Child Care Career Ladder

The Childcare Career Ladder
The following chart outlines a career path for childcare workers. To climb the career ladder, a childcare worker must meet requirements in three areas: 1) training curriculum, 2) performance, and 3) length of experience. Regardless of certification level, each CCW must complete at least 50 hours of training annually, to include Methods training courses, workshops, and other approved educational events.
Childcare Career Intro	Career Openings	Videos, Books	Order Online

Certifications Available Through Hill Country Youth Care Training Center
Professional Certification	Pre-requisites	Training Requirements
Childcare Mentor May work with children in care under supervision by CCWI or higher.	High school diploma Life/work experiences relevant to teaching/ healing or strong desire to enter field. Criminal check.	16 hours contact training, including milieu management, overview of residential childcare, plus first aid/cpr. Min. 20 hrs. supervised OTJ.
Foster Care Respite Provider May provide short-term and overnight care in foster level residences based on treatment needs of children.	High school diploma Life/work experiences relevant to teaching/healing and/or desire to enter field. Criminal background check and reference screening.	24 hours contact training, including milieu management, basic childcare, first aid/cpr, and administering psychotropic meds. Min. 20 hrs. supervised OTJ.
Childcare Worker I May provide long-term care of children in care, LOCs 1-6, and count in ratio without supervision.	High school diploma Life/work experiences relevant to teaching/healing and/or desire to enter field. Criminal background check and reference screening.	40 hours contact training, including milieu management, basic childcare, first aid/cpr, administering psychotropic meds, PMAB, creative discipline, documentation, plus test. Min. 40 hrs. supervised OTJ.
Childcare Worker II May provide services of CCWI, plus supervise off-campus excursions with children.	6 mos. experience as CCWI, including pre-service training, and satisfactory performance evaluation.	Childcare Methods Course (25 hrs. in five 5-hour days) Weekly in-service training on assigned topics (1 hr/week avg.)
Childcare Worker III May provide services of CCWII, plus supervise and train other childcare workers.	2 years experience in residential childcare, including all required training and satisfactory performance evaluations.	Childcare Methods II Course (25 hrs in five 5-hour days) Weekly in-service training on assigned topics (1 hr/week avg.)
Master Childcare Worker May provide all CCW services, plus supervise and train at program level.	3 years experience in residential childcare, including all required training and satisfactory performance evaluations.	Childcare Methods III Course (25 hrs. in five 5-hour days) Weekly in-service training on assigned topics (1 hr/week avg.)