On-going Training

Following the first year of employment, the family child care home operator and caregivers (i.e. substitutes and volunteers), child care administrator and staff who are responsible for planning and supervising a child care center, and who work with children, shall participate in annual on-going training activities, as follows:

• Individuals with a four-year degree or higher advanced degree in a child care related field of study from a regionally accredited college or university must receive 5 clock hours
• Individuals with a two-year degree in a child care related field of study from a regionally accredited college or university, or persons with a North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential must receive 8 clock hours
•  Individuals with a certificate or diploma in a child care related field of study from a regionally accredited college or university, or staff with a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential must receive 10 clock hours
• Individuals with a minimum of 10 years documented experience as a teacher, director, or caregiver in a licensed child care arrangement, must receive 15 clock hours
• If none of the other criteria in this chart apply, at minimum, 20 clock hours must be received.

On-going training requirements are determined based on an individual’s position, education level and years of verifiable experience. Training may occur through various learning formats/platforms. Training hours received through face-to-face classroom instruction, pre-recorded distance learning, college coursework, Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits, and/or real-time virtual training, can be used towards meeting on-going training; so long as the training received is recognized by the DCDEE and the training(s) received address one or more of the training topic areas identified in G.S. 110-91(11) Staff Development. On-going training received must be appropriate to the job responsibilities of the individual.

G.S. 110-91(11) Staff Development

• Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
• Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development
• Positive ways to support children's social and emotional
• Strategies to establish productive relationships with families
• Strategies to manage an effective program operation
• Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
• Observing and recording children's behavior
• Principles of child growth and development
• Learning activities that promote inclusion of children with special needs

Individuals may use a combination of college coursework, Continuing Education Units (CEU's), clock hours, or countable technical assistance to complete their annual training requirements. Received in-service training hours, that are in excess of the previous year's requirement, may be carried forward to meet up to one-half of the current year's required in-service training hours.