WY · STARS (Statewide Training and Registry System)
Wyoming — CDA & ECE Workforce Credentials
Wyoming places CDA at Career Lattice Levels 3-8 (depending on documentation); 8 regional University of Wyoming facilitators support the small-but-distributed workforce.
Data current as of April 2026.
CDA acceptance & requirements
- Lead teacher requirements: Wyoming DFS child care licensing accepts CDA among lead teacher qualifications. CDA is recognized in the Wyoming Early Childhood Career Lattice at Levels 3-8 (depending on documentation; submission of CDA certificate or college transcripts required for those levels).
- Assistant teacher requirements: Minimum age 18, HS diploma/GED, plus orientation training and ongoing PD.
- Director requirements: Higher Career Lattice level required; education + administrative coursework + experience.
- QRIS: Wyoming has historically operated quality recognition through STARS (Statewide Training and Registry System); a formal multi-tier QRIS has been in development. Career Lattice levels of staff are recognized.
- T.E.A.C.H. & apprenticeship: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Wyoming is administered through state partners. 8 regional facilitators contracted with the University of Wyoming support the professional learning of ECE caregivers and educators across the state. ECE apprenticeships are emerging through community college partners.
State-specific ECE workforce credentials
- Wyoming Early Childhood Career Lattice — Issuing agency: Wyoming STARS (Statewide Training and Resource/Registry System), through the Wyoming DFS. Nine levels (1-9) organized as Beginner (1-3), Intermediate (4-5), Advanced (6-9). CDA placement: Levels 3-8 depending on additional coursework and the Wyoming ELF/ELG (Early Learning Foundations / Early Learning Guidelines) Credential.
- Wyoming ELF/ELG Credential — state-issued credential focused on Wyoming Early Learning Foundations and Early Learning Guidelines.
- Wyoming Department of Education — Early Childhood / Birth-Grade 3 endorsement — for public-school pre-K teachers; bachelor's + state-approved EPP. CDA does not satisfy this.
Notable state context
Wyoming is one of the smallest-workforce states; the STARS Registry has approximately 14,500 members. Eight regional facilitators provide a high-touch, geographically distributed PD model — unusual for a state of Wyoming's population size.