Virginia Law

A. Program leaders shall be at least 18 years of age, have fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent, and meet one of the following:

1. Have one of the program director qualifications in 8VAC20-780-190;

2. Have an endorsement or bachelor's degree in a child-related field such as, but not limited to, elementary education, nursing, or recreation, from a college or university;

3. Have three months of programmatic experience and at least one of the following education backgrounds:

a. A one year early childhood certificate from a college or university that consists of at least 30 semester hours;

b. A child development credential by an organization listed in § 22.1-289.048 of the Code of Virginia;

c. A teaching diploma from an internationally or nationally recognized Montessori organization; or

4. Have six months of supervised programmatic experience.

a. Within six months before being promoted or beginning work or one month after being promoted or beginning work, a minimum of 12 hours of training shall be received related to the care of children, including but not limited to:

(1) Child development;

(2) Playground safety;

(3) Health and safety issues; and

(4) Preventing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

b. Such training may take place on site while not supervising children. Such training hours shall increase according to the following:

B. For program leaders of therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, at least three months of programmatic experience shall be in the group care of children with special needs.

C. Notwithstanding the experience requirements in subsection A of this section, program leaders at short-term programs may have only one season of programmatic experience, provided that this experience shall include at least 200 hours, of which up to 24 hours can be formal training, working directly with children in a group.