Recognition of Training Courses

Training courses in IASWECE Full Member Countries:

In IASWECE member countries, recognition of training courses is regulated by the country association. A course recognised by an IASWECE Full Member country association is listed on the World List.

Qualifications (certificates, diplomas, etc.) are issued by those who carry responsibility for a particular training course or training centre.

Training Courses in Non-member Countries:

In countries that are not members of IASWECE, a training course or centre that sees itself as working in accordance with the IASWECE Guidelines for Training of Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Educators and has taken one group of students through to completion may apply directly to the IASWECE for acknowledgement. This acknowledgement is based on the review of the application, including descriptions of course content, timetables, tutors, administration, plans for development, etc.

Any use of the name “IASWECE” in published materials, certificates, etc. must have the prior permission of the IASWECE.

IASWECE does not issue qualifications or certificates to individuals. Qualifications (certificates, diplomas, etc.) are issued and signed by those who carry responsibility for a particular training course.

NOTE: Under certain conditions, training courses may apply to the IASWECE to have a signature by a representative of the IASWECE on the students’ certificates. This is to be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Working Group on Training, in conjunction with the Coordinating Group, and in some cases (where there are legal/governmental implications) with the Board.

Applying for Recognition/Acknowledgement of a Training Course in a Non-Member Country:

An application by a training course or center that sees itself as working with the IASWECE guidelines should include the following:

  • A letter of application (please note: only courses can be acknowledged, not training centres)
  • An outline of the course content, a timetable, names of tutors who are teaching in the course, and a list of assignment tasks. This should demonstrate that the course is designed and delivered in accordance with the guidelines.
  • A copy of the advertising for the course
  • A statement of how the course administration is set up
  • A plan with numbers of students, income and projected deficit for which financial assistance may be sought
  • An annual update of how the course is progressing and who have been  main tutors.
  • A sample of the certification document.
  • A list of students who have completed the most recent course.

This documentation needs to be submitted in English and/or German. The documentation will be passed on to the IASWECE Working Group on  Training, which will establish whether the Training Guidelines are met and whether the course delivery and course organization is sound and provides the students with an opportunity to learn what is expressed in the Guidelines. The Working Group on Training may request that the applicant provide further clarification or information. The Working Group may also contact tutors who have taught in the course. The decision will be announced to the Coordinating Group of IASWECE and to the applicant within a reasonable time frame.

Once this process has been completed successfully, the World List  of training courses in Steiner/Waldorf early childhood education will include the training course, which may also state on its certificates and in its publicity materials that “This course has been acknowledged by IASWECE”.

IASWECE reserves the right to withdraw permission to use the logo and statement for courses that do not maintain the quality for which the acknowledgement was originally given.