New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 3A - CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Chapter 52 - MANUAL OF REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE CENTERS
Subchapter 4 - STAFF REQUIREMENTS
Section 3A:52-4.6 - Staff qualifications

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 3A:52-4.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) The center shall maintain on file a Staff Records Checklist designated by the Office of Licensing, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.1(b), indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the applicable staff education and experience, as specified in (b) through (d) below.

(b) The director shall meet the following qualification requirements:

1. For early childhood programs licensed to serve more than 30 children, the director shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the options set forth in the chart below for education and experience:

OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
Option Educational Credentials and Experience Requirements
A Master's Degree in any field (N/A)
related to children or business
B Bachelor's Degree One year of managerial or supervisory experience

2. For early childhood programs licensed to serve 30 or fewer children, the director shall meet the group teacher qualification requirements, as specified in (c)3 below.

3. For school-age child care programs, the director shall meet the program supervisor qualification requirements, as specified in (d) below.

(c) For early childhood programs, the following shall apply:

1. For all centers, the head teacher or consulting head teacher shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the seven options set forth in the chart below for education and experience:

OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE HEAD TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Option Educational Credentials and College Credits and Experience
A Master's Degree in Education Six credits and one year of experience
B Master's Degree in any field other than Education Nine credits and one year of experience
C Bachelor's Degree in Education, Psychology, Health Care, Nursing, or any other field related to Child Growth and Development; or Teaching Certification from Department of Education in Elementary Educa Preschool through Third Gradetion, Nursery School,(P-3) or Teacher of the Handicapped Six credits and two years of experience
D Bachelor's Degree in any field other than those listed in Option C Nine credits and three years of experience
OR Six credits and four years of experience
E Teaching Certification from Department of Education in a field other than those listed in Option C Nine credits and three years of experience
OR Six credits and four years of experience
F Montessori education equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree Two years of experience
G Head Teacher endorsement from the New Jersey Registry for Childhood Professionals,Professional Impact New Jersey
i. The credits specified in the chart above shall be college credits in early childhood education or child development. These credits may be part of the bachelor's or master's degree or constitute additional credits beyond the degree(s).

ii. The years of experience specified in the chart above shall be full-time experience in a group program for children under six years of age. This experience may include supervised practice teaching or student teaching.

iii. The Office of Licensing may grant conditional approval for a head teacher who has the required educational credentials but has insufficient college credits or experience to meet all the qualifications specified in the chart in (c)1 above.
(1) For conditional approval, the center shall maintain on file documentation of enrollment in courses leading to the required credits, or of employment leading to the required experience, as specified in the chart above.

(2) Conditional approval shall be valid for a maximum of two years, at which time the center shall obtain and maintain on file a transcript indicating completion of the required credits, or documentation of completion of the required experience, as applicable.

(3) When the head teacher has received conditional approval, the center shall have a consulting head teacher until the head teacher has met all applicable qualifications specified in the chart in (c)1 above.

2. For recreation-type centers sponsored by a county or municipal government recreation department, park department, or agency, the head teacher or consulting head teacher shall have:
i. One of the options specified in the chart in (c)1 above; or

ii. Certification as a Recreation Administrator or a Recreation Supervisor from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Board of Recreation Examiners (BRE) and two years of recreation experience; or

iii. Certification as a Recreation Professional from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and two years of recreation experience.

3. The group teacher shall meet the following requirements for experience and education:
i. One year of teaching experience in a group program for children under six years of age, which may include supervised practice teaching and/or student teaching; and

ii. One of the options set forth in the chart below for educational credentials:

OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE GROUP TEACHER
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Option Educational Credentials
A Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
B Six college credits in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
AND
Nine college credits in Education, Psychology, Health Care,
Nursing, or any other field related to child growth or development
C Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
D Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) Certificate
E Group Teacher endorsement from the New Jersey Registry for
Childhood Professionals, Professional Impact New Jersey
F New Jersey Infant/Toddler Credential administered through Professional Impact New Jersey

4. For recreation-type centers sponsored by a county or municipal government recreation department, park department, or agency, the group teacher may substitute:
i. One year of recreation experience for the experience specified in (c)3i above; and

ii. Certification as a Recreation Technician from the NRPA for the educational credentials specified in (c)3ii above.

5. For conditional approval, the group teacher shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the options set forth in the chart below. The center shall obtain and maintain on file documentation that the staff member has acquired the remaining college credits in the areas specified in Option B in (c)3ii above within the time period specified below:

OPTIONS FOR MEETING THE GROUP TEACHER CONDITIONAL APPROVAL
QUALIFICATIONS
College Credits Experience Remaining Time Limit to Obtain
Option Earned Completed Credits Remaining
Credits
A 12 college credits in One year of teaching 3 Nine
Early Childhood Education, experience in a group credits months
Child Development, program for children
Education, Psychology, under six years of age
Health care, Nursing, or any
other field related to child
growth or development
B Six college credits in Three years of 9 Two Years
Early Childhood Education or teaching experience in a credits
Child Development group program for
children under six years of age

(d) For school-age child care programs, the following shall apply:

1. The program supervisor shall meet the qualification requirements specified in one of the applicable options set forth in the chart below for education, training, and experience, based on the center's licensed capacity:

Data in image

2. The training specified in the chart above shall:
i. Be clock hours of training;

ii. Be completed within the nine months following Office of Licensing approval as program supervisor;

iii. Be in areas related to the ages of the children in care; and

iv. Meet the requirements specified in (d)3 and 4 below.

3. Child care training shall include all of the following:
i. Child growth and development;

ii. Positive guidance and discipline;

iii. Nutrition and good eating habits;

iv. Family involvement and communication with families;

v. Program planning and development;

vi. Creating a classroom environment;

vii. Health and safety procedures, including recognition of illness and disease and training in basic infection control techniques;

viii. Physical education or recreational activities for children; and

ix. Understanding New Jersey's child care licensing regulations.

4. Program management training shall include all of the following:
i. Program activity planning and development;

ii. Family involvement and communication with families;

iii. Availability of community services;

iv. Personnel responsibilities and procedures; and

v. Understanding New Jersey's child care licensing regulations.

5. The experience specified in the chart above shall be obtained in a group program for school-age children.

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