Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-4.6
Staff Qualifications

GEN (a) The center shall maintain on file a Staff Records Checklistx "Staff Records Checklist" designated by the Bureau, as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-4.1(b), indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the applicable staff education and experience, as specified in (b) through (d) below.

(b) The directorx "director:quaifications" shall meet the following qualification requirements:

1. For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:director qualifications" licensed to serve more than 30 children, the directorx"director:qualifications" shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the six options set forth in the chart below for education and experience:

OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

B

Bachelor's Degree

One year of managerial or supervisory experience in a child care program, educational institution, business, or program or agency related to children.

C	Child Development		Two years of managerial
	Associate (CDA) or		or supervisory experience
	Group Teacher Approval		in a child care program, educational institution, business, or program or agency related to children.

D	Six college credits in:		Three years of managerial
	early childhood education; or child developmentx "child development"		or supervisory experience in a child care program, educational institution, business, or program or agency related to children.

E	Six college credits in		Three years of managerial
	business administration/		or supervisory experience
	management		in a child care program, educational institution, or business, of which one year shall be in a field related to children.
F	High School Diploma or		Four years of managerial
	General Education		or supervisory experience
	Development (GED) Diploma		in a child care program, educational institution, or business, of which two years shall be in a field related to children.

2. For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:director qualifications" licensed to serve 30 or fewer children, and for school-age child care programsx "school-age child care programs:director qualifications" regardless of capacity, the directorx "director:qualifications" shall meet the following qualification requirements:

   i. One of the six options specified in the chart in (b) 1 above; or

   ii. A high school diploma or GED diploma and:

   (1) Two years of managerial or supervisory experience in business and/or recreation fields; or

   (2) Two years of experience in a group program for children.

1. For all centers, the head teacherx "head teacher:qualifications" or consulting head teacherx "consulting head teacher:qualifications" shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the six options set forth in the chart below for education and experience:

Option	Educational Credentials	and	College credits and Experience
A	Master's Degree in Education		Six credits and one year of experience
B	Master's Degree in any field		Nine credits and one year
	other than Education		of experience
C	Bachelor's Degree in Education,		Six credits and two years
	Psychology, Health Care,		of experience
	Nursing, or any other field related to Child Growth and Development; or Teaching Certification from Department of Educationx "Department of Education" in Elementary Education, Nursery School or Teacher of the Handicapped
D	Bachelor's Degree in any field		Nine credits and three
	other than those listed		years of experience
	in Option C			OR
			Six credits and four years of experience

E	Teaching Certification from		Nine credits and three
	Department of Educationx "Education, Department of"		years of experience
	in a field other than those listed			OR
	in Option C		Six credits and four
			years of experience
F	Montessorix "Montessori" Diploma approved by the American Montessori Society; or Pre-Primary Credential approved by American Montessori International; or any other Montessori education equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree		Two years of experience

i. The credits specified in the chart above shall be college credits in early childhood education and/or child developmentx "child development". These credits may be part of the bachelor's or master's degree or constitute additional credits beyond the degree(s).

ii. For conditional approvalx "conditional approval:head teacher", the center shall maintain on file documentation of enrollment in courses leading to the credits specified in the chart above. This conditional approval shall be valid for a maximum of nine months, at which time the center shall obtain and maintain on file a transcript indicating completion of these credits.

iii. The years of experience specified in the chart above shall be full time experience in a group program for children under six years of age. This experience may include supervised practice teaching and/or student teaching.

2. For recreation-type centers sponsored by a county or municipal government recreation and/or park department or agency, the head teacherx "head teacher:recreation centers" or consulting head teacherx "consulting head teacher:recreation centers" shall have:

   i. One of the options specified in the chart in (c) 1 above; or

   ii. Certification as a Recreation Administrator or a Recreation Supervisor from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Board of Recreation Examiners (BRE) and two years of recreation experience; or

   iii. Certification as a Recreation Professional from the National Recreation and Park Associationx "National Recreation and Park Association" (NRPAx "NRPA" \t "See National Recreation and Park Association") and two years of recreation experience.

3. The group teacherx "early childhood programs:group teacher:qualifications"x "group teacher:qualifications" shall meet the following requirements for experience and education:

   i. One year of teaching experience in a group program for children under six years of age, which may include supervised practice teaching and/or student teaching; and

   ii. One of the options set forth in the chart below for educational credentials:

   OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE GROUP TEACHER EDUCATIONAL/QUALIFICATIONS

   Option Educational Credentials

   A Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development

   B Six college credits in Early Childhood Education or Child Development AND Nine college credits in Education, Psychology, Health Care, Nursing, or any other field related to child growth or development

   C Child Development Associate (CDA)x "Child Development Associate (CDA)" Credential

   D Certified Child Care Professional (CCP)x "Certified Child Care Professional (CCP)" Certificate

4. For recreation-type centers sponsored by a county or municipal government recreation and/or park department or agency, the group teacherx "group teacher:recreation centers" may substitute:

   i. One year of recreation experience for the experience specified in 3i above; and

   ii. Certification as a Recreation Technician from the NRPA for the educational credentials specified in 3ii above.

5. For conditional approvalx "conditional approval:group teacher", the group teacherx "group teacher:conditional approval" shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the options set forth in the chart below. The center shall obtain and maintain on file documentation that the staff member has acquired the remaining college credits in the areas specified in Option B in 3ii above within the time period specified below:

   OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE GROUP TEACHER CONDITIONAL APPROVAL QUALIFICATIONS

SA (d) For school-age child care programsx "school-age child care programs:program supervisor:qualifications", the following shall apply:

1. The program supervisorx "program supervisor:qualifications" shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the applicable options set forth in the chart below for education, training and experience, based on the center's licensed capacity:

REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM SUPERVISOR QUALIFICATIONS

		OR
		Child Development Associate (CDA)x "Child Development Associate (CDA)" Certificate; Group Teacher Approval; or 15 college credits in child developmentx "child development", education, recreation, psychology, health care, nursing or any other field related to child growth and development	6 hours (in child care)	1 year
		OR
		15 college credits in areas not related to children		2 years

C

31 or more

High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) Diploma

6 hours(in child care) AND 3 hours (in child program management)

4 years

OR

		Certificate as a Recreation Technician from the National Recreation and Park Associationx"National Recreation and Park Association" (NRPA)				6 hours (in child care) AND 3 hours (in child program management)	2 years
		OR
		Child Development Associate (CDA)x "Child Development Associate (CDA)" Certificate; Group Teacher Approval; or 15 college credits in child developmentx "child development", education, recreation, psychology, health care, nursing or any other field related to child growth and development			6 hours (in child care) AND 3 hours (in child program management)	2 years
		OR
		15 college credits in areas not related to children	6 hours (in child care) AND 3 hours (in child program management)			3 years

		OR
		Associate's Degree in any field	6 hours (in child care) AND 3 hours (in child program management)	2 years
		OR
		Bachelor's Degree in a child related field; or Bureau of Licensingx "Bureau of Licensing" Head Teacher Approval	3 hours (in child program management)	1 year
		OR
		Certificate as a Recreation Administrator, Recreation Supervisor or Recreation Professional	3 hours (in child program management)	1 year
		OR
		Bachelor's Degree in an unrelated field	6 hours (in child care) AND 3 hours (in child program management)	1 year

2. The training specified in the chart above shall:

   i. Be clock hours of training;

   ii. Be completed within nine months of Bureau of Licensingx"Bureau of Licensing" approval as program supervisorx "program supervisor";

   iii. Be in areas related to the ages of the children in care; and

   iv. Meet the requirements specified in (d) 3 and 4 below.

3. Child care training shall include at least two of the following:

   i. Child growth and development;

   ii. Positive guidance and discipline;

   iii. Nutrition and good eating habits;

   iv. Family involvement and communication with families;

   v. Program planning and development;

   vi. Creating a classroom environment;

   vii. Health and safety procedures, including recognition of illness and disease and training in basic infection control techniques;

   viii. Physical education or recreational activities for children; and

   ix. Understanding New Jersey's child care licensing regulations.

4. Program management training shall include at least two of the following:

   i. Program activity planning and development;

   ii. Family involvement and communication with families;

   iii. Availability of community services;

   iv. Personnel responsibilities and procedures; and

   v. Understanding New Jersey's child care licensing regulations.

5. The experience specified in the chart above shall be obtained in a group program for school-age children.

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