What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Associates Degree
Early on Babyhood Teaching Degrees: Online and On Campus
Featuring expert advice from Linda Logan, Outset Spark Consulting and Program Coordinator at Kansas Kid Care Training Opportunities
Early babyhood educational activity (ECE) teachers take on the awesome responsibility of helping young children at a crucial stage of their lives. Early on childhood educational activity teachers aren't merely babysitters—they help children develop the learning, emotional, and social skills they volition build on for the remainder of their lives.
The degree and licensing requirements for early on babyhood educators vary by state and blazon of learning institution. This folio volition aid you narrow downwardly your choices and so you can find the program that's right for you.
What Is an Early Childhood Educator?
Early childhood educators provide care and developmental instruction for young children. Although the ages of students vary by establishment or plan, early babyhood typically includes infants through third graders.
Exact task descriptions vary by employer, merely near early childhood educators teach bookish, social, and emotional skills catered to their students' ages and developmental stages.
Daily duties for early childhood educators may include:
Where Practise Early Childhood Educators Work?
Early childhood educators may work in a variety of settings, each with its own professional requirements. These typically include:
Preschools
Preschools vary in their requirements for preschool teachers—one may hire an educator with a loftier school diploma, while another may require a available'southward degree.
Daycare and Childcare Centers
Graduates with ECE certificates or an associate degree may detect positions in daycare and childcare centers.
Churches
Daycare centers and preschools in church building settings may require just high schoolhouse diplomas or GEDs and babysitting feel.
Specialized Instruction Schools
Some schools take specific methods of education and curriculum that they follow. This includes schools such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio. Most of these schools require teachers to have a bachelor'southward caste. (Learn more than most specialized early on childhood education methods.)
Private Schools
Requirements vary by school, just bachelor'south degrees are often preferred.
Early Caput Commencement
A preschool instructor in a center-based Head Offset plan is required to have at to the lowest degree an associate degree, and l% of teachers at such centers must take bachelor'southward degrees in early childhood pedagogy.
Public Schoolhouse Early Childhood Educational activity Programs
Preschool teachers in public-school settings are required to take available'south degrees and licenses. Requirements may include completing continuing education courses to maintain teacher licenses.
Private Homes
Some people start daycares in their homes. This daycares may or may non exist licensed, so degree requirements vary.
Not all work in the early childhood educational activity field is done confront to face with students in a classroom. Some graduates of ECE degree programs choose to work equally school administrators, researchers, curriculum designers, bailiwick matter experts, and other areas.
"Early on babyhood does non merely hateful watching children. In that location are many different opportunities," explains Linda Logan, Program Coordinator for Kansas Kid Care Preparation Opportunities. "Some of these opportunities include Parents every bit Teachers, babyhood literacy programs, social-emotional intervention programs, developmental programs, and fifty-fifty being a blog influencer in the early childhood education space."
Additionally, teachers who have earned alternative instructor certification in ECE may be able to teach public school students in grades K–iii in some states.
How to Become an Early Childhood Educator
Below are some of the typical requirements to become an early childhood educator:
Earn a Degree
The level of degree required to work as an early childhood educator varies based on type of institution, with some programs seeking educators with an associate caste and others requiring a bachelor's degree at minimum. Cheque with your state'south board of education and local schools to learn about specific mandates.
Complete a Practicum
Many states require a practicum, or unpaid pedagogy practice in a preschool classroom, as part of the qualifications for obtaining an early childhood education license. This hands-on, supervised experience helps y'all larn more than apace by actually performing duties of the teaching profession.
Earn Instructor Licensure
The requirements for earning a didactics license for early childhood instruction differ by land. Common requirements include completing an approved teacher preparation programme, passing required licensure exams, and keeping up with standing didactics requirements.
Earn Certification (Optional)
While non e'er required, some states mandate that early on childhood educators must obtain certification. Taking this sometimes optional pace can as well assistance you lot ready yourself autonomously from other contenders and demonstrate their competencies.
Types of Early Childhood Education Degrees
The type of degree you decide to pursue should be based on your career goals. Are you hoping to work in a daycare center? An elementary school? Do you want to work behind the scenes as an administrator or curriculum designer?
Public preschool teachers are typically required to concur at minimum a bachelor's caste in early childhood education or a related topic.
Some private schools hire teachers with an associate degree, just increasingly these schools look for baccalaureate-educated professionals.
Individuals looking to piece of work equally education aides or childcare workers tin can unremarkably find piece of work with a high school diploma/GED or associate degree.
"Those who work in licensed childcare settings will see different requirements," Logan explains. "Some states crave preservice before a license tin can fifty-fifty exist obtained. I remember most states crave some type of initial professional person development. My stance is that those initial professional person development pieces that are required or needed for a job should be just the minimal standards, and that you should e'er look to what yous need to learn adjacent so that you can provide quality services and expand your learning."
The post-obit lists the different types of degrees and the job opportunities they can lead to.
When applying to an associate degree program in early babyhood education, you tin can generally wait a few things. Access to these programs is contingent upon possessing a high school diploma or GED. Once admitted, plan to spend 2 years of full-time study working toward caste requirements. Y'all will typically take courses such equally:
- Intro to Kid Development: This form examines how children develop from nascence through boyhood, with emphasis on developmentally advisable teaching methods.
- Professional Responsibilities in ECE: Students learn how to handle health and condom, nutrition, and family interest when working in standard ECE environments.
- ECE Program Administration: Designed for hereafter leaders in the field, this course examines the roles and responsibilities of ECE program directors and touches on topics such equally budgets, 60 minutes, state guidelines, and staff evaluations.
To assistance showtime costs, many schools offering scholarships or work-study opportunities. Some state and local governments may also offer tuition discounts or financial support services. Graduation requirements vary by program only may include a practicum or practical experience in an early babyhood education classroom.
This degree supports about ECE positions, though it's becoming more common in certain educational settings to require a bachelor'southward degree. View Assembly Degree Information in Earlychildhood Educational activity.
Pursuing a bachelor's degree or specifically a bachelor'due south degree in early on babyhood education requires four years of full-time report. Application requirements typically include a high school diploma or GED aslope standardized examination scores (e.g., Human activity/Saturday), letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Once enrolled, students touch on both foundational and advanced education topics, with courses including:
- Linguistic communication Development in Early Childhood: Students learn how children from birth through age six acquire language skills and how to facilitate their development in effective ways.
- Adolescent Development Support: This course looks at behavioral, cerebral, and physical changes taking place in early on childhood, with an accent on creating positive spaces for developmental growth.
- Social-Emotional Learning in Young Children: Helping children learn how to manage their emotions in positive ways is the cornerstone topic in this class.
Plenty of scholarships and financial assistance programs be for available's in early babyhood teaching degrees. And if you have a tight upkeep, note that attending a public school in your state of residence is typically less expensive than attention an out-of-state school or a private institution.
Publisher: when link is available, link here: /resources/financial-aid/scholarships-for-early-childhood-education
Graduation requirements may include an internship or practicum aslope a minimum GPA. Graduates often piece of work in pre-K programs in both public and private schools, including Caput Start.
Master'southward degrees in early childhood education require applicants to possess a strong undergraduate record. Some may also mandate GRE scores aslope messages of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. Near full-time students complete these degrees in two years, though role-time and accelerated options be. Some of the courses a program may offer may include:
- Early on Childhood Education Curricula: This course examines some of the curricular frameworks that are best suited for immature students, with accent on creating inclusive classes that meet the needs of all learners.
- Cess in Early Babyhood Didactics: Students acquire about some of the developmentally appropriate means of assessing growth in preschool-aged children.
- Mathematical Pedagogy in Early on Childhood: Contemporary theories and frameworks for didactics early math concepts to young children are explored in this form.
Graduation requirements include completion of all required courses too as a practicum, thesis, or other type of culminating projection. Plan alumni may pursue authoritative, classroom, or special education positions.
Doctorate: Ph.D. and Ed.D.
If you lot're interested in enquiry or postsecondary teaching, you will virtually likely demand a doctoral degree. Doctoral programs typically require a master's degree as well as classroom feel. Programs typically take three to 5 years to complete. Courses you might take in an Ed.D. program include:
- Governance and Politics of ECE: This policy-based class takes a look at the laws and rules governing early on childhood education schools from both institutional and governmental perspectives.
- Research Theory and Design: Students learn how to design research studies using theory and data collection methods mutual to the field.
- Curriculum Design and Assessment: Core topics explored include research-led curriculum pattern, best practices for education, and data-informed assessment methodologies.
Most schools require students to complete a dissertation. After finishing their Ed.D., graduates often work in administration, research, or in preparing the next generation of ECE teachers by becoming an teacher in higher ed.
Early Childhood Educator Certifications
Some states require early on childhood educators to possess certification in addition to or equally an alternative to licensure.
1 well-known licensing credential for early on childhood pedagogy is the Child Development Associate (CDA). Obtaining the CDA credential requires coursework, experience in the field, a written exam, and observation of the candidate working with children. This credential is offered through the Council for Professional person Recognition.
The National Lath for Professional Teaching Standards offers National Lath Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist. Requirements for this certification include completing a bachelor's caste or college from an accredited college or university, having at least three years of early on childhood teaching feel, and maintaining an active and unencumbered instruction license (if required by the state). Applicants must laissez passer a content cognition assessment exam and a portfolio of their work to receive certification.
If you lot're interested in working in childcare, you lot can become a Certified Childcare Professional credential through the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation Commission. You lot will demand to complete an observational assessment and laissez passer the CCP examination.
If you lot want to work at an institution that has specialized instruction, such as Montessori, you may have to undergo training that is specific to the institution's instruction method.
Online Degrees in Early Childhood Teaching
Many early childhood educators accelerate their education with online courses while continuing to work in the field. In the fall of 2018, sixteen.half dozen% of students in postsecondary programs took classes completely online. With jobs for preschool teachers expected to abound by 7% in the coming decade, these numbers will likely continue rising.
As distance instruction has grown in popularity, more schools at present offer online or hybrid programs at every degree level. Fieldwork, practicums, and teacher observations usually accept place in-person at an educational setting approved by the school. Teachers already working in classrooms may be able to complete these requirements at their schoolhouse.
Pros and Cons of Online Early Childhood Teaching Degrees
With online learning, yous can take a flexible schedule. You tin piece of work full-time or manage other life obligations while pursuing your degree.
Additionally, online coursework removes barriers of proximity—you tin complete courses in whatsoever online program as long every bit y'all have a computer and Internet service, regardless of whether y'all're close to campus or non.
However, in online programs you won't experience in-person classroom discussions, in-person lectures, and in-person conferences. If you savour the surroundings of classroom give-and-take or the benefits of live instructor instruction, online learning may not exist the right choice for you.
Accreditation for Online Early on Babyhood Degree Programs
It's important to choose an online college program that is accredited. Accreditation is an evaluation of quality, relevancy, and rigor of a school or programme, equally determined by an independent tertiary-party accreditation body. Virtually states require candidates to accept a degree from an accredited school to become licensed.
Authorities such equally the U.S. Department of Education and the Quango of Higher Instruction examine whether an online caste plan meets the predetermined standards, and their accreditations are renewed every few years. Although virtually online programs for ECE are accredited, in that location are some online colleges that do not have this stardom, so be sure to verify that any programme you're considering is accredited.
Tips For Selecting an Online Program
When choosing an online programme, it's wise to look for a university or college that has a history of success in teaching students in the ECE field. Contact potential schools and ask them if they have whatever data most job placement success after graduation.
New online programs that are non affiliated with a college or university should exist examined closely for their value and accreditation.
Explore each plan'due south requirements, including those for technology, field feel, and on-campus activities, to ensure you tin can run across the program's demands.
It might besides be helpful to explore the delivery method of coursework. Is it synchronous, meaning you take to attend classes at specific times, or asynchronous, which ways you lot can take courses at times that are convenient for you lot? If it's synchronous, you lose some of the flexibility that online programs tin can provide.
Ask potential schools what resources are available to online students. Many schools offer tutoring, counseling, tech support, and even discounts on equipment to online students.
Finally, it may exist helpful to read reviews or speak with alumni to acquire well-nigh their experiences with classes and faculty, too as about their professional success.
Early Childhood Education Licensing
Data from the Agency of Labor Statistics suggests that all early babyhood educators must possess a license if working in a public schoolhouse, regardless of the country they live in. Teachers working in a individual school may or may non be required to seek licensure.
Steps to receiving a license are set up by individual state departments of educational activity.
Requirements typically include completing an approved associate or available'southward degree, taking competency exams, and passing a background bank check. Required exams also vary by country. In New York, for example, applicants must laissez passer tests on academic literacy, educating all students, content specialty, and edTPA early on childhood. Many states likewise require early childhood educators to complete continuing education credits to renew their licenses.
What Salary Can I Earn With an Early Childhood Instruction Degree?
Salary potential has a lot to practice with the job you choose, your feel, and your location.
For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the following 2022 hateful annual salaries for these ECE-related positions:
2019 ECE Salaries
| Preschool teachers, except special educational activity | $30,940 |
| Preschool and daycare administrators | $50,880 |
| Preschool teachers, special education | $88,430 |
| Childcare workers | $24,040 |
Additionally, location can be a gene. The five states with the highest annual mean salaries for preschool teachers, according to BLS information for 2019, are:
Early Childhood Educator Job Growth
Numerous studies point to the importance of early on babyhood learning. This increased awareness of the long-term benefits of early on childhood teaching has led to growth in the industry.
The BLS'due south Occupational Outlook Handbook provides the following job growth projections in the field of early childhood education between 2022 and 2028:
| Career | Growth | Job Openings |
| Preschool teachers, except special teaching | 7.i% | 58,100 |
| Preschool and childcare middle/program administrators | 7.2% | 5,800 |
| Preschool teachers, special instruction | three.5% | ii,100 |
| Childcare workers | two.four% | 177,900 |
Nosotros need you. The workforce needs y'all. Childcare services, preschool, at all levels… we need our workforce to exist congenital upwards, so please bring together us. It'due south an amazing career. Y'all will have lots of fun with children. You'll learn a lot nigh yourself and you won't regret it.
–Linda Logan
Meet the Expert
Linda Logan, Early Childhood Didactics Professional
Linda's passion for early childhood care and education spans almost forty years. Her desire to become an ECE goes dorsum to a college course she took on preschool children. This course provided her with the "ah-ha" moment in her life and led to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Teaching.
Since and then, her career has immune her to piece of work with and acquire from many children, families, and colleagues.
Her experience spans directing large corporate childcare centers, didactics, coordinating a gifted child preschool program, analogous instruction for a local Head Commencement program, and working at a statewide childcare resource and referral agency.
Currently, she is a statewide (Kansas) early on babyhood education workforce professional person. In this role, she develops and creates teaching for students using an LMS (learning management arrangement), and reaches 1,000–1,200 participants weekly.
She continues to look frontwards to learning and sharing data to brand a difference in children'southward lives through quality workforce training and supporting quality early childhood and didactics programs.
When she's non working, she enjoys her family, photography, social media outlets, collecting (and sharing) immature children'due south pic books, and learning from early childhood philosophies and programs around the world.
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Source: https://www.educationdegree.com/programs/early-childhood-education/
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