How to Become a Daycare Provider in Massachusetts
Opening a daycare facility requires hard work and a willingness to undergo scrutiny to meet state licensing standards. Whether you open your own home daycare in Massachusetts, a new daycare facility or simply desire to work as a daycare provider for someone else, you need to meet the minimum qualifications required by the state. In Massachusetts, licensing standards are maintained by the Department of Early Education and Care of the Executive Office of Education.
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Instructions
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Determine the level of daycare service you will be providing. Daycare providers can include daycare owners, teachers and workers. The qualifications for each type of position include education and experience requirements that must be met. Daycare owners have the most extensive requirements because they have to obtain and maintain licensing in order to continue to provide services legally.
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Ensure that you can meet the necessary requirements for the intended level of care you will be providing. For instance, daycare teachers must be at least 21 years old and have a minimum of nine months of supervised experience working with young children. They also have to complete a three-credit-hour course in early child development and growth. Teachers with a bachelor's degree or associate's degree can have less experience and substitute their education for the experience requirement. Home daycare workers must be 18 years old and have demonstrable experience similar to that of of daycare teachers. One year of experience as a parent will qualify you to work as a childcare worker as will a combination of work and education equivalent to one full year of childcare experience. More is required of providers working with more than seven children at a time.
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Apply for a license through the Department of Early Education and Childcare or EEC. In order to obtain your license to open a facility you must submit your application approximately one year prior the date which your facility will open or you will begin offering childcare services in your home. In the intervening period, you are required to attend pre-licensing orientation sessions to become acquainted with Massachusetts laws and regulations.
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Prepare your home or facility for site inspections. Once your application is reviewed and initially approved, you will need to have your home or facility prepared to meet licensing requirements. All furniture and toys must be safe and clean. First-aid and life-saving equipment like fire extinguishers must be on hand. A licensing official will visit to make sure that you have met all standards required by the state before your license is issued.
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