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:

  Download the Large Center Director Application Packet here.
  
  The complete application packet must include the following documents:

  • 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 an 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. All applications are processed in the order received. 
  
  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 9 months of receipt.
  
  After your application has been reviewed, a written letter or email will be sent to you with the results.  You will receive one of the following:

  • A “fully qualified” letter that is mailed to you, verifying 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.  9-Month temporary director letters are issued if the applicant has completed at least 8 of the 10 required courses and all of the experience requirements. 
  • A “not qualified” letter will be emailed to you, indicating that you cannot fully or temporarily function as a director, and explains why you do not qualify. If you receive a “not qualified” letter by email, 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 or email the renewal application packet to:

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

   

• Duplicate Letters

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

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

  Send your request by email for a prompt response or you may submit your request by mail or fax 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

   

• Regionally Accrediting Organizations Recognized by the DECL

  Accepted, Regionally Institutional Accrediting Organizations

  Higher Learning Commission (formerly called North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - The Higher Learning Commission) (HLC)  

  Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education (MSA)
  
  New England Association of Schools and Colleges - Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
  
  Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)  
  
  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges
  
  Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC)      
  
  Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU)

  NOT Accepted, Regionally Institutional Accrediting Organizations

  North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees (NCA-CASI)
  
  New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Technical and Career Institutions (NEASC-CTCI)

• Resources
  • Early Childhood Councils
  • Pyramid Plus
  • Colorado Shines Professional Development Information System (PDIS) 
  • Transcripts from colleges and universities outside of the United States must be evaluated for United States equivalency. Visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services for a list of organizations that provide evaluation services.