How to Become a Pre- School Teacher
in a Child Care Center in Maryland
Various staff positions are needed to operate Child Care Centers and Large Family Child Care Homes. Staff must meet certain educational and experience qualifications, get health screenings, and undergo background checks for FBI and State criminal histories in addition to child abuse and neglect clearances. Meeting educational and experience requirements may qualify a person for a particular position, but results of criminal history record checks and child abuse and neglect clearances will determine suitability for employment. The Office of Child Care may prohibit you from hiring an individual based on background check findings.
On or before assignment, you must document that each employee and staff member, including substitutes, has been informed in writing about all areas pertinent to the health and safety of the children. It is very important to keep your licensing specialist informed of any and all changes in staff or matters affecting staff.
Child Care Center capacities vary according to the square footage of the facility, and require a cadre of staff that support many functions. The capacity of the facility is based on 35 square feet per child. The positions in a child care center include:
- Director – must be 21 years or older and may be Director of a Preschool Center or Director of a School Age Center. Qualifications differ depending upon the type and size of the child care center. A Director must be available on site at least 50% of the time.
- Child Care Teacher –must be at least 19 years old and qualifications differ depending upon the type of center where employed, i.e., preschool center or school age center.
- Assistant Child Care Teacher – must be at least 18 years old and the position exists only in a schoolage center.
- Aide – must be t least 16 years old and there is no qualifying distinction between aides in a preschool or school age center.
- Substitute – must be at least 18 years old, does not have to meet any specific qualifications, but must attend orientation as required of all staff.
- Support Personnel – are individuals who are not involved in the direct supervision of children, such as, personnel or food preparation and service, housekeeping, transportation, clerical, and other duties.
- Volunteer – is 13 years old or older, works in the center but is not a compensated employee of the center, is not counted by the child care center toward maintenance of the staff/child ratios required, and is not enrolled as a child in care at the center. Since a volunteer is not a paid employee, FBI and State criminal background checks are not required but are recommended.
School-Age Only Child Care Centers serves only school age children and are generally located in public school buildings. Types of positions used in this type of facility include, Director of a School Age Center, Child Care Teacher in School Age Center, Assistant Child Care Teacher, Aide, Substitute, Support Personnel and Volunteer.
A Large Family Child Care Home functions in the same manner as a child center, is located in a residence and cannot exceed a capacity of 12 children. Staffing needs are limited, but similar types of positions are used in this type of facility – Director, Family Child Care Teacher, Aide, Substitute, Support Personnel and Volunteer.
- High school diploma, certificate of high school equivalency, or
- Successful completion of college courses for credit
- 6 semester, 90 clock hours or equivalent of approved early childhood coursework
- 1 year of experience working with preschoolers in an approved setting or
- 1 year of college (30 semester hours), or
- Combination of experience and college that equals 1 year
- At least 9 clock hours of approved training in communicating with staff, parents and the public
- 3 clock hours in ADA Compliance 12 clock hours
Requirements to become a Pre-School Child Care Teacher:
- High school diploma, certificate of high school equivalency, or
- Successful completion of college courses for credit
- 6 semester, 45 Hr Growth and Development and 45 Hour Preschool Curriculum, CEU's or clock hours or equivalent of approved early childhood coursework
- 1 year of experience working with preschoolers in an approved setting or
- 1 year of college (30 semester hours), or
- Combination of experience and college that equals 1 year
- At least 9 clock hours of approved training in communicating with staff, parents and the public
- 3 clock hours in ADA Compliance
- 12 clock hours
