The state of Arkansas has different licensing standards for Day Care Centres and Family Day Cares.
Defined in the Licensing Standard Requirements for Day Care Centres in Arkansas are the requirements for licensing day cares, program and nutrition for the children, and the requirements for day care directors and their day care staffs. Education and training are very important when it comes to day care centres since you will be dealing with different children from infants, toddlers, and to preschool children. Attending classes and trainings will help the provider and staff to give the quality service as well as the over-all welfare of children.
Classes offered through the State
Arkansas still accepts different degrees or courses related to childcare. Most famous and common childcare courses include Early Childhood Education or Childhood Development. Thus, the state of Arkansas also accepts other courses, given that the courses are closely-related to early childhood education.
Aspiring day care providers and day care staff can enrol to classes equivalent or similar to Early Childhood Education or Childhood Development. These degrees include Introduction to Early Childhood Education, Literacy Development, Special Needs Children, Keeping Records and Assessing Children, and Professional Behaviour classes. Aside from these classes, general education classes such as Mathematics, Writing, Sociology, Science, Psychology, and Communication are being taught.
Certifications Given for Completed Classes
Arkansas offers the CCP, CDA, and NAC certificates for those providers and staff that complete day care classes.
- Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) – This credential is given to those individuals who intend to educate young children, particularly to those who demonstrate knowledge and skills in early childhood development.
- Child Development Associate (CDA) – This certificate is given to those staffs or teachers that have completed at least 4.5 continuing education units or a 3-credit-hour course for renewal. Classes or courses that can be credited for CDA include early childhood education and development, mental health counseling and principles of adult learning. For those renewal candidates, they are required to acquire 80-hour work experience either with young children or their families in the previous years. They should also become a member of any local or national early childhood professional organization as well as earn first aid certification.
- National Administrator Credential (NAC) – This certificate is intended for current and aspiring childcare managers and directors. Discussed issues include managing staff, maintaining facilities and developing programs. The NAC certification is required to be renewed every two (2) years through completion of 20-hour work in either business or administration.
Part of earning the certificates is work experiences in teaching or observing children in real-life scenarios. In addition, training in first aid is required as well as child cardiopulmonary -resuscitation (CPR) for day care providers and their staff.
Cost of the Classes
Universities in Arkansas offer childcare courses and other related-courses. The cost may differ depending on the university, course or major, then the degree level. It is estimated that childcare course can cost $1,500 to $5,000 per year. There are also some universities that offer cheap tuition fees or no tuition at all, specifically on online childcare courses.
The State department of Arkansas also offers trainings to aspiring day care providers and they are usually free of charge.
Required Classes that Day Care Providers Should Take
Stated in the Licensing Standards of Day Care Centres in Arkansas are the qualifications of the administration as well as its personnel. The responsibilities are also being defined in the licensing standards.
In the Arkansas Licensing Standards for Day Care Centres, providers must be at least 21 years old while all other employees should be 18 years and above. Potential employees below 18 years of age should be directed and supervised of the director or person in charge and should be accepted on an individual basis by the child care licensing unit.
The educational requirement in the State of Arkansas is that providers or employees should have a high school diploma or GED or other equivalent. They should acquire at least 10 hours of in-service training or outside workshop training each year in continuing early Childhood education.
Classes such as child development and psychology are very essential classes as this will broaden the understanding of day care providers and their staff on the behavior of the children. Providers and their staff should also take child literature, English, math, sociology, and computer classes.
Links and Contact Information for Class Application
For those who want to establish their own daycare or interested in daycare job positions, you can contact your state departments for inquiries about day care classes, child care trainings, and the licensing standards.
Listed here are the Arkansas government agencies that you can contact:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Mailing:
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
Child Care Licensing Unit
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S-150
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Phone: (501) 682-8590
Toll Free: (800) 445-3316
Fax: (501) 682-2317
Head Start – State Collaboration Office
Mailing:
1400 West Markham Street
Suite 406
Little Rock, AR, 72201
Phone: (501) 371-0740
Fax: (501) 370-9109
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Mailing:
Arkansas Division of Children & Early Childhood Education
700 Main Street
P.O. Box 1437, Slot S160
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Phone: (501) 683-0033
Toll Free: (800) 445-3316
Fax: (501) 682-4897
