Level I - Apprentice

Most applicants will be approved at the apprentice level. This may be waived for applicants who are employed teaching adults.

Apprentice requirements are:

Associate Degree in Early Childhood or Child Development/School-Age
OR Associate Degree in non-early childhood with 15 credit hours of early childhood/child development/school-age courses. (Degree must be from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education)

8,000 clock hours (4 years) working with young children (birth to 8 years) as a caregiver, teacher, social worker, or similar role

Fifty (50) clock hours of professional growth for adults within the last 3 years. (ex. staff meetings, parent meetings, local presentations)

Valid OSBI within the past 12 months with Sex Offender, Violent Offender, and Computerized Crime stamps.

Non-registrant on the Restricted Registry (Joshua's List).

Have no numerous, repeated or serious (NRS) non-compliances reported in the year (or last three periodic visits) prior to your application if you are the director of record in a licensed child care center in Oklahoma. Have no NRS during the processing of your application.

Have no NRS substantiated complaints or two or more training non-compliances in the year (or last three periodic visits) prior to your application if you are the director of record in a licensed child care center in Oklahoma. Have no NRS substantiated complaints or two or more training non-compliances during application processing. 

Reside in the state of Oklahoma or within 2 hours' driving distance of an Oklahoma training site.

Three professional references.

Additional requirements after approval:

1. Team teach a child care careers course with a trained coach (Minimum one 10-hour course - maximum 30 hours). Coach will make a recommendation to move to level II, level III or continue at the apprentice level for continued support

2. Complete sixteen (16) clock hour CECPD Adult Education Course within one year of application approval

Effective date: 7/1/2020