California issues six levels of Child Development (CD) Permits: 1) Assistant, 2) Associate Teacher, 3) Teacher, 4) Master Teacher, 5) Site Supervisor, and 6) Program Director. Each permit level has its own set of issuance requirements and each authorizes the holder to perform different levels of service in early learning and care programs. Specifically, these permits authorize the holder to provide services in the care, development, and instruction of children ages five and younger in a child care and development program; and may provide other services such as supervision and to serve as a curriculum coordinator. There is also a School-Age emphasis that can be added to a permit that authorizes the permit holder to provide all services authorized by the holder’s Child Development Permit and to provide services in the care, development, and instruction of children from ages birth to 14 in before-school, after-school, and other school-age child care programs. For more information about Child Development Permits, review leaflet CL-797.

This page provides information on Child Development Permits issued in the last five years. The Commission uses the fiscal year starting from July 1 to June 30 to report the number of permits issued.  Permits may be issued with the permit holder’s county of employment, although the Commission is not mandated to collect county of employment information for Child Development Permits. Data files are available in the Data and Resources section at the bottom of this page. Access the Glossary for more information about terms used on this page. Access the How to Use Dashboards page for tips on how to search and view data on this page.

New Child Development Permits Issued in the Last Five Years

Data below display the number of new Child Development Permits issued by level, including by School-Age emphasis, in the last five years. The six levels of the Child Development Permits represent a career lattice, with the requirements for each level of the permit building upon those of the previous level. In this way, candidates are facilitated in moving through the permit levels in the following order: 1) Assistant, 2) Associate Teacher, 3) Teacher, 4) Master Teacher, 5) Site Supervisor, and 6) Program Director permit. Permit holders may start at different levels, however, and are not required to obtain each sequential permit level. For example, an individual may be initially issued a Master Teacher permit, then later be issued a Program Director permit after completion of the specific Program Director permit requirements. School-Age emphasis may be added to any of the six levels of the Child Development Permit.

Click the tabs below to view data by total permits or total permits by School-Age emphasis.  Use the drop down menus to search data by level and year.

Renewed Child Development Permits Issued in the Last Five Years

Data below display the number of renewed Child Development Permits issued by level, including by School-Age emphasis, in the last five years. Not all levels of the Child Development Permit have the same renewal requirements. The Assistant, Teacher, Master Teacher, Site Supervisor, and Program Director permits can be renewed for successive five year periods upon completion of 105 hours of professional growth. The Associate Teacher permit is renewed once for a total of two 5-year issuances upon completion of at least 15 semester units toward the Child Development Teacher Permit.

Click the tabs below to view data by total permits or total permits by School-Age emphasis.  Use the drop down menus to search data by level and year.

Updated April 03, 2023