CERTIFICATION: GENERAL Policy No.: ELCD-2017-H1 Effective Date: 2017-07-31 Date Revised: Policy Cross References: ELCD-2017-I2 Legislative References: CCR: s. 9; s.10; s.12; s. 82 PURPOSE: To outline general parameters and application of certification for people who are working as an Administrator, Caregiver or Monitor in a child care service or Agency. POLICY AND STANDARDS: General 1. Certification is an assessment of academic qualifications relating to early childhood education programs. Certification is required for a person working as an Administrator, Caregiver or Monitor in a regulated child care service or Agency. 2. Certification issued under the Child Care Services Act before the coming into force of the Child Care Regulations will continue to be valid until it expires. 3. Child care services certification under the Child Care Regulations is approved by the Department and issued in conjunction with the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL). 4. Applicants must apply for certification in writing to the Minister in a manner prescribed by the Minister. 5. Applications for certification are referred to AECENL for preliminary assessment and review. Information on AECENL is located on their website. The website is listed in the reference documents of this section of the Policy and Standards Manual. 6. A certification document will indicate the: Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 1
i. Type of facility in which a person is certified to be a Caregiver (Facility types are identified as a child care centre or a family home); i Level(s) as outlined in section ELCD-2017-H2 of the Policy and Standards Manual. Certification levels are identified as trainee, I, II, III or IV; and Age ranges of the children to whom the person is certified to be a Caregiver. Age ranges are assessed and determined based on the educational components of the early childhood education program completed. 7. Where certification identifies a facility to be a child care centre, the certification certificate will identify one or more of the following age range classifications of the children for which the Caregiver is certified to work: i. Infant; i Preschool (This includes the toddler age range); and School-age (This includes both the younger and older school age ranges). 8. Where certification identifies a facility to be a family home, the certificate will state infant classification or a mixed age range of birth up to 13 years. 9. A certification document will also indicate an expiry date. The expiry date is determined based on the information and documentation received through the initial application or renewal process. Level I through IV certification can be valid for up to three years. Trainee certification is valid for a maximum of one year. Orientation 1. All applicants must be orientated to the type of facility, certification level and age range classification applicable to the facility they wish to pursue employment and the children with whom they will work, where it is determined that the early childhood education program completed by the applicant did not cover the required material to designate a specific facility type, certification level, or age range classification necessary for employment. 2. Where it has been determined that the early childhood education program covered the required material to designate a specific facility type, level or age range classification, applicants will not require orientation. 3. The Infant orientation course is not available to trainee level applicants. It can only be completed by a person who has completed, at minimum, a one year program in Early Childhood Education which was completed at an approved post-secondary institution. The course is designed for a person who did not receive sufficient infant training during their approved educational program. Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 2
4. Orientation courses are offered through AECENL on a semester basis and are available in both correspondence and an online format. Out of Province/Country Certification 1. A person who holds certification or registration in another province or territory must apply to have their application assessed and approved for certification in this province. Certification will be issued based on the scope of practice for the certification in the other Province/Country and processed under the Agreement on Internal Trade (Chapter seven). The level(s) and classification(s) are assigned based on the valid certification/registration submitted. 2. Where an applicant has completed an early childhood education diploma in another Province/Country a copy of the transcripts/certificates/diplomas/degrees supporting the post-secondary work must be submitted with the application. Official course descriptions (including number of hours and course objectives) may be required where equivalency to a level or classification of certification is being sought. 3. Where the applicant has received a diploma or completed post-secondary coursework outside of Canada, an evaluation from an approved accreditation service is required. As with Canadian credentials, official course descriptions (including number of hours and course objectives) may be required where equivalency to a level or classification of certification is being sought. Course descriptions in a language other than English must be officially translated. 4. A list of approved accreditation services may be obtained from AECENL. 5. An Age Range, Caregiver to Child Ratio, Group Size and Caregiver Certification Fact Sheet is located in Appendix A. PROCEDURES: 1. To attain certification, an applicant must obtain and submit an initial application to AECENL for preliminary assessment and review. 2. Documentation to be provided as part of an application for certification includes: i. A copy of all diplomas and transcripts; and/or i Proof of certification/registration from another Province/Country; and/or An evaluation from an accreditation service, where applicable. Originals or notarized photocopies of documents may also be required upon request. Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 3
3. Once the preliminary assessment and review is complete, the certification is then approved by the Minister or his/her designate. 4. When certification has been received by the applicant, a copy is to be provided to the employer prior to commencing work at a child care service or Agency. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS: (applicable websites, guidelines, relevant forms, etc. Sections of the legislation can also be referenced here if needed). Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador http://www.aecenl.ca Age Range, Caregiver to Child Ratio, Group Size and Caregiver Certification Fact Sheet Appendix A Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 4
CERTIFICATION: LEVELS Policy No.: ELCD-2017-H2 Effective Date: 2017-07-31 Date Revised: Policy Cross References: Legislative References: CCR: s. 11; s. 82 PURPOSE: To outline the levels of certification. POLICY AND STANDARDS: 1. There are five levels of certification: i. Trainee Level An applicant may be granted trainee level certification to be a Caregiver in a child care centre where the applicant has successfully completed an orientation course and provides proof of registration at a post-secondary institution in early childhood education approved by the Minister. Trainee certification to be a Caregiver in a family child care service may be granted where the applicant has successfully completed the associated orientation course. Entry level certification issued under the Child Care Services Act will be considered to be trainee certification on the coming into force of the Child Care Regulations. i Level I Level I certification may be granted where an applicant holds a diploma from a postsecondary institution in a one year program in early childhood education approved by the Minister and, where assessed to be required, successfully completed the applicable orientation course(s). Level II Level II certification may be granted where an applicant holds a diploma from a postsecondary institution in a two year program in early childhood education approved by Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 5
the Minister and, where assessed to be required, successfully completed the applicable orientation course(s). iv. Level III Level III certification may be granted where an applicant holds a diploma from a postsecondary institution in a three year program in early childhood education approved by the Minister and, where assessed to be required, successfully completed an orientation course. Level III certification may also be granted where an applicant holds a diploma from a post-secondary institution in a two year program in early childhood education approved by the Minister and a one year post-diploma specialization. The applicant may also be required to complete an orientation course where assessed to be required. Level III certification may also be granted where an applicant holds a degree from a university approved by the Minister and a diploma from a post-secondary institution in a one year program in early childhood education approved by the Minister. The applicant may also be required to complete an orientation course where assessed to be required. Level III certification classification may be granted where an applicant holds a degree in Education from a university approved by the Minister and has successfully completed the applicable orientation course(s). This level will be limited to the school age range classification only. v. Level IV Level IV certification may be granted where an applicant holds a degree in early childhood education from a university approved by the Minister. Level IV certification may also be granted where an applicant holds a degree from a university approved by the Minister and a diploma from a post-secondary institution in a two year program in early childhood education approved by the Minister. 2. Equivalent education or training may be assessed and approved by the Minister, subject to the education, training and orientation course(s) completed by the applicant. 3. An Age Range, Caregiver to Child Ratio, Group Size and Caregiver Certification Fact Sheet is located in Appendix A. PROCEDURES: 1. Where equivalent education or training is requested to be assessed, written notification must be submitted to the Minister and include: i. Rationale for the request; Proof of completed education or training equivalency; and Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 6
i Documentation describing the content of the educational program or training completed. 2. The Minister s decision with respect to equivalent education and training is final. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS: (applicable websites, guidelines, relevant forms, etc. Sections of the legislation can also be referenced here if needed). Age Range, Caregiver to Child Ratio, Group Size and Caregiver Certification Fact Sheet Appendix A Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 7
CERTIFICATION: RENEWAL Policy No.: ELCD-2017-H3 Effective Date: 2017-07-31 Date Revised: Policy Cross References: Legislative References: CCR: s. 13 PURPOSE: To outline the certification renewal process. POLICY AND STANDARDS: 1. Child care services certification is renewed by the Department and issued in conjunction with the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL). 2. Applicants who seek to renew certification must apply in writing to the Minister in a manner prescribed by the Minister. 3. Applications for certification renewal are referred to AECENL for preliminary assessment and review. Information on AECENL is located on their website. The website is listed in the reference documents of this section of the Policy and Standards Manual. 4. The Minister may renew certification for each level identified where: i. Trainee Level (prior entry level certification): A person who seeks a trainee level renewal under the Child Care Regulations, and held an entry level certification under the Child Care Services Act for at least ten years immediately before the coming into force of the Child Care Regulations, can receive certification renewal annually by providing proof of at least ten hours of professional learning approved by the Minister. Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 8
Child Care Centre An applicant working in a child care centre provides proof of completion of at least two early childhood education courses, approved by the Minister, from a postsecondary institution during the one-year certification period or all of the following: a. Proof of registration in an early childhood education program approved by the Minister at a post-secondary institution; b. Proof that courses required for the early childhood education program referred to in (a) are not available; and c. Proof of at least 10 hours of professional learning approved by the Minister. Trainee level certification may be renewed up to a maximum of four times or a maximum of six times where two of those times included renewals where courses required for the early childhood education program were not available.. Family Child Care An applicant working in a family home provides proof of ten hours of professional learning approved by the Minister. Levels I IV: An applicant provides proof of completion of at least one hour of professional learning, approved by the Minister, for every month that has passed since the date the certification was granted prior to the expiry of their current certification. Applicants are not required to complete more than 30 hours of professional learning in this circumstance. Applicants who seek certification renewal after their certification has expired must provide proof of completion of: a. At least one hour of approved professional learning approved by the Minister for every month between the date the certification was granted and the date it expired; and b. At least one hour of approved professional learning approved by the Minister for every month that has passed since the date the certification expired. Applicants are not required to complete more than 60 hours of professional learning in this circumstance. Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 9
PROCEDURES: 1. To attain certification renewal, an applicant must obtain and submit an application to AECENL for preliminary assessment and review. 2. Documentation must be provided with the application as outlined in this section of the Policy and Standards Manual. 3. Once the preliminary assessment and review is complete, the certification renewal is then approved by the Minister or his or her designate. 4. When the certification renewal has been received by the applicant, a copy is to be provided to the employer of the child care service or Agency. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS: (applicable websites, guidelines, relevant forms, etc. Sections of the legislation can also be referenced here if needed). Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador http://www.aecenl.ca Date issued: 2017-07-30 Page 10