Career Lattice Requirements

Professional Training Areas

Level 1 Introductory Informal Education

• High school diploma or GED
  
• Current CPR certification and first aid training
  
• Six additional hours of training (within the last year) in two or more of the 15 Professional Training Areas
  
• Work directly with children in a child care, preschool, Head Start, or school-age program

Level 2 Advanced Informal Education

• High school diploma or GED
  
• Current CPR certification and first aid training
  
• 20 additional hours of training (within the last year) in four or more of the 15 Professional Training Areas
  
• Work directly with children in a state-registered or licensed child care, preschool, Head Start, or school-age program
  
• Current membership in a recognized professional organization related to the early childhood or school-age field; or attend six hours of professional development conference training within the past two years.

Level 3 Professional Credential

• Current CPR certification and first aid training (if working with children)
• CDA, SD OST Credential, or other similar credential which includes a minimum of 120 hours of training; or a vocational certificate with early childhood or youth development emphasis
• Work directly with children in a state-registered or licensed child care, preschool, Head Start, or school-age program; or provide leadership or instruction that promotes the development of other practitioners
• Current Membership in a recognized professional organization related to the early childhood or school-age field
• Attend six hours of professional development conference training within the past two years

Level 4 Apprenticeship or Higher Education Coursework

• Current CPR certification and first aid training (if working with children)
  
• Completion of apprenticeship training and certification or 12 college credits in early childhood
  
• Two years experience working in a program with children in the past six years or two years experience providing leadership or instruction that promotes the development of
  other practitioners
  
• Membership in a recognized professional organization related to the early childhood or school-age field
  
• Attend six hours of professional development conference training within the past two years

Level 5 Early Childhood Associate’s Degree

• Current CPR certification and first aid training (if working with children)
  
• Associate’s degree with a minimum of 18 early childhood credits or unrelated bachelor’s degree with work experience and training in early childhood or school-age program
  
• Two years' experience working in a program with children in the past four years or supervised practicum/field experience as required by associate’s degree program or minimum of two years of experience providing leadership/instruction promoting the development of other practitioners
  
• Membership in a recognized professional organization related to the early childhood or school-age field
• Attend six hours of professional development conference training  within the past two years

Level 6 Baccalaureate Degree

• Current CPR certification and first aid training (if working with children)
  
• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 24 credits in early childhood education or bachelor’s degree in a related field of study combined with work experience and professional
  training
  
• Four years' experience in a state-registered or licensed early childhood or school-age program; or supervised field experience as required by a bachelor’s degree program; or two years' experience providing leadership or instruction that promotes the development of other practitioners
  
• Membership in a recognized professional organization related to the early childhood or school-age field
• Attend six hours of professional development conference training within the past two years

Level 7 Master’s and Doctoral Degree

• Current CPR certification and first aid training (if working with children)
  
• Master’s or Doctoral degree in early childhood or a closely-related field
  
• Four years of experience providing leadership or instruction that promotes the development of other practitioners
  
• Serve as a mentor and educator to others in the field
  
• Membership in a recognized professional organization related to the early childhood or school-age field
• Attend six hours of professional development conference training within the past two years
• Demonstration of professional leadership