OAR 414-320-0340: Duties and Qualifications of Teachers

(1) A certified ONB program's teachers are responsible for: (a) The supervision of their assigned group of children at all times; and (b) The supervision of any aides or volunteers assigned to their group. (2) A certified ONB program's teachers must: (a) Be at least 18 years of age; (b) Meet the initial (see OAR 414-320-0370) and annual training (see OAR 414-320-0380) requirements; (c) Have completed 10 hours or 1 college quarter credit of nature-based education training approved by DELC; and (d) If working with preschool-age only children, meet the experience and training qualification requirements for their assigned age group in one of the following options: (A) At least 750 hours of qualifying teaching experience in a Certified Child Care Center or comparable group care program in the appropriate age level, of which 250 hours must be in an outdoor education environment; (B) 1,500 hours of qualifying teaching experience in Registered Family or Certified Family child care; (C) Documentation of attaining at least step 6 in the Oregon Registry; (D) 9 quarter credits or 6 semester credits in at least two Core Knowledge Categories (3 quarter credits or 2 semester credits must be in HGD or UGB); (E) A minimum of an associate’s degree from a college or university with a major in early childhood education, child development, special education, elementary education, human development, child and family studies; or (F) A state or nationally recognized credential, e.g. Child Development Associate (CDA); and (e) If working with school-age children, meet the experience and/or training qualification requirements in one of the following options: (A) 60 hours experience working with children in the certified ONB program classroom AND completion of 20 clock hours of training, completed within the last 5 years, focused on school-age child care that meets the following core knowledge areas criteria: 5 clock hours in UGB, 5 clock hours in LEC, 5 clock hours in HGD, and 5 clock hours in PM; (B) At least 240 hours of qualifying experience working with school-age children in the last 5 years in licensed child care facility or comparable group care program, of which 80 hours must be in an outdoor education environment; (C) At least an associate’s degree in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, special education, physical education, recreation, human development, child and family studies, or home economics; or (D) At least Step 6 in the Oregon Registry.