In addition to the requirements of Section 4, a person shall be qualified to be certified if he or she:

1. (a) has passed an examination approved by the Department to determine his fitness to perform the duties of or otherwise function as a child protective investigator or child welfare specialist;
2. (b) is at least 18 years of age;
3. (c) has completed the curriculum of study or training, developed pursuant to Section 4, at the Department, college or other institution that is approved to do business in this State; and

4. (d) has a bachelor's degree in an area related to human services such as law enforcement, police science, criminology, social work, early childhood development or psychology, provided that this subsection (d) shall not apply to persons employed by the Department prior to the effective date of this Act.

   The Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such conviction shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to certification.

(from Ch. 111, par. 7655)

(Source: P.A. 85-206.)