Follow us!

Facebook icon Twitter icon

User login

Home

Career Development

What is a Parent Educator?

Many definitions have been given to the field of parent education. For some it is workshops and classes on parenting. For others it is any type of educational services from brochures and books to toys and activities that parents and children can use. Still others see parent education as providing family support and services that assist parents and caregivers in providing an optimal environment for their child. Whether you see yourself as a facilitator, social worker, support system, or provider of goods and services parent education includes you. A person or organization that provides services, education and materials to parents could take the form of a home visitor, a volunteer who answers questions about immunizations, a minister who provides classes on helping children develop spirituality, a therapist who assists parents in developing skills to work with their children or an author of parenting books or brochures. Each of these individuals can benefit from networking, collaborating and communicating with other parent educators to share ideas, build cohesion in the community and to avoid duplication of effort. By becoming a part of the field of parent education all of these professionals can gain training, information and greater understanding about working with parents.

Credentials / Certifications

Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) - The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) sponsors the only national program to certify family life educators. The CFLE program encourages applications from all professionals with course work and experience in family life education including formal teaching, community education, curriculum and resource development, health care, military family support, and ministry.
For more information visit the NCFR website: http://www.ncfr.org

Graduate Academic Certificates

University of North Texas
Toulouse Graduate School
Parent Education Academic Certificate
UNT offers Graduate Academic Certificate programs in Parent Education and Family, Schools, Community Involvement and for graduate credit at the post-baccalaureate and post-master's level. Graduate Academic Certificate programs are:

  • Taught by University Graduate Faculty.
  • Graduate-level, credit-bearing courses.
  • Appear on students' university transcripts.
  • University Certificate of Completion.

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Arminta Jacobson, Program in Development, Family Studies, and Early Childhood Education
(940) 565-2432 or Arminta.Jacobson@unt.edu
For Admission Information:
Toulouse Graduate School
http://www.tsgs.unt.edu
(888) UNT- GRAD

Links to Organizations, Schools and Agency Employment Opportunities