Approved Educator Requirements
Level I - Apprentice
All applicants will be approved at the apprentice level.
Apprentice requirements are:
- Associate Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development
OR Associate Degree in non-early childhood with 15 credit hours of early childhood courses. (Degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education)
- 8,000 clock hours (4 years) working with young children (birth to 8 years) as a caregiver, teacher, social worker, or similar role
Fifty (50) clock hours of professional growth for adults within the last 3 years (ex. staff meetings, parent meetings, local presentations)
Additional requirements after approval:
1. Team teach a child care careers course with a trained coach
(Minimum- one 10-hour course – maximum - 30 hours)
Coach will make a recommendation to move to level II, level III or continue at the apprentice level for continued support
Level II - Practitioner
Practitioner requirements are:
- Associate Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development OR Associate Degree in non-early childhood with 15 credit hours of early childhood courses OR Bachelor’s Degree in non-early childhood with 15 credit hours early childhood courses.* (Degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education)
- 8,000 clock hours (4 years) working directly with young children (birth to 8 years) as a caregiver, teacher, social worker, or similar role.
- Fifty (50) clock hours of professional growth for adults within the last year (college class, child care career course, Tier Two training) or an independent contractor with the Training Approval System since July 2002 with good service record
Additional requirements after approval:
- Complete sixteen (16) clock hour CECPD Adult Education Course within one year of the application approval
Level III – Specialist
Specialist requirements are:
- Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development
OR Bachelor Degree in non-early childhood with 24 credit hours of early childhood courses
OR Advanced Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development or
non-early childhood with 24 credit hours of early childhood courses (Degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education)
- 4,000 clock hours (2 years) working directly with young children (birth to 8 years) as a caregiver, teacher, social worker, or similar role
- Seventy-five (75) hours of professional growth for adults within the last year (college class, child care career course, Tier Two training) or an independent contractor with the Training Approval System since July 2002 with good service record
Additional requirements after approval:
- Complete sixteen (16) clock hour CECPD Adult Education Course within one year of the application approval
Content Expert
Content Expert requirements are:
- Current license, certificate or credential in area of expertise in which topic is being trained (ex. nursing, mental health, special needs) (Training must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education)
- 6,000 clock hours (3 years) related experience in area of expertise in which topic is being trained
Additional requirements after approval:
- Complete sixteen (16) clock hour CECPD Adult Education Course within one year of the application approval
(The Content Expert ONLY trains in area of expertise)
