Career Planning and Scholarships

Career Planning

When considering your next career goal, it may be driven by improving your Career Pathways level or attaining your next Early Childhood position. Below is information relating to these items:

The National Career Directory is a resource that provides background on different careers and the education required.

Career Pathway Level

The Career Pathways Level (CPL) is a system for early care and education professionals to recognize their education, experience, and ongoing professional development. It can be used as an alternate pathway to meet education requirements for a child care staff member or administrator for licensing or Step Up To Quality. Individuals can earn one of six levels on the CPL.

On July 1, 2026, Ohio implemented a revised model with the goals of:

• Creating a streamlined model that is easy to understand and calculate.
• Allowing professionals to maintain a CPL level, once attained.
• Recognizing related degrees and experience as valuable in advancing to a higher-level CPL.

All professionals with a current CPL were automatically transitioned to the new CPL model in the Ohio Professional Registry on July 1, 2026. Professionals maintained their current CPL level on the date of transition. No professionals  were moved to a lower level as a result of the transition to the revised CPL requirements. Individuals who are at a higher-level CPL level because of the transition, based on verified education, professional development and experience in the OPR,  were automatically moved to the higher level.