Staffing Requirements
Centers licensed by Community Care Licensing under Title XXII require the following staff qualifications:
Director of Infant or Preschool Center
- 15 units of child development
- Three of these units must be in administration
- Four years of teaching experience, or AA degree in child development and two years of teaching experience, or BA degree in child development and one year of teaching experience
School Age Director
- Three units of administration
- Three units of early childhood education
- Nine units in recreation, physical education, social welfare, early childhood education, or a teaching credential and four years of teaching experience
Fully Qualified Infant Teacher
- 12 units of child development
- Three of these units must be related to the care of infants
- Six months of experience in a group child care program for children under five years old
Fully Qualified Preschool Teacher
- 12 units of child development
- Six months of work experience in a group child care program
Fully Qualified School Age Teacher
- 12 units in recreation, physical education, social welfare, teaching credential, or child development
- Six months of teaching experience
Aide
- 18 years of age or older, or a high school graduate
- Must work under a teacher’s direct supervision
Teachers may be hired with six completed units and must complete two units each semester until the education requirement is met.
Center Permits
Centers funded by the State Department of Education under Title V (for example, state preschools) require the following staff qualifications:
Staff working in infant/toddler, and/or preschool centers funded by the State Department of Education Child Development Division are required to obtain Child Development Permits for employment. The permit includes education requirements, experience, and continuing education renewal standards. See the Child Development Permit Matrix for a list of these criteria.
Family Child Care Qualifications
Family Child Care Homes licensed under Title XXII require the following staff qualifications:
Child Care Provider
- 18 years of age
- 15 hours of health and safety training, including CPR, first aid, and preventive health practices
Assistant Provider in Large Family Child Care
- 14 years of age
While child development classes are not required, many child care providers have additional training and college course work. Ask to see certificates and college credit verification.
Center Staffing Ratio
Ratios in Community Care licensed centers under Title XXII
- Infant centers: one teacher for every four infants
- Preschools: one teacher to twelve children or one teacher and one aide to fifteen children
- School age: one teacher to fourteen children or one teacher and one aide to 28 children
Ratios in Centers Funded by the State Department of Education Under Title V
- Infants (birth to 18 months): one adult for every three infants
- Toddlers (18 to 36 months): one adult for every four toddlers
- Preschool (36 months to enrollment in kindergarten): one adult for every eight preschoolers
- School Age (children enrolled in kindergarten through age 14): one adult for every 14 children