The bill addresses the qualifications for child care providers in Washington State, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It recognizes the significant impact the pandemic had on the child care industry, leading to facility closures and a shortage of providers. To support the workforce, the bill proposes delaying the certification and training requirements for child care providers and introduces a work equivalency option that acknowledges the experience of current providers. This aims to prevent an education cliff that could deter professionals from remaining in the field.

Key amendments to existing law include the establishment of a community-based training pathway for licensed child care providers, which must be implemented by August 1, 2025. This pathway will be an alternative to traditional credit-bearing education and will be accessible in multiple languages, culturally relevant, and available online. Additionally, the bill extends the compliance deadline for child care licensing rules to August 1, 2035, allowing providers to demonstrate competency through work experience rather than formal certification. The department is also prohibited from requiring annual in-service training for those demonstrating work experience-based competency.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 43.216.755