10a NCAC 09 .0703         GENERAL STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

(a)  Child care providers, substitute providers, and uncompensated providers counted toward meeting the staff/child ratio requirements set forth in Rule .0713 of this Section shall meet the requirements of G.S. 110‑91(8). No one under 18 years of age shall have responsibility for or be left in charge of a group of children.

(b)  On or before the first day of work, the operator shall verify the age of substitute providers and volunteers and documentation of the substitute provider or volunteer's date of birth shall be maintained in the individual's personnel file in the center. Age shall be verified with any official document that provides a date of birth, such as a driver's license or birth certificate.

(c)  Within six months of an individual assuming lead teacher or child care administrator duties, each center shall maintain the following information in the individual's staff record:

(1)           a copy of the credential certificate;

(2)           a copy of notification from the Division that the individual meets the equivalency or that the individual does not meet the equivalency and must enroll in coursework;

(3)           a dated copy of the request submitted by the individual to the Division for the assessment of equivalency status; or

(4)           documentation of enrollment in credential coursework.

(d)  If the individual does not yet meet the staff qualifications required by G.S. 110-91(8) when assuming lead teacher or administrative duties, the individual shall submit to the Division documentation of completion of the coursework or credential to be considered for equivalency within six months of assuming the duties.

(e)  For child care centers in an occupied residence that are licensed for 3 to 12 children when any preschool-age children are in care, or for 3 to 15 children when only school-age children are in care, when an individual has responsibility both for administering the child care program and for planning and implementing the daily activities of a group of children, the requirements for lead teacher in Rule .0710 of this Section shall apply to this individual. If the program has more than one group of children, the requirement regarding lead teacher shall apply to each group of children.

(f)  Equivalency standards in this Section may be found online at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/providers/credent.asp.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110‑85; 110‑91(8); 143B‑168.3;

Eff. January 1, 1986;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2013; October 29, 1998; January 1, 1990; July 1, 1988; January 1, 1987;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2017;

Amended Eff. September 1, 2019.