10A NCAC 09 .0707. IN-SERVICE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

(a)  Each center shall assure that each new employee who is expected to have contact with children receives a minimum of 16 clock hours of on-site training and orientation within the first six weeks of employment. This training and orientation shall include:

(1)           training in the recognition of the signs and symptoms of child abuse or neglect and in the employee's duty to report suspected abuse and neglect;

(2)           review of the center's operational policies, including the center's safe sleep policy for infants;

(3)           adequate supervision of children, taking into account their age, emotional, physical, and cognitive development;

(4)           first-hand observation of the center's daily operations;

(5)           instruction in the employee's assigned duties;

(6)           instruction in the maintenance of a safe and healthy environment;

(7)           review of the center's purposes and goals;

(8)           review of the center's personnel policies;

(9)           review of the child care licensing law and rules; 

(10)         an explanation of the role of State and local government agencies in the regulation of child care, their impact on the operation of the center, and their availability as a resource; and

(11)         an explanation of the employee's obligation to cooperate with representatives of State and local government agencies during visits and  investigations.

(b)  As part of the training required in Paragraph (a) of this Rule, each new employee shall complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of the training referenced in Subparagraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this Rule.

(c)  The child care administrator and any staff who have responsibility for planning and supervising a child care program, as well as staff who work directly with children, shall participate in in-service training activities annually, according to the individual's needs as assessed by the child care administrator.  Staff shall choose one of the following options for meeting the in-service requirement:

(1)           persons with a four year degree or higher advanced degree in a child care related field of study from a regionally accredited college or university may complete five clock hours of training annually.

(2)           persons 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 or its equivalent may complete eight clock hours of training annually.

(3)           persons with a certificate or diploma in a child care related field of study from a regionally accredited college or university, or persons with a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential or its equivalent  may complete 10 clock hours of training annually.

(4)           persons with at least 10 years documented, professional experience as a teacher, director, or caregiver in a licensed child care arrangement may complete 15 clock hours of training annually.

(5)           complete 20 clock hours of training annually.

(d)  For staff listed in Subparagraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3) and (c)(4) of this Rule, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training required in Rule .0705 of this Section shall not be counted toward meeting annual in-service training. First aid training may be counted once every three years.

(e)  If a child care administrator or lead teacher is currently enrolled in coursework to meet the staff qualification requirements in G.S. 110-91(8), the coursework may be counted toward meeting the annual in-service training requirement.

(f)  For staff working less than 40 hours per week on a regular basis and choosing the option for 20 hours of in-service training, the training requirement may be prorated as follows:

 

WORKING HOURS PER WEEK	CLOCK HOURS REQUIRED
0-10	5
11-20	10
21-30	15
31-40	20

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-91(11); 143B-168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. January 1, 2006; May 1, 2004; October 29, 1998; October 1, 1991; November 1, 1989; July 1, 1988; January 1, 1987.