Oklahoma

Staff-child ratios

Requirements

Annual training

Annual professional development is tied to the Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder (OPDL): 12 clock hours per year at Level 1 and 20 clock hours at Level 2 and above; directors must maintain at least 20 clock hours every 12 months for the Oklahoma Director's Credential. The director and master teachers must obtain CPR and first aid certification within 3 months.

Lead teacher

Teachers must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED (or be completing one within 12 months) and obtain an OPDL certificate within 12 months of hire. At least one master teacher — with a high school diploma and OPDL Level 4 or higher — is required per 60 children of licensed capacity.

Director

Directors must be at least 21, have satisfactory work experience, and hold a current bronze-level or higher certificate under the Oklahoma Director's Credential (OAC 340 Appendix EE). They must be on site at least 50 percent of operating hours or 30 hours per week, whichever is less.

Worth knowing

Values shown are the single-age group chart for child care centers. Mixed-age groups use separate charts (e.g., groups including infants: 1:8 with no more than 2 children under age 2 per teacher, max group 16).