The NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential (CPAC)
Developed by The New York State Association for the Education of Young Children, the Children’s Program Administrator Credential is recognized in New York State as the standard for measuring effectiveness in leadership, procedural supervision, and fiscal management for administrators of early childhood and school-aged children's programs. Earning the CPAC also serves as a measure of individual professional achievement.
Overview
The CPAC is a credential for current early childhood program directors who desire to be more effective leaders or require coursework to meet accreditation standards. New directors who are interested in administrator certification, and the next generation of leaders who require preparation as administrators, also benefit from CPAC training. Students are not required to be in a director position to be considered for the CPAC program.
CUNY School of Professional Studies offers a graduate-level, 18-credit Advanced Certificate program in partnership with the Institute’s Career Development Center leading to the CPAC. Each of the three-credit courses, offered entirely online, addresses one of the six Topic areas defined in the Children’s Program Administrator Credential of New York State. The 18 credits earned in CPAC can be fully embedded in the MA program in Early Childhood Policy and Leadership. That means those who have finished CPAC coursework only need four more three-credit courses to earn the Master’s degree.
Questions about the CPAC?
Learn more about the CPAC at the CUNY School of Professional Studies:
CPAC topics
CPAC information sessions
CUNY SPS MA Info Session in Early Childhood Policy and Leadership
Frequently asked questions
Typically 6-8 courses are offered every semester. Each course takes four weeks to complete. Students can decide how many courses to enroll in each semester. To earn the CPAC, students must take all 18 courses. CPAC courses are offered fully online.
Courses take place asynchronously, which allows students to participate when they are available. Students are required to log in regularly to submit discussion posts and assignments.
The student-centered approach and asynchronous learning environment emphasizes peer-to-peer interactions facilitated by the instructor, who will monitor, guide, and nurture the discussions as necessary. Instructors will not just disseminate information or lecture, but intentionally provide students with a variety of readings and prompts to guide discussions.
The CPAC credential is awarded through the NY Association for the Education of Young Children (NYAEYC).
Credential candidates who take CPAC coursework at CUNY SPS will be supported as they create a portfolio, which is required as part of the credential application. The portfolio will mostly be developed through course assignments. In addition to the portfolio and 18 credits in Children's Program Administration that are gained through SPS coursework, successful CPAC candidates must also have completed 18 credits in early childhood education and/or child development at the associate's level or higher and completed a credential application.
Visit the CUNY School of Professional Studies to view current tuition rates. The majority of our students receive some form of scholarship. Students who apply for The Enhanced NYS B5 SUNY-CUNY Workforce Scholarship: Early Childhood will be able to meet with a career advisor, who will review your eligibility for all of the scholarships. To learn about some of the scholarships available for early childhood professionals, please go here.
CPAC credits and the CPAC credential will apply toward the QUALITYstarsNY Administrator Qualifications standard. The CPAC is an NAEYC-accepted program of study in the new accreditation system for program administrators.
Contact
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