STARS Training Reimbursement

The full cost of the Child Care Basics course is eligible to apply for reimbursement in your MERIT profile. To be eligible, you must have a confirmed or verified employment record in MERIT.

What you can expect:

  • This online course is presented in English. The training method is online and self-paced, with instructor engagement. The training platform is mobile friendly, and most students will find that it works successfully on cell phones and tablets.

  • Enrollment includes all 10 modules of the Child Care Basics course online. Upon satisfactorily completing the coursework in a module, the next module will then be added to your training dashboard. Upon successful completion of module 10, a certificate will be emailed to you within 24 hours.

  • Your completed training will be recorded in MERIT within 3 days of when you receive your certificate. Once your completed training is recorded in MERIT, you can log into your MERIT profile and apply for reimbursement for the cost of the course.

  • Enrollment in this online course expires in 6 months from the date of payment.

The Child Care Basics course meets the initial training requirements for those providing care to children in licensed child care programs in Washington State; this includes assistant teachers, lead teachers, directors, program supervisors, and family home child care providers. The Washington State STARS Model Curriculum was provided by Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) to meet the Child Care Basics training requirement (curriculum updated 2019).