Through the UW-Platteville’s Child Care Education program, individuals who are interested in becoming a child care teacher or opening their own child care program can take individual courses and earn credentials that can elevate their YoungStar or QRIS Ratings. All credential programs are offered online and are offered in English and Spanish. View our printable PDF for step-by-step instructions in Spanish.

Steps to enrolling in Child Care & Education Credentials at UW-Platteville

Step 1: Explore credentials

You can explore the web pages we have created for each of our credentials, which include required courses and an overview of skills gained. Use this information to help you decide which path is best for you!

Step 2: Apply using the Free Common Application

Apply through the Universities of Wisconsin common application. 

Go to apply.wisconsin.edu in your web browser. 

  • If this is your first time applying, select "Create an Account"
  • If you have applied to any of the Universities of Wisconsin since 2023, select "Sign in" and use your personal email account (NOT your @uwplatt.edu credentials) 

Start a new application on the Universities of Wisconsin application website. 

Follow these instructions to apply to the UW-Platteville Child Care & Education program

  • When asked if you are applying as a degree-seeking student, select "no"
  • When asked if you plan to take undergraduate or graduate classes, select "Undergraduate" 
  • When asked to select your campus, select "UW-Platteville"
  • Select "Early Child Care Credentials" as your major/program
  • Type "Essay not required" when prompted for an essay
  • You do not need to send in information about your parents or provide transcripts. 

After your application is submitted, you should receive an email from the Universities of Wisconsin confirming that they received it.

Step 3: Activate your NetID

You will receive emails from UW-Platteville containing information about your student account (NetID). 

The emails listed below will automatically send within 24-48 hours after you apply. Follow the instructions in each of these emails to activate your account.

  • Activating your UW-Platteville Student Account (NetID) and using PASS 
  • Enroll in Duo two-factor authentication using a mobile device
  • Accessing your campus email via Outlook Web App

Step 4: Enroll in Classes

NOTE: If you have just activated your account through the instructions in step 3, you will need to wait overnight before completing the instructions in step 4. 

Remove holds on your account in PASS

 Any holds on your account must be removed before you can enroll in classes. You can find these holds and remove them on your PASS dashboard, or in the "To-Dos" page within PASS.

Enroll in classes in PASS 

  • Go to the page Enrollment/Enroll - Shopping Cart in PASS.
  • Search for classes currently available for ernollment using the ECED subject tag.
  • Classes available in English will have section number "01". Classes with section "SP" are given in Spanish.
  • Once you have found the course(s) you would like to take for the current term,
  • Click the 3 dots to the far right of the section you'd like to enroll in
  • Add the section to your shopping cart
  • Go to your shopping cart and enroll in that class 

Confirm your enrollment in PASS

  • Go to the page Academics/View Unofficial Transcript. Any classes you have enrolled in, now and in the past, will appear on your unofficial transcript.
  • If you do not see the courses you added from the last step on your unofficial transcript, they may still be in your shopping cart.

Step 5: Get ready for Classes

Textbook Information

Visit the webpage for your credential at go.uwplatt.edu/ECE to find the textbooks for your course. Purchase these so they are ready when your classes start. 

Orientation Information

You can request an orientation guide from ECED@uwplatt.edu - we will also send out live orientation information prior to the start of each term to all enrolled students. 

We are here to help you every step of the way!