COMAR Regs/ Group Admin - post

ChildCareEd is helping Administrators save time with our new Professional Development Plan feature. 

Administrators can assign and track training — including 45 Hour Child Growth and Development Buy Now $399.00 and 45‑Hour Infant and Toddler Curriculum Buy Now $399.00$275.00 — directly from the Group Admin dashboard. The Portal generates a Professional Development Plan for each employee, stores certificates, and produces audit-ready reports for licensing reviews.

Owners, Operators, and Administrators who obtain a free Group Admin/ Business Perks account through ChildCareEd now have the ability to generate a Professional Development Plan for each employee. This feature will allow administrators to monitor licensing requirements for each staff member. Save time and let ChildCareEd complete your staff’s Professional Development Plan.

COMAR 13A.16.06 Staff Requirements

What does COMAR 13A.16.06 require for child care staff training?

COMAR 13A.16.06 requires that a childcare teacher or aide in a center complete approved continuing training according to the individual's Professional Development Plan. The regulation's intent is to ensure staff maintain current competencies in child development and related practices. Licensing will review the completed Professional Development Plan and attached training documentation during inspections or audits. For the regulatory text and the inspection note used to support this summary, see the COMAR Regs / Group Admin excerpt (verified reference).

What is COMAR 13A.16.06 and why does it matter for my program?

COMAR is Maryland's Code of Regulations. Section 13A.16.06 sets staff training expectations for childcare centers. The rule requires each teacher or aide to follow an individualized Professional Development Plan (PDP) and complete approved continuing training tied to that plan. Licensing inspectors will examine the PDP and the certificates or documentation that show the training was completed.

Why this matters: short, documented training tied to a PDP shows regulators that staff maintain competencies in observation, curriculum implementation, health and safety, and developmental practices. Missing or vague records create findings during inspections. To reduce risk, maintain clear links between assigned courses, the PDP competency area, and the certificate stored in the staff file.

• Keep each PDP current and dated.
• Attach completed certificates immediately to the staff file.
• Map each assigned course to the PDP learning objective it supports.

See the COMAR summary for a plain-text extract of the regulation and the inspection note: COMAR Regs/ Group Admin (verified reference).

How do I verify training acceptance with MSDE or my licensing specialist?

State acceptance of a course depends on the credential, staff role, and the specific licensing requirement. Follow these steps to confirm acceptance:

1. Check the course page for Maryland provider notes and the Group Admin mapping information.
2. Contact your MSDE licensing specialist with the course title, hours, and course description. Ask whether the course counts for the staff member's credential or the specific PDP objective.
3. Keep written confirmation (email or scanned note) from the licensing specialist with the staff file when the acceptance decision is role- or credential-specific.

ChildCareEd course pages often include Maryland notes, but acceptance is ultimately determined by MSDE or your licensing reviewer. For details about how the Group Admin maps training to local rules, see: How ChildCareEd Group Admin Helps Directors Manage Staff Training (verified reference).

Reference: COMAR Regs/ Group Admin (verified reference supporting the requirement language).

• A childcare teacher or aide in a center shall: According to the individual's professional development plan, complete approved continued training.
• INTENT: A childcare teacher or aide in a center must have sufficient continued training to keep abreast with current child development issues.
• ASSESSMENT METHOD: Licensing will review the teacher’s completed Professional Development Plan with attached documentation of training completed.

Additional Group Admin Program Perks

How does the ChildCareEd Group Admin generate and manage Professional Development Plans?

The Group Admin is a centralized dashboard for program leaders. Use it to buy hours in bulk and manage staff accounts. Administrators can assign self-paced or instructor-led courses and track course completion and test scores in one place.

The Portal can auto-generate a Professional Development Plan (PDP) for each employee. It maps assigned trainings to relevant licensing topics, attaches certificates to staff files, and exports audit-ready reports. Administrators can reassign unused hours if staff leave, print copies of certificates for on-site review, and assign training to individuals or whole teams.

For step‑by‑step details and feature notes (including how the Portal maps training to local rules such as COMAR), see: How ChildCareEd Group Admin Helps Directors Manage Staff Training (verified reference).

• Record-keeping tools to manage continuing education requirements for staffing to adhere to licensing regulations. 
• Proof of Learning - NO pushing "PLAY" and walking away.
• Tracking Progress - Group Administrators can see their staff's progress in assigned courses as well as test scores.
• Purchase bulk hours with discounted Subscription Services
• Refunded hours if staff leave and do not finish courses
• Add or remove staff as needed.
• Assign training to individuals or the entire team.
• Print administrator copies of certificates.

Which ChildCareEd courses commonly support Maryland training expectations?

The courses below are frequently used by Maryland programs and are listed on ChildCareEd with Maryland provider notes in their descriptions; confirm acceptance with MSDE or your licensing specialist for your specific credential or staff role.

• 45 Hour Child Growth and Development Buy Now $399.00 — covers growth & development topics and (per the course page) satisfies half of the MSDE 90‑hour requirement when paired with curriculum training.
• 45‑Hour Infant and Toddler Curriculum Buy Now $399.00$275.00 — curriculum training noted for Maryland providers.
• 45 Hour Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials Buy Now $399.00 — instructor-led option with Maryland notes.

How can I prepare staff files and audit-ready documentation?

Practical steps for audit preparation:

1. Assign trainings through Group Admin and tie each assigned course to the staff member's Professional Development Plan.
2. Download and store certificates in the staff file immediately after completion; print administrator copies for on-site audits.
3. Run progress reports before inspections to identify incomplete requirements and reassign hours or schedule make-up training.
4. When staff leave, reassign or refund unused hours per Portal rules and keep change logs for audit trails.

Helpful internal articles (click to learn specific workflows):

• How ChildCareEd Group Admin Helps Directors Manage Staff Training
• Group Training for Child Care Staff: What Directors Need to Know
• How to Help Your Daycare Staff Complete Training on Time
• How to Track Child Care Staff Training in One Place
• How to Become a Childcare Director in Maryland
• Maryland 45‑Hour Child Care Certification Guide

• COMAR Regs/ Group Admin (verified reference: regulation summary and inspection note)
• How ChildCareEd Group Admin Helps Directors Manage Staff Training (verified reference: Portal features and mapping to local rules)

References

• COMAR Regs/ Group Admin — Extracted COMAR 13A.16.06 text and inspection note supporting the staff training requirement (verified reference).
• How ChildCareEd Group Admin Helps Directors Manage Staff Training — Admin Portal guide and mapping notes that show how PDPs and training map to local rules (verified reference).

Summary: What should administrators do next?

Action checklist: (1) Create a free Group Admin/Business Perks account and add your staff; (2) assign the recommended courses above to staff aligned to each Professional Development Plan; (3) use the Portal to export certificates and progress reports before licensing visits; (4) confirm any state-specific acceptance (for example MSDE requirements) with your licensing specialist. For assistance setting up group assignments or bulk purchases, see the Group Admin overview and contact ChildCareEd support.

Tags: #COMAR #training #administration #Maryland #professionaldevelopment