Committee reviews draft 1.2 to create licensure system for early childhood educators

The Vermont Senate Health & Welfare Committee reviewed draft 1.2 of a bill to create a new licensure chapter and board for early childhood educators, with members and staff describing a phased rollout, two temporary variance pathways and specific educational and experience requirements for three license tiers.

The draft would add early childhood educators to the list of professions regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation and create a board that is codified immediately and required to adopt rules before the full licensure program takes effect. The committee heard that the bill establishes three license types: ECE 1 (certificate/approved credential), ECE 2 (associate’s degree or alternative of 60 college credits or 21 approved core early childhood credits or equivalent experiential learning) and ECE 3 (bachelor’s degree or 120 college credits). The bill also authorizes a family child‑care provider license for entities operating in good standing as of January 1, 2029; that family child‑care license is limited to those already…