Child Development

Frequently asked questions

Presently you are not required to have had any classes in Child Development to operate a family day care home. However, we strongly advise you to become familiar with issues of child growth and development, curriculum design and implementation, plus the basics of running a successful business. Our department offers a number of classes that can teach you about these topics.

Child Care is regulated by the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing. 
For more information about certificates and degrees, click here.

Credential 

Credentials are issued by the Commission on Teacher Preparation for teaching grades K-12. Generally, in California you need a B.A. degree plus another year in a school of education to earn your credential.

To teach in a Children's Center or pre-school program in California no credential is needed, or offered.

Child Development Permit 

A Child Development Permit is required to teach in a program that receives subsidies from the Child Development Division of the State Department of Education. These are sometimes referred to as Title V programs and they comprise about 20% of the Child Development programs in California.

Permits are issued by the Commission on Teacher Preparation, the same organization that issues credentials to K-12 teachers. The new permit matrix offers a variety of permits, each requiring a different level of education and giving the holder varying degrees of authority.

• Child Development Training Consortium
• Our Forms page

Licenses  

Licenses are given to programs (not people) by the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing. You must have a license to operate a child care center or family day care home. You may take care of the children from ONE other family (besides your own) without a license. For more information on obtaining a license contact:
Community Care Licensing
(619)767-2200
7575 Metropolitan Dr. #110
San Diego, CA 92108

Certificates

The Cuyamaca Child Development Department offers five certificates. Two of our certificates parallel the "Associate Teacher" and the "Teacher" levels of the Child Development Permit. Others focus on areas of specialization. We believe that if you can only take a few classes, these would be the most valuable ones for you take. For more information on our certification programs, click here then scroll down to "Child Development" section of classes.

Requirements for Head Start Programs

Teachers must have a state issued credential (See Child Development Permit above) OR an Associates, Bachelors or Advanced degree in Child Development.

Specific courses are required by the state of California. Please contact the Program Coordinator, Kristin.Zink@gcccd.edu to review your coursework for licensing requirements.