’ll also need to submit proof that your Credential is still current.
Staying up to date with your renewal and training requirements will ensure you maintain your Credential and continue qualifying for the Incentive.
To renew your Utah Afterschool School-Age Credential, you must submit updated documentation demonstrating continued professional growth and competency. Your renewal application must include a new observation completed by your supervisor within the last 12 months and 60 additional professional development training hours that align with the CKSCs from the previous 3 years.
