Large Center Director Qualification Verification

• Who Should Apply

  Individuals who are seeking employment as director or substitute director of a large child care center in Colorado must apply and obtain an Official Large Center Director Qualification Verification Letter (OLCDQVL) from the Division of Early Care and Learning (DECL).
  
  We do not issue licenses or certificates to directors.

  Section 7.702 of Colorado’s Rules Regulating Child Care Centers defines large center director qualifications. The following information clarifies the education and experience requirements.

  Review the Director Qualifications Chart and the Credential Equivalency Chart to help determine eligibility.

  View information regarding required coursework, training and experience. Review the Large Center Director Equivalency Charts for information on credit equivalency from various organizations.

• How to Apply

  The application process takes approximately 4-12 weeks from the time your complete application packet is received by the Division of Early Care and Learning (DECL) until the results of your evaluation are sent to you.

   

  Complete an application packet:

  The complete application packet must include the following documents:

  • Application Data Entry Form (Form A). 
  • Experience Chart (Form B). 
  • Self-Assessment Form (Form C). 
  • Official letters from employers documenting hours worked with children. The letters must be on the employer’s letterhead and include the employer’s or director’s signature. The letter should verify the hours worked with children ages 0-5 years in an early care and learning program. Hours must be separated by ages – 0-5 years and over 5 years (elementary programs). Hours worked with children ages 5 years or older in an elementary school program can be used for up to half of the required hours of experience.
  • Copies of family child care home license (if applicable).
  • Official transcripts. Accepted forms of transcript include sealed, official transcripts and official, emailed PDF transcripts received from college registrars. DECL will NOT accept copies of official or unofficial transcripts (this includes, faxed, photocopied or emailed transcripts), computer printouts of transcripts, grade reports, etc.
  • Official Transcripts may be emailed to cdhs_oec_ecdq@state.co.us directly from the Registrar's Office.

  ​

  Mail the application packet to:

  Attn: Director Qualifications
  Division of Early Care and Learning, CDHS
  1575 Sherman Street, 1st Floor
  Denver, CO 80203-1714​

  Applications cannot be processed by phone, drop-in or appointment. Once your packet is received by the DECL, you will receive and email notification confirming receipt.​

  Incomplete application packets will not be reviewed.

  You are encouraged to make a copy of your application packet prior to mailing it to the DECL. Once your evaluation has been completed and a final qualification letter issued, your entire file will be shredded. Application packet documents are not returned to applicants.

• Applying With an Early Childhood Professional Credential 2.0

  You may apply for a Large Center Director Qualification Verification Letter (OLCDQVL) using the Early Childhood Professional Credential version 2.0 Level IV, V or VI.

   

  Complete an application packet:

  The complete application packet must include the following documents:

  • Application Data Entry Form (Form A). 
  • A copy of your Early Childhood Professional Credential version 2.0 Level IV, V or VI.

  ​No other documentation is required.

  
  Mail the application packet to:

  Attn: Director Qualifications
  Division of Early Care and Learning, CDHS
  1575 Sherman Street, 1st Floor
  Denver, CO 80203-1714​

  
  If approved, your Director Letter will expire on the same date your Early Childhood Professional Credential expires. 

• Application Review

  Upon receipt of ​the ​application packet, your file is placed “in line” for review and evaluation. ​
   
  If any documentation is missing​, you will receive an email​ requesting the information​. Your application packet ​will be processed only after the requested information is received. Incomplete application packets may be purged after 6 months of receipt.​​
  
  After your application has been reviewed, a written letter will be mailed to you with the results. You will also receive a confirmation email regarding your evaluation and the date your letter is mailed to you. ​You will receive one of these letters​:

  • A “fully qualified” letter verifies that you have met all qualifications for a large center director​. Please keep ​your original letter ​in​ your permanent file and a photocopy of​​ the letter on​ file wherever you​ are employed. ​
  • A “temporary” letter verifies that you can function as​ a temporary director​ for 9-months, ​provided all requirements are completed within the grace period stated in the letter.
  • A “not qualified” letter indicates that you cannot ​fully or temporarily function as​ a​ director​, ​and explains why you do not qualify. If you receive a “not qualified” letter, your file will be purged after 2 years if no new information has been received during that time. If this occurs, you will need to start the process again and reapply as a new applicant.
• Renewals

  You should start the renewal process 3-4 months prior to your current letter expiration date. Once all items are received, a revised letter will be sent within 4-6 weeks with the results of your qualification review.

   

  Renewals process through January 31, 2021

  To renew your OLCDQV letter, mail the following documents to the Division of Early Care and Learning:

  • Completed renewal application
  • A copy of your most recent director letter
  • A copy of your most recent Early Childhood Professional Credential Version 2.0 (if applicable)

   

  Renewals process beginning February 1, 2021

  To renew your OLCDQV letter, mail the following documents to the Division of Early Care and Learning:

  • Completed renewal application
  • A copy of your most recent director letter
  • Official transcript(s) showing completion of a 3-semester credit hour course related to the operation of a center
    • Directors meeting all large center director requirements, who work in centers operating more than 6 hours a day, must complete a 3-semester credit hour course from a regionally accredited college or university. The completed course must be in a subject related to the operation of a center, and the individual must be able to demonstrate the relationship of the course taken to the operation of the center.
    • This requirement does NOT apply to individuals holding an Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV Version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.

   

  Mail the renewal application packet to:

  Attn: Director Qualifications
  Division of Early Care and Learning, CDHS
  1575 Sherman St., 1st Floor
  Denver, CO 80203-1714

   

• Duplicate Letters

  You must submit a written request to receive a copy of a letter previously issued. This request must include the following:

  • Current name and all former names
  • Current address and all former addresses
  • Social Security #
  • Birth date
  • Date (or approximate date) the original letter was issued (if known)

   

  Send your request by mail, fax or email to:

  Attn: Director Qualifications
  Division of Early Care and Learning, CDHS
  1575 Sherman St., 1st Floor
  Denver, CO  80203-1714
  Fax:  303-866-4453
  cdhs_oec_ecdq@state.co.us