How to Apply
All of these steps must be completed before considering yourself fully accepted to and ready to attend our in person training:
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Fill out the online application form & pay $100 Application fee
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Complete the Payment Plan Form and Contract
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After application fee paid, complete Financial Assistance form if needed (provided upon registration).
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Reach out to the Student Services Coordinator of your location to let them know you have enrolled, or are in the process of enrolling, and they can assist you with any questions that arise.
If you are in need of downloadable forms to mail into LifeWays, please email Julie at administrator@lifewaysnorthamerica.net
Program Costs
Tuition
There is a $100 non refundable application fee. Tuition includes supply and mentor fees, two daily organic snacks and daily lunches.
Our goal is to do all we can to make it possible for you to take this training, while at the same time being respectful and responsible to the needs of our organization. As the expense of daily life continues to increase, we are cognisant of how challenging it can be to commit to investments like our training, all the while facing expense increases ourselves. Our income-based tuition has been developed based upon median incomes across the country, with the aim to find a middle path in which to meet both needs. We also welcome the impulse of economic camaraderie in contributing what we can so that support may be lent to others who are in more need.
Income Bracket A - $90,000 & above: $6,450 tuition
Income Bracket B - $75,000 - 89,999: $6,200 tuition
Income Bracket C - $74,999 & below: $5,950 tuition
We recognize that median incomes do not always translate into what a family has to spend. Our foundation of relationship-based care extends beyond our childcare programs and classrooms, into the relationship we build with you, including our financial exchange. We strive to work with each student who applies to find a way for them to take this Training. Beyond the income-based, we have several different payment plan options, including one in which our Financial Administrator works with you one on one to find the right customized plan.
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​Auditing students pay the tuition minus a $600 mentor fee. They do not have a mentor and do not complete the independent study requirements; thus, no graduation certificate is awarded or graduate benefits offered.​​​​
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Other Expenses
Other expenses for the training include:
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Travel and lodging
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Breakfast and dinners during the training sessions
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Purchase of books for required reading
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A pentatonic kinder lyre (may also be borrowed)
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The reimbursement of mentor’s travel expenses for their mentor visit is also a possible additional expense
Discounts
01
Early Enrollment Discount:
​Each training has an early enrollment date listed on its web page. Completing all of the enrollment steps by this date means you can receive $225 off your tuition. In order to qualify as full enrolled and receive the discount this means that you have:
- Applied for the training and paid the $100 fee.
- Completed the Payment Plan and received confirmation of approval by the Financial Administrator.
- Completed and signed your contract and turned it into the Financial Administrator.
02
Fundamentals Retreat Discount
If you have previously completed our Fundamentals Retreat, any tuition that you paid (according to your payment plan) minus a $140 supply fee is directly applied towards the Full Certificate Training. To receive this discount, please indicate your location and year of attendance on the Payment Plan.
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Representative Site Discount
If you currently work at a LifeWays Representative Site program, you also benefit from 25% off the tuition price. Please speak to your program director about how this discount will be applied. If the discount is to be directly applied to your tuition, you will indicate your place of employment on the Payment Plan.
Payment Options
01
Paying in Full
​We encourage you to pay the full amount up front when possible. This may be done by Credit or Debit card, or ACH transfer. We appreciate your paying in full in advance and will send you a complimentary copy of the LifeWays book Home Away from Home as a thank you.
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Installment Payment Plan
We have two payment plan options outside of Full Payment- 50% down with monthly installments for the remaining balance OR a customized plan. For either of these options, a $100 processing fee is charged. Monthly payment plans may be made for up to 24 months and can be paid with a debit or credit card, or ACH transfer.
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For any of our payment plan options, an online payment plan form must be completed with a follow-up email to Kari, our Financial Administrator, finances@lifewaysnorthamerica.net. After creating a custom payment plan with Kari, you will receive a payment plan agreement which must be signed and returned within five (5) days of your receipt of it.
Payment plans must be completed, along with a contract before a student is considered fully enrolled in a training.
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For All Payment Plan Options:
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Receiving Financial Assistance from Another Source
If you will be receiving financial support from an employer or other source, you will make arrangements with our Financial Administrator through a Customized Payment Plan.
Financial Assistance
We are passionate about making our training accessible for everyone. If personally funding this training is not feasible for you with a customized payment plan alone, you may submit a Financial Assistance Form. This form is available upon applying and paying the $100 application fee. If you are concerned about paying this fee and not being able to afford the training, please contact us at administrator@lifewaysnorthamerica.net.
To fill out the Financial Assistance form, you will need to have on hand specific information about your household income, expenses and larger financial picture, as well as other forms of financial support that might be available and what you feel you can contribute initially and monthly. You will also need to submit an IRS form 1040.
We also suggest seeking support from friends or family who are eager to help you take steps toward setting up your own early childhood business or deepening your own parenting practices. Several students have been successful using online fundraising campaigns with family and friends. Remember to tell them why this training is important for you and what you will do with it!
Fees & Refunds
Late Fee
Students must have an approved, signed payment plan, contract, and have made their first payment prior to the first day of training or a $50/week late fee will be charged.
Insufficient Funds Fee
Please know what your bank balance or credit card limit is, as there will be a $25 charge for returned checks or declined credit/debit card payments.
Refunds
The $100 Application Fee is nonrefundable. If a student must drop out of the program, the other fees will be prorated as follows:
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45 days or more prior to the first session: Full refund less a $100 cancellation fee.
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Less than 45 days prior to a session and up through completing the first session: Partial refund based on a $100 cancellation processing fee and a prorated amount for the days attended.
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After attending half of the training sessions, no refund or credits will be given on the amount owed for the complete training. Trainings are undertaken based on students’ agreements, so payment commitments will continue. Students may complete the training at any future time in any location.
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If tuition and/or fees increase before the student completes the training, then the student is responsible for paying any increase in the costs.
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Cancelled Trainings: In the unlikely event that a training series must be cancelled or rescheduled, the student may attend a training in another location or request a refund in full, including the Application Fee.