In Delaware the Office of Child Care Licensing in the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families adopts and promulgates rules for early care and education and school-age centers as authorized in the Delaware Code. The Delacare: Rules for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, effective January 1, 2007, requires that all direct care teaching staff must meet specific qualifications at the time of employment in a licensed center-based program.

• Process for Qualification Review
• Qualification for Early Care and Education Center Positions
• Qualification for School-Age Center Positions
• Additional Information and Resources
• Early Care and Education Qualification Application
• School -Age Qualification Application
• Verification of Experience form
• Frequently Asked Questions and College Course Information

The Delaware First Professional Development System in the Department of Education, on behalf of the Office of Child Care Licensing, will perform the service of reviewing the qualifications of individuals employed in or seeking employment in early care and education or school-age centers (Rule #150).

Delaware First will apply the Delacare Rules in verifying an individual's age, experience and education to determine qualifications. Verification of age will be required along with a photo ID. Work experience must be documented with a Verification of Experience form signed by the employer for each experience. A minimum of 720 hours is required to be considered equivalent to one year or 12 months experience. Education requirements specifying college work must be from accredited institutions of higher education. A list of college courses and titles generally accepted to meet qualifications can be found at above (college course information bullet).