Daycare providers can be given with a license if they have the proper education and training in the state of North Carolina. Credentials and certifications are very essential in the daycare industry as it will be the basis if the license is approved or not. Thus, daycare providers as well as the staff must be reminded that each state of America has different licensing standard and rules. In addition, state department assigned with childcare prefer those staffs and providers with the appropriate credentials.
Qualifications for the different positions in a daycare center in the state of North Carolina differ. Thus, they must satisfy the requirements of the state for the license and by reviewing the state’s rules regarding to the licensing as this will help them a lot.
Aside from the educational requirements, the states of America require daycare providers as well as its staff to have a certification on CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) as well as training in First Aid. Trainings in CPR and First-Aid are either provided by the state or included in the coursework of colleges, universities, and other institutions. Educational requirements are being elaborated in the succeeding sections.
Classes offered through the State
With regards to the education of daycare providers, the various universities and colleges in the state of North Carolina have classes and degrees in childcare comparable to the other states’ colleges and universities. Individuals who want to establish a career in the daycare or childcare industry can take up several courses such as childhood education, childhood development, and the like.
Meanwhile, those who took up a different field of expertise but would want to work in a daycare center they can still have the chance to work as the state of North Carolina accepts or credits several courses which are closely related to childhood education, given that the subject credits are the same.
Subjects like Child Care Laws, Child Growth and Development, Family and Community Relations, First Aid and CPR, Nutrition and Health, Psychology, and Small Business Management are the most common classes for a childcare degree. Basic education classes such as English, Mathematics, Sociology and the like should also be taken up.
Certifications Given for Completed Classes
With regards to the credentials and certificates, there are three credentials and certifications awarded by the state of North Carolina to daycare providers including CDA, CCP, and NAC. The said credentials and certifications are also given by other states of America. An individual can earn these certificates if and only if they have finished and accomplished the necessary coursework, accomplished the credit hours, and attained the minimum working experience. Stated earlier, CPR and First Aid trainings are compulsory in the states of America.
The CDA credential (Child Development Associate) is given to daycare providers who have completed secondary education or a GED credential certification plus 480 working hours and 120 hours of formal education with children in the last five years. On the other hand, CCP (Certified Childcare Professional) is awarded to those who want to become daycare teachers, but have not finish their college degree or have taken up a different field.
The NAC (National Administrator Credential) is given by the state to those who want to become daycare managers and directors. The credential focuses further on the management of the organization as well as the administration, site maintenance, and planning and development of childcare programs.
Furthermore, there are several states in America that gives special credential or certifications in the trainings they attend which include the state of North Carolina. A required credential for daycare providers is the state’s Early Childhood Credential.
Interested individual can approach several departments and different networks that are concerned with the wellbeing of the children guarantees and remain to develop the quality of both residential and foster care for children and youth by endowing the abilities of the people responsible for everyday nurturing, care, and discipline of children either in residential facilities or foster home care. Several trainings and scholarships are offered by the state and they are usually free of charge.
Cost of the Classes
In the state of North Carolina, the average tuition fee of childcare degrees and courses in universities and colleges is likely $1,000 to $33,000 annually. However, there are several factors that affect the rate or cost of tuition fee, such as, type of school (whether public or private, vocational or non-vocational), location of the school, and the degree you are currently enrolled.
Required Classes that Day Care Providers Should Take
The classes offered by the state are of the same classes that daycare providers should take. However, as stated earlier, directly related courses to childcare can be accepted by the state. Working experience and credit hours should also be completed as they are important as educational requirements.
General Requirements for the Childcare Director or Daycare Provider
The child care director should be not less than 21 years of age and shall satisfy the following requirements:
- Completed and finished secondary education with a high school diploma as proof or a GED certification or any equivalent; and
- The childcare director shall satisfy one of the following requirements:
- Attained two years of full-time work experience in a childcare center or the like;
- Either undergraduate, graduate, or associate degree holder with a minimum of 12 semester hours in child development child psychology, early childhood education, or closely related field;
- CDA credential
- Accomplishment of a community or technical college curriculum program in the area of child care or early childhood;
- One year of full-time work experience in a childcare center and the like and a Early Childhood Credential by the state of North Carolina;
- Have certification of successfully completed, or be recently enrolled in two (2) semester credit hours, or 32 clock hours of training in the field of early childhood program administration; or one year experience of carrying out administrative duties.
General Requirements for the Daycare Staff
Daycare staff should also meet the following conditions:
- Daycare staff should be eighteen (18) years old and above. if in case, there is a daycare staff below the said age, they should not be given full responsibility as well as the authority in a group of children.
- A staff whose age is not less than 13 years old, but under 16 years old, may work in a childcare center on a volunteer basis given that he or she is being directed by and is accompanied with a required staff person aging 21 years old and above. Moreover, the said staff should also meet the health requirements for volunteers. Staff below 16 years old shall not be left alone with children or counted in the required staff/child ratio.
Thus, it is important that the director as well as its staff needs to pass background checklist as well as the health and physical examination as stated in the state’s licensing rules.
Links and Contact Information for Class Application
The state of North Carolina has assigned some departments that will take care of childcare and family wellbeing. You can reach the departments in the following contact numbers for more questions and enquiries:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Mailing:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Child Development
Regulatory Services Section
2201 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2201
Phone: (919) 662-4499
Toll Free: (800) 859-0829 (within State)
Fax: (919) 661-4845
Head Start – State Collaboration Office
Mailing:
Division of Child Development
2075 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC, 27699-2075
Phone: (919) 981-5300
Fax: (919) 855-6840
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Mailing:
Child Care Resources Inc.
4601 Park Road, Suite 500
Charlotte, NC 28209
Phone: (704) 276-6697 or (704) 376-6697
Fax: (704) 376-7865
