Professional Development for early care and education practitioners in Illinois is the primary focus of Gateways to Opportunity. We support your professional development through a variety of programs and areas.
Higher Education Directory- A directory of accredited colleges and universities in Illinois who offer coursework in Early Care and Education, Child Development, Human Growth & Development and other areas of study related to caring for and educating children.
Becoming an Entitled Institution - Information for Higher Education Institutions who want to know more about becoming entitled to offer Gateways Credentials. Faculty can examine Credential Content Areas, the Frameworks that Credentials are built upon, and how to align coursework to meet Credential requirements.
A Professional Development Advisor (PDA) is an experienced professional who will assist you with planning and achieving your career goals. A PDA will guide you through developing a Professional Development Plan and share information about colleges and universities in your area that offer coursework in early childhood, as well as help you decide which credential or certification would be best for you.
Request an Advisor
Individual Advisement
If you are an individual who would like to request a PDA, complete this quick survey. We will help you get your career moving forward.
Si eres una persona que desea solicitar un PDA, solamente complete esta breve encuesta. Le ayuderamos a que avance en su carrera.
Center-Based Advisement
If you are the administrator of an early care and education program, complete this quick survey to request a PDA to work with you and your staff.
Si es el administrador de un centro con programa de educación y cuidado infantil, y desea solicitar un PDA para trabajar con usted y su personal, complete esta breve encuesta.
If you have specific questions about your application for a Gateways to Opportunity program, please contact us via email to connect with a Program Specialist about your application status.
PDAC is a group of key stakeholders from a wide variety of child related industries who work to advance the field of early care and education, school-age, youth development and family support.
Gateways to Opportunity® Credentials are awarded and recognized by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Early Childhood. Some Circles of Quality in ExceleRate® Illinois require Gateways Credentials and employers can use Credentials to help them in their hiring decisions. Gateways Credentials are for individuals who live and/or work in Illinois.
Gateways Credentials are symbols of professional achievement that show your knowledge, skills, and experience in caring and educating for children. They are an individual achievement that you can be proud of. There are specific Credential types based on your education, training, and experience:
To start a Gateways Credential application, there are 3 steps:
Select Gateways Credentials in the "Apply" section. Click the "Apply Now" button to create a new application.
Please request all official transcripts (if not on file) to be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mailed to:
INCCRRA
1226 Towanda Ave
Bloomington, IL 61701
Optional: If you have a valid CDA, please email a copy to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Training is an important component of your professional development. Gateways to Opportunity connects you to training opportunities both online and locally.
Find online training and professional development resources for child care providers on the i-learning website. This includes trainings for DCFS licensing, ExceleRate Illinois, Gateways Credentials, and much more.
ITN Trainers periodically go through an appraisal process. If you are an expert trainer and would like to help ITN Trainers develop their training skills by offering feedback and developing plans with them, you can apply to become an ITN Appraiser.
There are other funding opportunities available to you. These programs are not administered by Gateways to Opportunity but we've included links to help you get started.
The Gateways Scholarship Program will pay a portion of tuition for eligible professionals working in early care and education or school-age programs who want to earn college credit, Credentials, or degrees. The courses you take need to be in early childhood education (ECE) or child development (CD). You can be enrolled in an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree program or taking classes toward a certificate, endorsement, or Credential. Explore this section to find eligibility requirements, how to apply, and what your responsibilities are if you are awarded a Gateways Scholarship. We have also answered many of the most common questions and provide lots of details in our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to receive a Gateways Scholarship, you must:
Care for children in an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) licensed program or Illinois State Board of Education funded Preschool for All program.
Employed by your current program for at least a one year. (90 days if employed at an ExceleRate Bronze, Silver or Gold Circle of Quality program.)
Work an average of 15 hours per week.
Meet wage requirements.
Be a citizen of the United States, be a lawful permanent resident, or reside in the State of Illinois.
Commit to future work in early care and education or school-age care, which begins at the completion of the scholarship contract.
Coursework to advance on the Great START Wage Supplement Scale.
Coursework toward a Gateways ECE Credential, Infant Toddler Credential, or Illinois Director Credential.
A bachelor's or master's degree related to program administration for ECE/CD.
Coursework for Illinois Professional Educator Licensure in Early Childhood.
What are my responsibilities?
Read the Gateways Scholarship FAQ.
Enroll in courses.
Submit a Gateways to Opportunity Scholarship Program pdf
Participant Class Schedule Form
(495 KB) to the Gateways Scholarship Program each term, listing the courses for that term.
Go to class and do well. The Gateways Scholarship Program will pay for a class only once!
Continue to work in eligible program and role and work 15 hours per week.
Send in your grade reports at the end of each term.
Pay the remaining portion of tuition and fees to the college or university.
Continue to work in an eligible early care and education or school-age care program upon the completion of the scholarship contract, to meet the work commitment requirement.
To apply for the Gateways Scholarship Program, you can apply online via your Registry Portal or with a paper application. To apply with a paper application, you need to:
To renew your Gateways Scholarship Program, you can renew online via your Registry Portal or with a paper application. To apply with a paper application, you need to:
Still meet all eligibility requirements.
Be a member of the Gateways Registry.
Submit grade reports from last term.
Gather and mail your required documents using the checklist provided in the application.
Mail to:
INCCRRA/Applications
1226 Towanda Plaza
Bloomington IL, 61701
Great START (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) is a wage supplement program that acknowledges child care practitioners who have completed college coursework and stay at their current place of employment. Great START recipients are sent a check every six months (based on continued eligibility) to supplement their income.
Who is eligible?
Consider applying for the Great START program if all of the following apply to you:
Care for Illinois children
Employed by an eligible program
Work in an eligible position
Have been employed by the same program for a required minimum amount of time
Work an average of at least 15 hours per week
Earn $24.00 per hour or less and $49,920.00 per year or less *eligible applicants must make no more than both the hourly and yearly income caps.
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Smart Start Illinois is a multi-year plan to provide every child with access to preschool, increase funding to child care providers to raise wages and quality and reach more vulnerable families with early support. Smart Start Illinois is a step towards making Illinois the best place to raise children with a clear ongoing commitment to children, families, teachers, and childcare providers. The State Fiscal Year 2024 (SFY24) Smart Start Illinois investments to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Early Childhood (IDHS-DEC) includes
$5 million to expand the Illinois Department of Human Services' Home Visiting Program so more families who want it can receive this early support;
$130 million for nation-leading Child Care Workforce Compensation Contracts that will stabilize providers and give child care workers a raise;
$40 million for Early Intervention programs to enhance services for families and give providers a raise.
Governor Pritzker’s proposal commits to continued investments in Illinois’ Home Visiting, Child Care, and Early Intervention programs, allowing IDHS-DEC to use these funds towards long-term system changes. If you would like to learn more about Smart Start Child Care, visit the pdf
Smart Start FAQ
(628 KB). (pdf
Smart Start FAQ - Spanish
(631 KB))
Smart Start Stakeholder Input
Having feedback and input from those working in early childhood education and care is a priority as the state develops Smart Start Illinois. An ad-hoc committee of the IDHS-DEC Child Care Advisory Council began meeting in November 2022. This committee focuses on Smart Start Child Care, and providing insight, feedback, and raises questions and thoughts as the state develops a plan for this work. This committee is made up of individuals that work in child care, and agencies that support child care. Below are the presentations that are provided at each ad-hoc committee meeting.