(A) A caregiver who begins employment in a licensed or approved child daycare center in South Carolina after June 30, 1994, must have at least a high school diploma or General Educational Development Certificate (GED) and at least six months' experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child daycare facility. However, a caregiver who is prevented from obtaining a high school diploma or GED because of a disability, and who otherwise is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position of caregiver, must have at least a high school Certificate of Completion and at least six months' experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child daycare facility. If a caregiver does not meet the experience requirements, the caregiver must be directly supervised for six months by a staff person with at least one-year experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child daycare facility. Within six months of being employed, a caregiver must have six clock hours of training in child growth and development and early childhood education or shall continue to be under the direct supervision of a caregiver who has at least one year of experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved child daycare facility.
(B) A caregiver who has two years' experience as a caregiver in a licensed or approved facility and is employed as of July 1, 1994, in a licensed or approved child daycare center in South Carolina is exempt from the high school diploma, General Education Development (GED), and Certificate of Completion requirements of subsection (A).