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Early Childhood Education in Pennsylvania
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Pennsylvania students in a 600-hour approved program can count as child care staff at 16 after 400 classroom hours; paid minors need all three clearances, including FBI fingerprints.
State program: CIP 19.0708 Child Care and Support Services Management (Human Services)
What a high school can deliver
Staff status at 16-17 after 400 classroom hours of a 600-hour approved curriculum, and assistant group supervisor eligibility after graduation with the full 600 hours.
Credentials students can earn
600-hour secondary training route (55 Pa. Code 3270.31(c)); CDA and PA School-Age Credential investigation; DHS Health and Safety Basics (6 hours)
Age and hour requirements
Staff must be 18; enrolled 16-17-year-olds count as staff only after 400 classroom hours of a 600-hour curriculum, with written certification (3270.31(c)); volunteers 16+ directly supervised.
Other agencies involved
DHS Office of Child Development and Early Learning: child care center certificates (55 Pa. Code ch. 3270); no public district or CTC exemption in 3270.3, so a lab preschool appears to need one.
Who can teach it
Family and Consumer Sciences (5600), CTE Child Care Services (2216) or legacy Home Economics (5605); CTE route: 4 years wage-earning or 2 plus a bachelor's, competency assessment, 18 credits.
Child labor rules for work placements
Work permit for every minor; 8 hours a day and 28 a school week, 6 a.m. to midnight. Paid minors in child care need all three clearances, including DHS FBI fingerprints; the under-18 shortcut does not apply.
College credit after high school
SOAR partner colleges (Penn Highlands: ECE 101, 110, 298); statewide SOAR terms for 19.0708: Confirm with the agency.
Where to go next
- The full Early Childhood Education guide, showing Pennsylvania
- The Pennsylvania state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Early Childhood Education in other states
Other pathways in Pennsylvania
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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