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Professional Development

OST Professional Skills and Education

The future of afterschool programs is dependent on empowering current and future OST professionals with the skills and resources needed to serve children and families across Indiana. There are a variety of paths you can take to become an OST professional, but they all lead to shaping a bright future for Hoosier children.

The first step in becoming an OST professional is building your skills and increasing your expertise in youth development either through credentialing or certificates and degrees:

Learning Credentials

Child & Youth Care (CYC) Certification
Recognized in several other states and Canada, the CYC offers three levels of certification Entry, Associate, and Professional. Through a partnership with the CYC Certification Board, the Indiana Youth Services Association administers certification for Indiana youth workers.

Indiana Academy for Out-of-School Learning
IAN’s online professional development system courses meet the requirements for obtaining CYC Certification. For more information, contact our Quality Team.

Certificates and Associate Degrees

Ivy Tech
Many Ivy Tech campuses around the state offer the Technical Certificate and Associate of Applied Science in Human Services through the Department of Public and Social Services – Indiana Youth Development Professional Program.  This certificate prepares you for national certification.

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Youth Physical Wellness Programming Certificate through the School of Health and Human Sciences. This certificate prepares you to design programs that address obesity and lack of physical activity in children. You’ll be prepared to work in unattached school-time settings, such as day and summer camps, and have opportunities to practice what you learn in these environments. The curriculum includes building skills for teaching preschool and elementary-aged children, as well as children with special needs.

Bachelor's Degrees

Indiana University Bloomington
Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science, Youth Development Major at the School of Public Health. The youth development major prepares students for the professional delivery of services which focus on the infant, child and adolescent across all ability levels and within the family, community context. Required courses build a strong foundation to serve youth through integration of key professional topics including: professionalism, cultural and human diversity, applied human development, relationships and communication, and program development.

Purdue University
Bachelors of Science through the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Careers in the social sciences offer the chance to make a difference in the lives of many people, young and old. The goal is to help young children get off to a good start in life, provide support to families during difficult times, and enable senior citizens to make the most of their lives.

Ball State University
Bachelor of Science through the Department of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies at Ball State University. This will prepare you to make a lasting difference in the lives of family and children. You will graduate equipped to work in a variety of settings, from childcare centers to hospitals to family service agencies.

Indiana State University
Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Sport Management with a concentration in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership with the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) Credential, Recreation and Nonprofit Leadership Program in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport in the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services.

Butler University
Bachelor of Science in Education, Major in Youth and Community Development (YCD) through the College of Education. Majors are required to pursue CYC-A certification.

Become an OST Pro
Job Board

Looking for a new position? Utilize our job board to view and submit current job opportunities in the out-of-school time field in Indiana.