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[x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 5.5.5 Qualifications and training of licensing inspectors Lead Agencies must ensure that individuals who are hired as licensing inspectors (or qualified monitors designated by the Lead Agency) are qualified to inspect child care providers and facilities and have received health and safety training appropriate to the provider setting and age of the children served. Describe how the Lead Agency ensures that licensing inspectors (or qualified monitors designated by the Lead Agency) are qualified and have received training on health and safety requirements that are appropriate to the age of the children in care and the type of provider setting. Licensing inspectors must possess at a minimum a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE), child development, or a related field from an accredited college/university and two years of professional experience in the ECE or related early childhood field. The Lead Agency implements a two-phased onboarding process for training each licensing inspector on the health and safety requirements appropriate to the age of the children in care and the type of provider setting. This process includes classroom training on all areas of the state’s licensing rules and regulations, on internal Child Care Services (CCS) policies and procedures, and on regulatory administration based on the principles and competencies found in the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) best practices. The first phase of the onboarding process outlines the basic skills and competencies needed to become a licensing inspector provided through classroom training and scaffolded, hands on, field -based, skills training by shadowing veteran licensing staff. The second phase of the onboarding process focuses on newer licensing inspectors learning more advanced regulatory skills including assessing risk based on information given by outside reporters, conducting investigations, and amending program licenses. Additionally, during this second phase, new licensing inspectors acquire more detailed knowledge of the organization of CCS and other GA Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) programs and services. All CCS licensing inspectors must complete 24 hours of professional development each fiscal year. Ongoing professional development is offered throughout the year to all CCS staff including specific annual professional development days. Professional development for licensing inspectors includes risk assessment, case management, advance knowledge of licensing policies, and refresher on skills including licensor competencies, rule evaluation, updates to child development, updates to shaken baby preventions, best practices in safe sleep, school age programming, health and safety standards, and awareness of community characteristics for individuals and families.

5.5.6 Ratio of licensing inspectors Lead Agencies must ensure the ratio of licensing inspectors to child care providers and facilities in the State/Territory are maintained at a level sufficient to enable the Lead Agency to conduct effective inspections of child care providers and facilities on a timely basis in accordance with federal, State, and local laws. Provide the ratio of licensing inspectors to child care providers (i.e., number of inspectors per number of child care providers) and facilities in the State/Territory and include how the ratio is sufficient to conduct effective inspections on a timely basis. All licensing consultants within Child