Applying for:

Child Development Program Director Permit

Allows you to:

Supervise a child care and development program operating at a single site or multiple sites, provide service in the care, development, and instruction of children in a child care and development program, and serve as a coordinator of curriculum and staff development in a child care and development program.

A red octagon shape surrounded by a gray border Before You Apply

You will need to obtain your fingerprint clearance specifically for the Commission. If you already have valid fingerprints on file with the Commission, it is not necessary to fingerprint each time you apply for a credential or permit. However, if your fingerprints are expired then you must re-establish fingerprints. Details on how to check your fingerprint status can be found at Check Application Status.

The online application will require you to answer questions related to your professional fitness. Please review How to Complete the CTC Online Professional Fitness Questions before completing the application. If you must answer "yes" to any of the professional fitness questions, please gather all documentation, including any required police reports, certified court records, and miscellaneous documents related to the incident and have them ready to upload as attachments along with the materials for verifying academic requirements listed below. If any of the records have been purged or are otherwise not available, provide an original statement from the agency on its official letterhead verifying that fact.

A green circle surrounded by a gray ring Ready to Apply?

The items below are required for this application. The Commission reserves the right to request the original(s) of any supporting documentation by mail to ensure authenticity.

 

Which option will you choose?

Below you will find four options for qualifying for this document. Please note that you only have to qualify through one of the options, not all of them.

Option 1

ItemImportant Details and Tips
 

Transcripts showing conferral of a bachelor's or degree or higher

  • The college or university must be regionally accredited.
    • If you earned your degree outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
  • Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
    • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload.
  • Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
    • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.

  • NOTE: The above transcript requirements apply to all coursework-related items in this option.
 

Completion of 6 additional semester units in administration and supervision of child care and development programs

  • The units must be comprised of two courses: one introductory course and one advanced course, or two courses of different topical content.
    • Some examples of two courses of different topical content:
      • A course in Preschool Administration and a course in Preschool Financial Management.
      • A course in Business Management and a course in Early Childhood Education/Child Development Supervision.
 

Completion of 2 additional units of adult supervision coursework

  • Adult supervision coursework is coursework designed to help individuals to develop knowledge and skills for effective communication with, and supervision of, adults and is designed to help communication, collaboration, and evaluation of staff members in an effective manner. It should include basic issues of personnel management, skills in interpersonal communication, and knowledge of how adults learn.
     Completion of one year of site supervisor experience
    • The letter must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.
    • Must be on official school or district letterhead.

    Option 2

    ItemImportant Details and Tips
     

    Possess a valid Administrative Services Credential authorizing service in California public schools

    • The credential must be Preliminary or Clear. Waivers and intern credentials are not acceptable.
    • Information on how to earn an Administrative Services Credential through California preparation can be found on CL-574C. Individuals who were prepared out-of-state and want to transfer their Administrative Services Credential to California may review CL-574.
     

    Completion of 12 semester units of early childhood education or child development coursework

    • The college or university must be regionally accredited.
      • If you earned your degree outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
    • Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
      • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload.
    • Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
      • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.

    • NOTE: The above transcript requirements apply to all coursework-related items in this option.
    • NOTE: School-Age Emphasis under Option 2 requires that 6 of the 24 semester units of early childhood education/child development be in school-age course work.
     

    Completion of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units of supervised field experience in an early childhood education setting

    • Supervised field experience is instruction performed in a child care and development program for college credit which is supervised by a person approved by a regionally accredited institution of higher education. It may be classified as a lab, practicum, or student teaching (grade K or below). The course must include observation of the student interacting with children.

       

      Option 3

      ItemImportant Details and Tips
       

      Possess a valid Multiple Subject Teaching Credential or a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Home Economics

      Completion of 12 semester units of early childhood education or child development coursework

      • The college or university must be regionally accredited.
        • If you earned your degree outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
      • Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
        • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload.
      • Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
        • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.

         

      • NOTE: The above transcript requirements apply to all coursework-related items in this option.
      • NOTE #2: School-Age Emphasis under Option 2 requires that 6 of the 24 semester units of early childhood education/child development be in school-age course work.
       

      Completion of 3 semester units or 4 quarter units of supervised field experience in an early childhood education setting

      • Supervised field experience is instruction performed in a child care and development program for college credit which is supervised by a person approved by a regionally accredited institution of higher education. It may be classified as a lab, practicum, or student teaching (grade K or below). The course must include observation of the student interacting with children.
      • If you hold a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, you can use elementary student teaching for the supervised field experience to qualify for the permit issued with School-Age Emphasis.
        Complete 6 additional semester units of coursework in administration and supervision of child care and development programs
        • The units must be comprised of two courses: one introductory course and one advanced course, or two courses of different topical content.
          • Some examples of two courses of different topical content:
            • A course in Preschool Administration and a course in Preschool Financial Management.
            • A course in Business Management and a course in Early Childhood Education/Child Development Supervision.

         

        Option 4

        ItemImportant Details and Tips

        Transcripts showing conferral of a master's degree or higher in early childhood education, child/human development, or a closely related field

        • The college or university must be regionally accredited.
          • If you earned your degree outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
        • Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
          • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload.
        • Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations:
          • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.

           

        • NOTE: Examples of closely related fields include Early Childhood Special Education and Elementary Education. If your degree is not in either of these majors, your coursework will be evaluated to determine whether or not it can be considered a closely related field.
        Important Notes:

        • This checklist is ONLY for submission of an online application.

        • This web-based checklist is a guide and does not need to be uploaded with the online application.

        • Full details of qualifying for the Child Development Program Director Permit can be found on CL-797 under the section Child Development Program Director Permit. You can also use the Child Development Permit Worksheet and the Child Development and School-Age Emphasis Matrix to compare the requirements for each level of permit and determine which one you qualify for.
        Updated March 04, 2025