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Child Development Permit Instructional Video
Here is
the link
to a
video on
the
child
development
permit.
It's a
live
link
that is
updated
if the
permit
requirements
ever
change.
http://www.rcc.edu/cdpermit
If you
still
have
questions,
check
out the
FAQ
listed
below.
What is the Child Development Permit?
What is the "new" Child Development Permit?
How will the people already working in a child care center be affected by the new child development permit?
What are the elements of the 'new" Child Development Permit, and how do I move from one level of the permit matrix to another?
Do staff employed in a privately funded child care center need the new Child Development Permit?
Where can I go to take the courses required for a permit?
Will my job opportunities be greater if I have a permit?
This sounds great! How do I apply for a Child Development Permit?
Who can apply for this permit?
What documents are needed for a Child Development Permit application?
Can I work at a center while the permit is being processed?
What is the master teacher level?
What is the website for Child Development Consortium?
Many aspects of the new Child Development Permit are similar to the Children's Center Instructional Permit, but there are some major changes. The information on the following pages is an attempt to clarify these changes and also to outline the various processes attached to obtaining the Child Development Permit. This section includes information on the permit and a glossary of terms you may need.
What is the Child Development Permit?
The Child Development Permit is a document which authorizes service in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program. It verifies that you have fulfilled the requirements established by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), for assisting, teaching or supervising in a child development program in the state of California. You must have a permit to be eligible for child care and development teaching or administration positions funded by California Department of Education/Child Development Division. Other programs may choose to require the permit to document educational progress.
What is the "new' Child Development Permit?
The new Child Development Permit will take the place of the Emergency Children's Center Instructional Permit, the Children's Center Instructional Permit, the Children's Center Supervision Permit and the Life Children's Center Supervision Permit. It represents an expanded approach to staff certification. For new applicants, this permit will offer more options for career choice and opportunities for career advancement. The Permit Matrix
What are the levels of the "new" child development permit?
There are six levels of the new permit:
- Child Development Assistant
- Child Development Associate Teacher
- Child Development Teacher
- Child Development Master Teacher
- Child Development Site Supervisor
- Child Development Program Director
How will the people already working in a child care center be affected by the new child development permit?
People already holding a permit and working in a center will not be required to change their permit. All valid permits for service in a child development program issued before the "new" regulations became effective continue to be in effect and can be renewed using the "old" regulations. This includes Clear Life Permits. However, these permits must always be renewed prior to the expiration date. If the permit is allowed to expire, the applicant must re-apply using the "new" regulation standards. Anyone currently holding a permit may apply and change over to the new regulation requirements.
What are the elements of the 'new" Child Development Permit, and how do I move from one level of the permit matrix to another?
Individuals may advance from one level of the permit matrix to another by completing the necessary education and experience requirements. As one progresses through the permit levels, additional units in child development and general education are required. All levels of the permit matrix include a set of core courses. The core is made up of one course in each of the following subject areas:
* child and/or human development;
* child, family and community or child and family relations; and
* programs and curriculum.
The general education requirement includes one course in each of the following areas: Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Math and/or Science, and English/Language Arts.
The experience requirement can be met by providing verification of the completion of work in an instructional capacity in an early childhood setting. You must work at least three hours per day for a set number of days. The number of days will increase as you move from one level to another (see the Child Development Permit Matrix for more detailed information).
Do staff employed in a privately funded child care center need the new Child Development Permit?
No. The new permit and the regulation changes apply to staff who work in state-funded child care and development programs. Teacher assistants, teachers, and program directors in privately funded programs may not need permits unless their agency has chosen to require one. However, they do need to meet the Department of Social Services Title 22 licensing requirements for staff qualifications.
Where can I go to take the courses required for a permit?
The CTC defines "early childhood/child development course work" as course work from a regionally accredited 2 or 4 year institution of higher education. The courses are primarily related to children aged five years and younger, though twenty-five percent of the courses may cover children ages five through eight. The 16 unit general education course requirement can also be fulfilled by attending college classes. All courses reviewed for the permit must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Accredited Home Economics Related Occupations (HERO) programs and Regional Occupation Programs (ROP) prepare high school students or adults to serve as aides or assistants in child care and development programs. This training qualifies an individual to obtain a Child Development
Permit at the Assistant level.
Will my job opportunities be greater if I have a permit?
Yes, obtaining a permit means you will have greater job mobility and the freedom to look for work in any program setting. The permit allows you to demonstrate to a potential employer that you have met established state requirements for work with young children. It may also enhance your earning power and ability to reach your career goals. Obtaining a permit is an achievement and demonstrates that you are a dedicated professional.
This sounds great! How do I apply for a Child Development Permit?
You apply for each of the permits through the
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
1812 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
You can get information by calling 916-445-7256. Analysts are available to answer questions between 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
Who can apply for this permit?
Anyone who has fulfilled the Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements can apply to receive a Child Development Permit. However, individuals who want to work in programs funded by the California State Department of Education, under the Title 5 Education Code, as teachers or directors are required to have a permit. All other program types may opt to require a permit for employment.
What documents are needed for a Child Development Permit application?
You will need to submit the following items:
- Application form(s) provided by CTC;
- Fingerprint cards;
- Letters that document your work experience;
- Official college transcripts. If your college work was done in a country other than the United States or Canada, transcripts need to be translated and evaluated by an agency authorized to review foreign transcripts. (information about these agencies can be obtained from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing).
What is the fee for obtaining the Child Development Permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing? All first time applicants will pay a $70 application fee. First time applicants are also required to pay a one time fingerprinting fee of $56.00. When a permit holder completes all of the requirements for a higher level of the Child Development Permit within three years of the date of initial issuance, he/she may submit an application for the higher level permit and the original unexpired permit and pay half the renewal fee. In all other cases, permit holders must pay a renewal fee every five years to keep their permit current.
Can I work at a center while the permit is being processed?
Yes. Agencies may request a Temporary County Certificate from the County Office of Education if the applicant provides verification that all requirements have been met for the permit.
An Introduction to the New Child Development Permit
The quality of early childhood education programs affects the lives of children and their families. The importance of high quality early childhood education programs for children-in terms of cognitive development, social development, and later success in school, work, and life-has been confirmed by research. Children who participate in high quality early childhood programs are more likely to complete their high school education, less likely to need special education services, less likely to be involved with the criminal justice system, more likely to pursue post-secondary education, and more likely to be employed after schooling than children not engaged in such programs.
The quality of early childhood education that children receive depends on the knowledge and skills of the people who care for and teach them. Good programs for children rely on competent staff. This belief is supported by research and has remained constant overtime.
However, the field of early childhood education faces a crisis because there is a high demand for child care, an inadequate supply of programs and early childhood educators, and well-documented poor quality of programs. Fortunately, the concerned recognition by policy-makers, the business community and regulatory agencies has generated an opportunity to create improvements. The National Association for the Education of Young Children, for example, launched an initiative to improve the quality and consistency of professional preparation programs for early childhood educators in 1992.
In 1991 in California a professional development project, Advancing Careers in Child Development, spearheaded by Pacific Oaks College and funded by four major foundations, (Packard, Hilton, Irvine and Parsons) was launched. The major goal of this project was to develop a plan to create a coordinated statewide system that 1) welcomes people into the field from a variety of points, 2) offers clear career pathways with articulated training and credentials, and 3) provides a variety of incentives to stay in the field. Over 120 policy makers from throughout the state have collaborated to develop strategies and combat structural barriers to recruiting, training, and retaining early childhood professionals.
Every teacher and supervisor who works in a state-subsidized child care and development program is required to hold a permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. In 1992, due to extreme pressure to staff all programs, legislation was enacted, which required the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to consult with the early childhood field and coordinate a review of the preparation and licensing requirements for teachers and supervisors who work in state subsidized child care and development programs.
Building upon the recommendation that came from the Advancing Careers project, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Californina Department of Education Child Development Division collaborated in restructuring the Children's Center Permit into a new Child Development Permit which recognizes career steps within the early childhood profession.
The restructured permit represents a more streamlined approach to staff certification and is expected to enhance articulation between different types of child care and development programs. The career lattice approach reflected in the permit matrix acknowledges the importance of multiple entry points into the profession and the need for flexibility in recognizing a variety of high quality preparation models for individuals seeking employment in this field.
As the new permit was being developed, several broad principles were used to guide the project:
- to promote high quality services to children;
- to promote high quality preparation for early childhood professionals; to create multiple points of entry into the early childhood profession;
- to contain costs for individuals seeking the permit;
- to promote and encourage diversity in the profession;
- to ease staff movement between different types of programs
Currently California is one of five states that do not include professional development as a renewal requirement. One of the key elements in the new Child Development Permit, related to professionalization of the early childhood field, is the introduction of professional growth as a requirement for renewal of the permit.
The five year renewal requirements on the new matrix will require individuals at every level of the permit to obtain 105 hours of professional growth every five years. Permit holders may take courses, attend conferences and workshops, or engage in other staff development activities to meet this requirement. Under the new system, Site Supervisors and Program Directors will also be required to participate in professional growth activities for the first time as part of their renewal requirements.
Most of the former education requirements for the Children's Center Instructional Permit have been incorporated into the Child Development Permit Matrix. The most significant changes in the education requirements involve creation of the Master Teacher option for professionals who do not necessarily wish to move into supervision, and the creation of two levels of supervision. In addition, the steps on the Child Development Permit Matrix represent a career ladder for early childhood professionals and accommodates greater movement between the state subsidized (Title 5) and non-state subsidized (Title 22) sectors.
A career development system is a long-term effort requiring many individuals and groups to work together. Concerned citizens in California, with collaboration of many sectors, have taken the initiative not only to analyze where they are and where they want to be, but to identify and take the action steps needed to get there,
Advanced questions
What is the master teacher level?
The master teacher level is designed to validate teacher accomplishments in the areas of experience, education and ability to supervise and work with others. The experience requirement requires the completion of 350 days of experience in an instructional capacity in an early childhood setting, working at least three hours per day within the last four years. The master teacher must complete six semester units of specialized early childhood course work and complete a two semester unit course in adult supervision.
What are the areas of specialization?
Areas of specialization may include but are not limited to the following:
- Bilingual and bicultural development;
- Children with exceptional needs;
- Preschool programming;
- Parent/teacher relations;
- Child health;
- Infant and toddler care,
What course would fulfill the "Adult supervision coursework" requirement?
Any two semester unit course that would help develop knowledge and skill related to communication and effective supervision of adults.
Where does the Child Development Associate (CDA) fit in?
The Child Development Associate National Credentialing Program is a major national effort to improve the quality of child care. It is designed to provide performance based training and assessment of child care staff. In the Child Development Permit Matrix the CDA will fulfill the alternative qualifications for the Associate Teacher,
What is non-formal or non-college based training?
This is education or training that is offered by a program that is not accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited institution (e.g. colleges and universities). Some examples of non-formal training might be High/Scope, Montessori or Far/West Labs/Infant-Toddler Institute.
What is the website for Child Development Consortium?
http://www.childdevelopment.org/cs/cdtc/print/htdocs/home.htm
Glossary
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) is a state policy making body that establishes and maintains standards for the education profession in the state of California. The CTC is legally responsible for establishing and implementing state policies related to the preparation, certification and recertification or renewal of professionals working in education settings including all types of child development programs in the state. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing has been issuing permits to professionals in the child development field under six different sets of regulations, beginning in 1961. The regulations were revised in 1966, 1974, 1979, 1986 and again in 1996.
Other agencies that monitor the educational progress of people working in child care centers.
California Department of Education, Child Development Division (CDE/CDD) is a state government agency that administers the state's subsidized child care programs. CDD has over 1000 contracts of more than a dozen program types, with both public and private agencies throughout the state. Centers receiving funds through CDE/CDD operate under Title 5 regulations of the Education Code. Teachers in these programs are required to hold a Child Development Permit.
Title 5 of the California Code of regulations contains authorized regulations pertaining to education. Regulations for state funded child care programs are contained within this code section. Teachers and directors working under this code section are required to have a Child Development Permit. Programs that fall under Title 5 regulations might include the following: state funded, state subsidized, state preschool, state child care ... etc.
The California Department of Social Services/Community Care Licensing (CDSS/CCL) is a state government agency that is responsible for licensing child care centers and family child care homes defined in Title 22, Division 12, regulations of the Health and Safety Code. Teachers in these programs must document Child Development course completion and this information is kept in each employees personnel file. Title 22 of the California Code of regulations contains authorized regulations pertaining to social services. Regulations for the licensing of all child care centers and family child care homes are contained in this section. Teachers and directors working under this code section must fulfill specified course requirements for employment under this code section. Programs that fall under Title 22 regulations might include the following: private, non-subsidized, church related ... etc.
Child Development Permit Matrix
A chart, arranged in rows and columns, that includes the names of the Child Development Permit levels along with the education, experience and renewal requirements. It also includes alternative qualifications and authorization.
Career Lattice
An idea proposed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children to explain a complex professional development system. This system incorporates many strands (work- experiences) bound together by a shared core of knowledge (educational experiences). The system also represents the possibility for both upward job mobility as one gains more skill and experience and horizontal movement across the field for those who wish to continue to advance but don't want to change their job.
Thank you to Santa Rosa College, Child Development Department for giving permission to use this information from their web site.
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