Minimum qualifications of a preschool teacher

A teacher shall: 1. Be an adult of good physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health, and shall use mature judgment when making decisions impacting the quality of child care and early childhood education. 2. Hold at least one of the following qualifications: a. A bachelor's degree with at least eight semester hours or twelve quarter hours of department-approved early childhood education or child development; b. A teaching certificate in elementary education or kindergarten endorsement; c. An associate's degree in the field of early childhood education or child development; d. An associate's degree with at least one year of experience in a preschool or similar setting and one of the following: (1) Eight semester hours or twelve quarter hours of department-approved early childhood education or child development; or (2) One hundred twenty hours of department-approved early childhood training; e. Current certification as a child development associate or similar status; or f. Certification from a Montessori teacher training program. 3. Meet the qualifications of the director and perform the function of a director as defined in section 75-03-11-08.1, if the teacher is also the director.