MERIT Training & Support

FAQs

Visit http://merit.del.wa.gov and select “Sign in or Register” to begin the registration process. For detailed instructions, follow the steps outlined here:
How to Register and Apply for a STARS ID

If your transcripts are not in English and you earned your degree outside of the United States:

  • A degree evaluation must be completed.
  • If you have questions about entering your education earned outside of the United States, view the Guidelines for Processing your Degrees, High School Diploma, and Education Earned Outside of the United States.
  • You may choose any NACES member organization to process your degree evaluation. Price, process and turn-around time varies by organization.

We often refer people to the following two organizations:

  • It makes it easy to share your qualifications with current and new employers.
  • It helps you keep track of your education and early learning credentials.
  • It allows the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to learn more about you so that we can create new professional development opportunities.
  • It lets DCYF recognize your professional achievements with a monetary incentive called an achievement award.

If you earned credits from an education or early care and education (ECE) department at a college or university, you may be able to count them towards your Annual Continuing Education (STARS) hour requirements. You may enter three courses per year for each of the last three calendar years (includes the current calendar year). To submit your college credits for STARS hours, follow these steps:

  • Copy your transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). The transcripts must include your name, the name of the college or university, the dates of the courses that you completed, and the credits that you earned.
  • Log into your MERIT account and complete the Education Application found under the "My Education" tab. 
  • Submit your supporting documents to education.verfication@centralia.edu or mail to:

    Attention: MERIT Team
    Centralia College
    600 Centralia College Blvd
    Centralia, WA 98531

If you earned STARS hours along with your certificate, your trainer will enter the information into MERIT for you. If for some reason your trainer doesn’t enter it, email a copy of your training certificate to merit@del.wa.gov; or mail a paper copy of the certificate to:

Department of Children, Youth, and Families
Attn: MERIT
PO Box 40970
Olympia WA 98504-0970

Washington’s professional development registry is designed to support professionals that work with young children and their families in an early care & education or school-age setting. The professional development registry also supports professionals who work with the adults that provide that care. This includes:

  • Licensed Family Child Care Home professionals
  • Licensed Child Care Center professionals
  • School-Age Center professionals
  • Head Start professionals
  • Early Care and Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) professionals
  • State Approved Trainers

DEL is working to increase the quality of early care & education and school-age programs around the state. Quality is directly related to a knowledgeable and skilled workforce and Washington’s professional development registry emphasizes the significance of this profession in children and family’s lives. MERIT provides information on career pathways for continued growth and a formalized system to recognize professional development. Washington’s professional development registry allows our state’s system to:

  • Monitor Licensing Requirements to keep children and families safe
  • Keep track of educators’ ongoing education and training
  • Identify gaps and patterns on a regional and state level by evaluating data that is confidentially collected in MERIT
  • Raise awareness of the workforce issues that impact early care & education and school-age programs

In MERIT you can:

  • Verify and document your education and training experiences
  • Share qualifications with current and future employers
  • Plan your future education and career goals
  • Use verified qualifications to apply for employment or participate in quality initiatives around the state
  • Count yourself as a professional in early care & education and school-age services in Washington

We encourage all professionals to complete MERIT records and applications online. If you do not have access to a computer, contact your local library or child care resource & referral agency to find out more about public computer usage. If you are not familiar with computer technology please contact MERIT support at merit@del.wa.gov or at 1-866-482-4325 Option 5.

DCYF takes all appeals and concerns seriously and all appeals are handled in a confidential manner. The following items can be appealed if a professional is not satisfied with the decisions provided by the professional development registry team:

  • Education application decision
  • Continuing education proposal decision
  • Denial of trainer application or assigned trainer level
  • Denial of training

You can add your employment in your MERIT account under the “Professional Record” tab. Please follow these instructions to add your employment: From the Professional Record tab:

  • Scroll down to the “Early Care & Education/School-Age Employment Information” section.
  • Click on the “+ Click here to add Employment” button.
    • Under “Program(s)” check the box of the population you are serving.
    • Pick your “Job Title”.
    • Search for the Facility/Site by Name or by the Provider/Organization ID.
    • Verify the address and click the blue “Select” button.
    • Enter in your “Employment Start Date”. Do not enter in the “Employment End Date” if still employed.
    • Press the “Save” button.

Once you add your employment your employer will see your information in their "Facility/Site" tab. Once your employment is added your employer will need to confirm your employment status.