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(v) Teacher/caregiver hiring, supervision and ongoing professional development; and (vi) Compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the group child care home. (b) The operator or the primary caregiver shall be physically present on-site during the hours of operation of the group child care home. (c) The operator shall be at least 21 years of age and meet one of the following qualifications: (i) A bachelor’s degree or advanced degree from a state-approved college or university in early childhood education, child development, child psychology or a related field that includes at least eighteen credit hours in child development and/or early childhood education; (ii) A bachelor’s degree from a state-approved college or university in any subject area, six months experience working with children in a licensed, approved or registered child care facility; (iii) An associate’s degree from a state-approved college or university in early childhood education, child development, child psychology or a related field, that includes at least eighteen credit hours in child development and/or early childhood education with six months work experience in a licensed, approved or registered child care facility; (iv) A diploma in child development/early childhood education from a state-approved institu- tion or a child development associate (CDA) credential, and one year work experience in a licensed, approved or registered child care facility; or (v) A high school diploma or General Educational Development Certificate (GED) with 3 years experience in a licensed, approved or registered child care facility. One year shall include supervision of child care staff. However, a operator or primary caregiver who is prevented from obtaining a high school diploma or GED because of a disability, and who otherwise is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position, must have at least a high school Certificate of Completion and at least six months experience as a teacher/caregiver in a licensed, approved or registered child care facility. (4) Teacher(s)/caregiver(s). (a) Teacher(s)/caregiver(s)shall meet the following qualifications: (i) Be at least 18 years of age, and able to read and write. (ii) A teacher/caregiver who began employment in a licensed or approved child care facility in South Carolina after June 30, 1994, must have at least a high school diploma or GED and at least six months experience as a teacher/caregiver in a licensed or approved child care facility. However, a teacher/caregiver who is prevented from obtaining a high school diploma or GED because of a disability, and who otherwise is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position of teacher/caregiver, must have at least a high school Certificate of Completion and at least six months experience as a teacher/caregiver in a licensed or approved child care facility. If a teacher/caregiver does not meet the experience requirements, the teacher/caregiver must be directly supervised for six months by a staff person with at least one-year experience as a teacher/caregiver in a licensed or approved child care facility. Within six months of being employed, a teacher/caregiver must have six clock hours of training in child growth and development and early childhood education or shall continue to be under the direct supervision of a teacher/caregiver who has at least one year of experience as a teacher/caregiver in a licensed or approved child care facility. (iii) A teacher/caregiver who has two years experience as a teacher/caregiver in a licensed or approved facility and was employed as of July 1, 1994, in a licensed or approved child care facility in South Carolina is exempt from the high school diploma, GED, and Certificate of Completion requirements of (b) above. (iv) A teacher/caregiver with an undergraduate degree from a state approved college or university in early childhood, child development, or a related field may begin working with the children immediately without additional supervision. (b) Exception: A teacher/caregiver/teacher may be 16 or 17 years of age if he/she is continuously supervised by a qualified teacher/caregiver who is in the room at all times.