For daycare providers in the state of Oklahoma, it is important that they have the education and training required for a daycare provider. Credentials and certifications are essential in each state of America as it is required for the license approval. Aside from the fact that the country has its rules regarding daycare licensing, daycare providers must also remember that every state of America like Oklahoma has also different rules governing daycare licensing. In addition, the state department assigned with daycare licensing does not approve license if the provider and staff don’t have the appropriate credentials.
Qualifications for the different positions in a daycare center in the state of Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma. A required credential for daycare providers is a certificate or credential awarded by the state which is the Oklahoma Director’s Credential. Aside from this, certifications such as Oklahoma Competency Certificate in Early Care and Education and Director’s Advanced Training (DAT) are both necessary.
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 Oklahoma, the average annual tuition fee of childcare degrees and courses in different universities and colleges is estimated to be $2,000 to $25,000. 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 21 years old and above. They should have attained and maintain the Bronze level in accordance with the Oklahoma daycare licensing standards which is composed of the following requirements:
- GED or High School Diploma
- Six permitted credit hours in Early Childhood Education or Child Development; or at least 90 formal clock hours with a minimum of 10 hours in every seven Early Childhood Education or Child Development Core Knowledge Areas, which include Child Growth and Development, Child Guidance and Management, Child Observations and Assessment, Curriculum and Instructional Methods, Family and Community Relationships, Health and Safety of Young Children, and Professionalism and Leadership; or Accredited Early Childhood Education or Child Development Credential or Certificate.
- 3 years of working experience in a childcare facility setting or the like; or 2 college semesters of documented administrative internship or supervised lab;
- A minimum of 2 points of professional contributions;
- For renewal after initial 3 years: 60 hours of Tier I (refer to the state’s licensing rules) or higher training
For Lead Teachers:
- Be at least 18 years of age and have obtained the qualifications at Level III or higher of Professional Development Ladder of Oklahoma
- In a program where the majority of children are school-age, the master teacher may have 120 clock hours of Tier II or higher school-age training within the last five years, in accordance with the Oklahoma Training Approval System, 480 hours of experience in a program where the majority of children are school-age, and every two years a minimum score of 5.0 on the School-Age Environment Rating Scale in a classroom where the master teacher is the lead teacher.
For Teachers:
- Be at least 18 years of age; and
- Have a high school diploma or GED; or
- Have completed the tenth grade and be in the process of obtaining a GED fora period not to exceed 12 months.
Assistant teachers
- Assistant teachers are at least 16 years of age and
- Have a high school diploma or GED;
- Have completed the tenth grade and be in the process of obtaining a GED; or
- Be currently enrolled in secondary education or the equivalent.
Links and Contact Information for Class Application
The state of Oklahoma 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:
Department of Human Services
Division of Child Care
Sequoyah Memorial Office Building
P.O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0352
Phone: (405) 521-3561
Toll Free: (800) 347-2276
Fax: (405) 522-2564
Head Start – State Collaboration Office
Mailing:
Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies
2800 N.W. 36th Street
Suite 221
Oklahoma City, OK, 73112
Phone: (405) 949-1495
Fax: (405) 949-0955
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Mailing:
Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral Network
4200 Perimeter Center, Suite 235
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Phone: (405) 942-5001
Toll Free: (888) 962-2772
Fax: (405) 942-3740
