Section 190. Program director qualifications

A. Program directors shall be at least 21 years of age and shall meet one of the following:

1. A graduate degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation from a college or university and six months of programmatic experience;

2. An endorsement or bachelor's degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation from a college or university and one year of programmatic experience;

3. Forty-eight semester hours or 72 quarter hours of college credit from a college or university of which 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours are in child-related subjects and one year of programmatic experience;

4. Two years of programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity and at least one of the following education backgrounds:

a. A one-year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours;

b. A child development credential that requires:

(1) High school program completion or the equivalent;

(2) 480 hours working with children in a group which could include a supervised practicum; and

(3) Determination of competency in promoting children's development, providing a safe and healthy environment, managing the classroom environment and/or childhood program, and promoting positive and productive relationships with parents/guardians; and

(4) At least 120 clock hours of child-related training taught by an individual or by an organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation provided that the training facilitator:

(a) Documents the student's mastery and competence;

(b) Observes the student's application of competence in a classroom setting;

(c) Has a combination of at least six years of education (leading to a degree or credential in a child-related field) or programmatic experience; and

(d) Has at least 12 semester hours or 180 clock hours in a child-related field, a child development credential or equivalent, and two years of programmatic experience with one year in a staff supervisory capacity; or

c. A certification of qualification from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization; or

5. Three years of programmatic experience including one year in a staff supervisory capacity and fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent.

a. Such programmatic experience shall be obtained in a child day center that offers a staff training program that includes: written goals and objectives; assessment of the employee's participation in the training; and the subject areas of first aid, human growth and development, health and safety issues and behavioral management of children.

b. Such employees shall complete 120 hours of training during this three-year period and provide documentation of completing the training.

c. Effective June 1, 2008, program directors shall meet a qualification as stated in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this subsection.

6. Exception (a): Program directors hired before June 1, 2005, who do not meet the qualifications may continue to be program directors as long as the program director: (i) obtains each year three semester hours or six quarter hours of college credit related to children until meeting a qualification option or (ii) is enrolled in and regularly works toward a child development credential as specified in subdivision 4 b of this subsection, which credential must be awarded by June 1, 2009.

Exception (b): Program directors hired or promoted on or after June 1, 2005, until June 1, 2006, who do not meet the qualifications may continue to be program directors as long as the program director: (i) obtains each year six semester hours or nine quarter hours of college credit related to children until meeting a qualification option or (ii) is enrolled in and regularly works toward a child development credential as specified in subdivision 4 b of this subsection, which credential must be awarded no later than June 1, 2007.

B. Program directors without management experience shall have one college course in a business-related field, 10 clock hours of management training, or one child care management course that satisfactorily covers the management functions of:

1. Planning;

2. Budgeting;

3. Staffing; and

4. Monitoring.

*Note: Management experience is defined as at least six months of on-the-job training in an administrative position that requires supervising, orienting, training, and scheduling staff.

C. For program directors of therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, education and programmatic experience shall be in the group care of children with special needs.

D. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a person between 19 and 21 years of age may serve as a program director at a short-term program serving only school age children if the program director has daily supervisory contact by a person at least 21 years of age who meets one of the program director qualification options.

Historical Notes

Former 22VAC15-30-230 derived from VR175-08-01 § 3.4, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Volume 12, Issue 04, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-190, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 01, eff. November 1, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§§ 63.2-217 and 63.2-1734 of the Code of Virginia.