What's the Difference Between a CPDPE, a PDAIT, and a CPDA?
Are you feeling confused about all the titles? Below is an explanation about what each one of the acronyms means, and what level of expertise you can expect from each group of individuals.
Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator (CPDPE)
A Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator has successfully completed a 2 day intensive training in Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way. Upon completion, Parent Educators are encouraged to teach parenting classes and workshops using the manuals of experiential activities and books from the Positive Discipline series. CPDPEs are also encouraged to become a part of the
Positive Discipline Association in order to support their successful facilitation or use of PD materials, learn more of the theory and to enrich their use of PD in their families, or other work settings.
- CPDPEs provide parenting classes, typically using the model of a seven week series, but it is up to the Parent Educator how long a workshop should be.
- CPDPEs may provide one-day or shorter workshops as a way to introduce parents and others who work with children to some basic skills and the need for ongoing learning and support in weekly classes.
- CPDPEs, who are licensed therapists or coaches, may integrate basic PD concepts within the framework of their practice.
Certified Positive Discipline Associate in Training (PDAIT)
A Certified Positive Discipline Associate in Training is a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator who is a member of the Positive Discipline Association and has declared their intent to attain full certification. Most PDAITs have taken both Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way and Positive Discipline in the Classroom core courses. Additionally, PDAITs are actively involved in an on-going training program to enhance and strengthen their facilitation skills in the PD experiential model. They are working to deepen their understanding of Positive Discipline and Adlerian concepts and methodology. They may have a mentor who is a CPDA, may be actively involved in continuing PD education through our Members List Serve where resources and ideas are shared, and may be attending additional Positive Discipline workshops, and our annual conference specifically for PDA members. Some PDAITs focus their training on working with parents, some in the classroom or school setting and others are working to attain a high level of expertise in both arenas. PDAITs typically would have a deeper understanding of Positive Discipline concepts and application than a CPDPE.
- PDAITs provide parenting classes, typically using the model of a seven week series but frequently extending this to a variety of formats or settings.
- PDAITs who are licensed therapists or coaches may integrate PD concepts within the framework of their practice.
- Many PDAITs work in schools and organizations where they have begun implementing PD concepts, ideas and activities in a broad variety of ways, sharing ideas with peers for example, supporting and encouraging co-workers in their exploration of this model, or providing basic workshops on this model.
Certified Positive Discipline Associate
A Certified Positive Discipline Associate (CPDA) has participated in an extensive training process to become qualified to facilitate the two-day Teaching Parenting (TP) workshop, and/or the two-day Positive Discipline in the Classroom (PDC) and other Positive Discipline workshops. This training program emphasizes attaining a solid understanding of Positive Discipline concepts and theory, experience with facilitation using the Positive Discipline experiential model, and the development of strong facilitation skills. Thus, CPDAs have attained a level of expertise where they are endorsed by the Positive Discipline Association as “Trainers of Trainers.”
- Agencies and schools are encouraged to contract with a CPDA when they are looking to developing a campus- or organization-wide commitment to Positive Discipline model, where they want the depth and scope of understanding consistent with this level of expertise, and where they want the program adapted for specific populations or settings.
- CPDAs have a high level of expertise in offering parent classes, teacher training, and school or organizational consultations or training based on Positive Discipline principles.
- Typically, CPDAs strongly integrate the PD framework of strategies and methodology in their therapeutic or coaching practice.
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