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STARS Requirements for Child Care Professionals in Washington State
Within the first six months of being hired or licensed, the director, program supervisor, assistant director, all lead staff and family child care providers are required to meet STARS requirements.
Regardless of your job title, licensing regulations considers anyone that is left unsupervised with children to be a lead staff person. So if, at any time, a staff person is left in charge of children, they are required to obtain the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training and ongoing continuing education.
If you are considered a lead staff person according to licensing regulations, you must either take the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training, 30 hour Child Care Basics, or obtain an educational exemption letter from STARS, which states that you are exempt from either the 20 hour Initial School-Age Training or the 30 Hour Child Care Basics class. To qualify for an education exemption, you must apply through MERIT.
Within the first six months of being hired or licensed, the director, program supervisor, assistant director, all lead staff and family child care providers are required to meet STARS requirements.
Regardless of your job title, licensing regulations considers anyone that is left unsupervised with children to be a lead staff person. So if, at any time, a staff person is left in charge of children, they are required to obtain the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training and ongoing continuing education.
If you are considered a lead staff person according to licensing regulations, you must either take the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training, 30 hour Child Care Basics, or obtain an educational exemption letter from STARS, which states that you are exempt from either the 20 hour Initial School-Age Training or the 30 Hour Child Care Basics class. To qualify for an education exemption, you must apply through MERIT.
20 hour School-Age Initial Training
The 20 hour School-Age Initial Training requirement must be met within six months of being licensed or hired in a licensed child care program. The purpose of the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training is to provide a foundation of basic core knowledge about child development, guidance and behavior, health, safety, and child care licensing regulations in Washington.
Child care programs can choose to enforce further regulations according to program policy. For example, some centers may require that the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training is complete prior to employment, or within 30 days.
The 20 hour School-Age Initial Training requirement must be met within six months of being licensed or hired in a licensed child care program. The purpose of the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training is to provide a foundation of basic core knowledge about child development, guidance and behavior, health, safety, and child care licensing regulations in Washington.
Child care programs can choose to enforce further regulations according to program policy. For example, some centers may require that the 20 hour School-Age Initial Training is complete prior to employment, or within 30 days.
STARS Continuing Education Training
Click Here to View STARS Continuing Education Courses
State law dictates that all lead child care professionals are required to complete 10 hours of STARS continuing education training every calendar year.
A center director and program supervisor must have five of the ten hours in program management and administration for the first two years in their respective positions. Each additional year, three of the ten hours required must be in program management and administration.
Click Here to View STARS Continuing Education Courses
State law dictates that all lead child care professionals are required to complete 10 hours of STARS continuing education training every calendar year.
A center director and program supervisor must have five of the ten hours in program management and administration for the first two years in their respective positions. Each additional year, three of the ten hours required must be in program management and administration.
The course does not "save" your progress. Use the checklist provided to track your progress, and click on the link in the menu to return to where you left off in the training.
