Senate panel hears CCV testimony and OPR plan for 8‑year transitional licenses and a 21‑credit pathway for early‑childhood educators

The Senate Health & Welfare Committee heard testimony on S.206 and related implementation plans on Feb. 12 as lawmakers and agency staff discussed pathways for early‑childhood educators to meet new credential requirements.

Dr. Leslie Johnson, associate academic dean of behavioral science and education at the Community College of Vermont, told the committee CCV offers three 24‑credit certificates (child care; early childhood education administrator; after‑school and youth work) that stack into a 60‑credit associate degree and that CCV’s general education component is 33 credits. "We offer 3 certificate programs in early childhood education focused areas at the college," she said, noting those certificates stack seamlessly into the associate degree.

Johnson provided enrollment and outcomes data to show the scale and reach of CCV’s programs: 614 students were enrolled in CCV’s early‑childhood associate degree in 2024–25 and 100 in certificate programs—more than 700 students served last academic year. On prior learning assessment (PLA), she said CCV has a highly used program: "Since 2017, early childhood educators have accounted for approximately 50% of the students who we serve in this program," and the course‑challenge option posts a success rate "of more than 97 percent." Johnson added that since 2020 nearly 150 early‑childhood educators have received 2,811 college credits via portfolio review, yielding average tuition savings of about $5,000 and roughly 250 hours saved per student.

Johnson said PLA and flexible delivery (virtual advising, fully online options, and Northern Lights resource advisors who can visit programs on site) are important low‑friction entry points for working practitioners who might otherwise face cost or time barriers to college enrollment.

Representatives from the Office of Professional Regulation and the deputy secretary of state briefed the committee on operational and statutory language for S.206. OPR described an eight‑year transitional licensing window that would allow current practitioners to obtain temporary credentials while they work toward new qualifications. As an additional transitional option, staff proposed a 21‑core‑credit pathway "less than an associate's degree" that could be earned through assessment of prior learning by an accredited institution during the eight‑year period. "There's an 8 year window where OPR is going to be offering transitional licenses, for ECE 2 and ECE 3," OPR staff said.

OPR also said it has pared back longer‑range staffing language and now proposes creation of two positions (an executive officer and a staff attorney) with an updated estimated cost of $280,000 in fiscal year 2027; OPR suggested licensing fees could sustain the program without a general‑fund allocation. OPR staff said they are coordinating with Joint Fiscal to develop a fiscal note for the committee and for the appropriations review.

On the scope of collaborative providers, OPR reported there was not full agreement in the committee huddle. Staff proposed a narrow, statutory expansion to permit an advanced practice registered nurse with a psychiatric specialty to serve as a collaborative provider; that language was provided to committee staff but remains a decision point for the committee. OPR and others also agreed to a report back to this legislative body and the companion chamber three years after credential issuance (testimony referenced 2032) to assess specialty numbers, collaborative provider availability and whether qualifications should be adjusted to balance access and public protection.

No votes were taken in the Feb. 12 session. Committee members thanked CCV for the detail on PLA and noted they will seek additional funding detail from Joint Fiscal and a fuller funding breakdown from the Child Development Division, which funds Northern Lights at CCV through braided grants including the Child Development Block Grant and Part C funds. The committee recessed for six minutes and is scheduled to hear Mary Blogg on S.190 (Green Mountain Care reference‑based pricing and hospital outsourcing) when it resumes.

Next steps: OPR will continue work with Joint Fiscal on a fiscal note and the committee will review the revision language and report‑back language before determining final statutory language and appropriations.