Regulation .04 Child Care Credential Requirements.
Regulation .04 Child Care Credential Requirements.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Staff Credential 1. The only qualification for a level 1 credential shall be:
(1)
Current registration as a family child care provider or co-provider; or
(2)
Qualification by the Office as a child care facility:
(a)
Director; or
(b)
Staff member.
B.
Staff Credential 2. Qualification for a level 2 credential requires:
(1)
Successful completion of 45 clock hours of core of knowledge training, of which 20 clock hours shall be in child development; and
(2)
Completion of one child care professional activity unit within the 12 months before applying for participation.
C.
Staff Credential 3. Qualification for a level 3 credential requires:
(1)
Successful completion of 90 clock hours of core of knowledge training, of which a minimum of 20 clock hours each shall be in child development and in curriculum development;
(2)
Completion of two child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and
(3)
Completion of:
(a)
1 year of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(b)
1 year of college; or
(c)
A combination of experience and college equal to 1 year.
D.
Staff Credential 4. Qualification for a level 4 credential requires:
(1)
Successful completion of 135 clock hours of core of knowledge training, consisting of:
(a)
45 clock hours in child development;
(b)
30 clock hours in curriculum development;
(c)
20 clock hours in health, safety, and nutrition;
(d)
15 clock hours in special needs;
(e)
15 clock hours in professionalism; and
(f)
10 clock hours in community issues;
(2)
Completion of three child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and
(3)
Completion of 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting.
E.
Staff Credential 4 Plus. Qualification for a level 4 plus credential requires a participant to:
(1)
Successfully complete 135 clock hours of core of knowledge training as specified at §D(1) of this regulation;
(2)
Take part in at least four child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation;
(3)
Complete a minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting; and
(4)
Meet one of the following requirements:
(a)
Hold current accreditation as a family child care provider;
(b)
Complete at least:
(i)
15 college credit hours of approved course work that includes courses in child development and curriculum planning; and
(ii)
7 additional years of experience working with children in an approved setting; or
(c)
Enroll in an approved degree program that includes at least one early childhood course and accumulate 55 points by earning 5 points for completing each additional:
(i)
Early childhood course for credit; or
(ii)
Year of experience working with children in an approved setting.
F.
Staff Credential 5. Qualification for a level 5 credential requires a participant to:
(1)
Complete a minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(2)
Take part in four child care professional activity units; and
(3)
Complete one of the following:
(a)
An associate degree with 15 college credit hours of approved course work that includes courses in child development and curriculum planning;
(b)
30 college credit hours of approved course work that includes at least one course in each of the following areas:
(i)
Child development;
(ii)
Curriculum planning;
(iii)
Health and safety;
(iv)
Special needs;
(v)
Working with school-age children;
(vi)
Working with infant and toddler-age children;
(vii)
Language and literacy; and
(viii)
Administration of child care programs; or
(c)
15 college credit hours of approved course work, enrolled in an approved degree program, and accumulate 45 points by earning 5 points for completing each additional:
(i)
Early childhood course for credit; or
(ii)
Year of experience working with children in an approved setting.
G.
Staff Credential 6. Qualification for a level 6 credential requires a participant to complete:
(1)
At least 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(2)
At least 5 child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and
(3)
One of the following:
(a)
A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in:
(i)
Early childhood education;
(ii)
Elementary education;
(iii)
Special education;
(iv)
Family studies;
(v)
Child development; or
(vi)
A related discipline; and
(b)
At least one course in:
(i)
Child development; and
(ii)
Curriculum development; or
(c)
Complete:
(i)
A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a nonrelated field; and
(ii)
30 semester hours of approved course work that includes courses in child development and curriculum planning; or
(d)
Complete an associate or higher degree with 15 semester hours of approved course work, enroll in an approved degree program, and accumulate 45 points by earning 5 points for each additional:
(i)
Early childhood course for credit; or
(ii)
Year of experience working with children in an approved setting.
H.
Administrator Credential 1. Qualification for a level 1 credential requires completion of:
(1)
2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(2)
Four child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and
(3)
240 clock hours of core of knowledge training, consisting of:
(a)
45 clock hours in child development;
(b)
45 clock hours in curriculum development;
(c)
45 clock hours in health, safety, and nutrition;
(d)
45 clock hours in special needs;
(e)
45 clock hours in professionalism; and
(f)
15 clock hours in community issues.
I.
Administrator Credential 2. Qualification for a level 2 credential requires completion of:
(1)
2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(2)
Five child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation;
(3)
240 clock hours of core of knowledge training consisting of:
(a)
45 clock hours in child development;
(b)
45 clock hours in curriculum development;
(c)
45 clock hours in health, safety, and nutrition;
(d)
45 clock hours in special needs;
(e)
45 clock hours in professionalism; and
(f)
15 clock hours in community issues; and
(4)
Either:
(a)
The National Administrator's Credential; or
(b)
At least 30 semester hours of college course work in an approved course of study.
J.
Administrator Credential 3. Qualification for a level 3 credential requires completion of:
(1)
4 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(2)
Five child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and
(3)
An associate degree from an accredited college that includes:
(a)
15 college credit hours of course work related to business management or administration; and
(b)
One course for credit in each of the following areas:
(i)
Child development;
(ii)
Curriculum development; and
(iii)
Administration of child care programs.
K.
Administrator Credential 4. Qualification for a level 4 credential requires completion of:
(1)
5 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
(2)
Six child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation;
(3)
45 clock hours of training in the area of mentoring and coaching staff;
(4)
A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in:
(a)
Business administration;
(b)
Public administration and management;
(c)
Public school administration;
(d)
A degree as specified at §G(3) of this regulation; or
(e)
A related discipline; and
(5)
One course for credit in each of the following areas:
(a)
Child development;
(b)
Curriculum development; and
(c)
Administration of child care programs.