INTERESTED IN OUR SCHOOL-AGE CREDENTIAL?
The Utah School-Age Credential will undergo important updates beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. To support this transition, the application is temporarily closed until August 18, 2025. In the meantime, you can view a one-pager of the upcoming changes.
More details about the revised process—including updated guidelines, timelines, and tools—will be available soon. We’re committed to making the process more streamlined, supportive, and aligned with your ongoing professional development goals.
In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our PD team at
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.
ELIGIBILITY
This statewide credential sets a high standard by requiring 120 hours of professional development, an internal observation, and a comprehensive portfolio aligned with the National Afterschool Association Core Knowledge Skills and Competencies for Afterschool and Youth Development Professionals (NAA-CKCs). It ensures that professionals working with youth are equipped with up-to-date skills, knowledge, and best practices—ultimately strengthening afterschool programs and improving outcomes for the children they serve.
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 March 7.
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. Applicants are required to upload all certificates to the URPD portal, naming each file with the course title.
- 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 the National Afterschool Association's 10 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.
The full details for the portfolio requirements will be released on August 18. Basic requirements include:
- Authenticity Statement
- Professional Statement
- Work History
- 9 Demonstrated Competencies-Each competency will require two portfolio work examples, for a total of 18 examples.
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.
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 or UAN-approved observer using a UAN-developed tool. The observation tool will be available on August 18.
