1. A. Staff Credential 1. The only qualification for a level 1 credential shall be:

   1. (1) Current registration as a family child care provider or co-provider; or

   2. (2) Qualification by the Office as a child care facility:

      1. (a) Director; or
      2. (b) Staff member.

2. B. Staff Credential 2. Qualification for a level 2 credential requires:

   1. (1) Successful completion of 45 clock hours of core of knowledge training, of which 20 clock hours shall be in child development; and
   2. (2) Completion of one child care professional activity unit within the 12 months before applying for participation.

3. C. Staff Credential 3. Qualification for a level 3 credential requires:

   1. (1) Successful completion of 90 clock hours of core of knowledge training, of which a minimum of 20 clock hours each shall be in child development and in curriculum development;
   2. (2) Completion of two child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and

   3. (3) Completion of:

      1. (a) 1 year of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
      2. (b) 1 year of college; or
      3. (c) A combination of experience and college equal to 1 year.

4. D. Staff Credential 4. Qualification for a level 4 credential requires:

   1. (1) Successful completion of 135 clock hours of core of knowledge training, consisting of:

      1. (a) 45 clock hours in child development;
      2. (b) 30 clock hours in curriculum development;
      3. (c) 20 clock hours in health, safety, and nutrition;
      4. (d) 15 clock hours in special needs;
      5. (e) 15 clock hours in professionalism; and
      6. (f) 10 clock hours in community issues;
   2. (2) Completion of three child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and
   3. (3) Completion of 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting.

5. E. Staff Credential 4 Plus. Qualification for a level 4 plus credential requires a participant to:

   1. (1) Successfully complete 135 clock hours of core of knowledge training as specified at §D(1) of this regulation;
   2. (2) Take part in at least four child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation;
   3. (3) Complete a minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting; and

   4. (4) Meet one of the following requirements:

      1. (a) Hold current accreditation as a family child care provider;

      2. (b) Complete at least:

         1. (i) 15 college credit hours of approved course work that includes courses in child development and curriculum planning; and
         2. (ii) 7 additional years of experience working with children in an approved setting; or

      3. (c) Enroll in an approved degree program that includes at least one early childhood course and accumulate 55 points by earning 5 points for completing each additional:

         1. (i) Early childhood course for credit; or
         2. (ii) Year of experience working with children in an approved setting.

6. F. Staff Credential 5. Qualification for a level 5 credential requires a participant to:

   1. (1) Complete a minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
   2. (2) Take part in four child care professional activity units; and

   3. (3) Complete one of the following:

      1. (a) An associate degree with 15 college credit hours of approved course work that includes courses in child development and curriculum planning;

      2. (b) 30 college credit hours of approved course work that includes at least one course in each of the following areas:

         1. (i) Child development;
         2. (ii) Curriculum planning;
         3. (iii) Health and safety;
         4. (iv) Special needs;
         5. (v) Working with school-age children;
         6. (vi) Working with infant and toddler-age children;
         7. (vii) Language and literacy; and
         8. (viii) Administration of child care programs; or

      3. (c) 15 college credit hours of approved course work, enrolled in an approved degree program, and accumulate 45 points by earning 5 points for completing each additional:

         1. (i) Early childhood course for credit; or
         2. (ii) Year of experience working with children in an approved setting.

7. G. Staff Credential 6. Qualification for a level 6 credential requires a participant to complete:

   1. (1) At least 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
   2. (2) At least 5 child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and

   3. (3) One of the following:

      1. (a) A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in:

         1. (i) Early childhood education;
         2. (ii) Elementary education;
         3. (iii) Special education;
         4. (iv) Family studies;
         5. (v) Child development; or
         6. (vi) A related discipline; and

      2. (b) At least one course in:

         1. (i) Child development; and
         2. (ii) Curriculum development; or

      3. (c) Complete:

         1. (i) A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a nonrelated field; and
         2. (ii) 30 semester hours of approved course work that includes courses in child development and curriculum planning; or

      4. (d) Complete an associate or higher degree with 15 semester hours of approved course work, enroll in an approved degree program, and accumulate 45 points by earning 5 points for each additional:

         1. (i) Early childhood course for credit; or
         2. (ii) Year of experience working with children in an approved setting.

8. H. Administrator Credential 1. Qualification for a level 1 credential requires completion of:

   1. (1) 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
   2. (2) Four child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and

   3. (3) 240 clock hours of core of knowledge training, consisting of:

      1. (a) 45 clock hours in child development;
      2. (b) 45 clock hours in curriculum development;
      3. (c) 45 clock hours in health, safety, and nutrition;
      4. (d) 45 clock hours in special needs;
      5. (e) 45 clock hours in professionalism; and
      6. (f) 15 clock hours in community issues.

9. I. Administrator Credential 2. Qualification for a level 2 credential requires completion of:

   1. (1) 2 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
   2. (2) Five child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation;

   3. (3) 240 clock hours of core of knowledge training consisting of:

      1. (a) 45 clock hours in child development;
      2. (b) 45 clock hours in curriculum development;
      3. (c) 45 clock hours in health, safety, and nutrition;
      4. (d) 45 clock hours in special needs;
      5. (e) 45 clock hours in professionalism; and
      6. (f) 15 clock hours in community issues; and

   4. (4) Either:

      1. (a) The National Administrator's Credential; or
      2. (b) At least 30 semester hours of college course work in an approved course of study.

10. J. Administrator Credential 3. Qualification for a level 3 credential requires completion of:

    1. (1) 4 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
    2. (2) Five child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation; and

    3. (3) An associate degree from an accredited college that includes:

       1. (a) 15 college credit hours of course work related to business management or administration; and

       2. (b) One course for credit in each of the following areas:

          1. (i) Child development;
          2. (ii) Curriculum development; and
          3. (iii) Administration of child care programs.

11. K. Administrator Credential 4. Qualification for a level 4 credential requires completion of:

    1. (1) 5 years of experience working directly with children in an approved setting;
    2. (2) Six child care professional activity units within the 12 months before applying for participation;
    3. (3) 45 clock hours of training in the area of mentoring and coaching staff;

    4. (4) A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in:

       1. (a) Business administration;
       2. (b) Public administration and management;
       3. (c) Public school administration;
       4. (d) A degree as specified at §G(3) of this regulation; or
       5. (e) A related discipline; and

    5. (5) One course for credit in each of the following areas:

       1. (a) Child development;
       2. (b) Curriculum development; and
       3. (c) Administration of child care programs.

Authority: Family Law Article, §§5-551 and 5-573, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: July 1, 2001 (28:12 Md. R. 1104)

Chapter revised effective August 15, 2005 (32:16 Md. R. 1391)

Transferred from COMAR 07.04.09 to 13A.14.09 effective January 1, 2006

Chapter revised effective September 10, 2007 (34:18 Md. R. 1581)

Regulation .02B amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 526); January 4, 2010 (36:26 Md. R. 1998)

Regulation .03B amended effective January 4, 2010 (36:26 Md. R. 1998)

Regulation .08B, D amended effective April 6, 2009 (36:7 Md. R. 526)

Regulation .08 amended effective June 27, 2011 (38:13 Md. R. 756)

Regulation .09 adopted effective January 4, 2010 (36:26 Md. R. 1998)

Regulation .09 amended and recodified to be Regulation .10 effective January 4, 2010 (36:26 Md. R. 1998)

Chapter revised effective March 30, 2015 (42:6 Md. R. 513)