Early childhood education supports and guides children from ages birth to eight as they develop and grow. Educational professionals who help young children cultivate important social, physical, and cognitive milestones include daycare providers, preschool teachers, and kindergarten educators.
Young children's brains grow rapidly, and it is important to make the most of this foundational period. During early childhood, children learn the fundamentals of language through being spoken to and engaging in conversation with those around them. Reading books to children and playing rhyming games helps develop basic literacy skills. Counting and sorting objects is the foundation of future math skills. Children at this age also begin to learn how to have self-control, deal with frustration, and have a sense of self-confidence in their abilities.
Children at this age learn primarily through play. The role of an early childhood teacher is to help support young children's natural curiosity and provide developmentally appropriate activities. They should also maintain strong communication with the children's families. The job outlook for early childhood education is strong, with higher-than-average growth expected in the field. Further, new preschool teachers are needed to replace those who are retiring or changing professions, as well as to meet the increased need for these programs.
Early Childhood Education Certification
In most states, early childhood educators need specific credentials and certifications to teach. What early childhood education certification is required will depend on these state regulations and the particular age group a teacher desires to work with.
Daycare Teachers
Daycare teachers frequently care for young children while their parents are at work. The hours that daycares are open often overlap with a traditional school or work day, but some stay open later in the day or even at night to provide care for employees who work second or third shifts.
Many daycare centers will hire teachers who only have a high school diploma, provided they have some experience working with young children. However, some prefer an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Those with a college degree have a greater opportunity for career advancement.
Preschool Teachers
An individual who wants to become a certified preschool teacher will want to check into the state regulations where they want to teach to be sure they meet all requirements. Many preschools will want teachers to have completed an associate degree program in early childhood education that provides knowledge in child development, building social skills, and helping children develop basic literacy and math skills. Some schools require preschool teachers to have a bachelor's degree in the field to obtain a teaching position.
Kindergarten Teachers
Students in kindergarten are usually in the four- to six-year age range. Kindergarten is the beginning of a traditional academic education. Kindergarten teachers should love working with young children, have a strong understanding of early childhood development, and be good at communicating with both children and their families. As for job responsibilities, kindergarten teachers:
Develop lesson plans
Teach basic academic skills
Cultivate students' social development
They also communicate regularly with parents and may suggest testing or interventions if a child is not meeting the expected milestones.
Certified kindergarten teachers are expected to have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, or elementary education. In addition to a college education, kindergarten teachers must complete student teaching (this is often done as part of the college program) and pass any licensing exams required by the state where they plan to teach. Prospective teachers should keep in mind that teacher certification exam requirements can differ from state to state, although some states do allow teacher license reciprocity.
On a personal level, early childhood education teachers also must learn to set boundaries when working with children and their families. Dr. Catherine L. Meyer-Looze, Associate Professor and Unit Head for the Educational Leadership and Counseling department at Grand Valley State University, counsels, "The one piece of advice I wished I received would be how to set boundaries and more about communicating with parents. In the early days, I had to learn the boundaries between home and school as I wanted to solve all the challenges students brought to the classroom and obviously didn't know how."
What Are the Benefits of ECE Certification?
Early education certification ensures daycare providers and preschool teachers have the tools, skills, and licensing they need to obtain an entry-level position working with young children. Obtaining an additional ECE certification can help teachers develop and expand their skill set to better meet the needs of diverse children. Having additional certification can also be the ticket to a promotion and a higher salary.
Benefit
Explanation
Gain a Degree
Many early childhood educators choose to pursue additional college education. For entry-level daycare providers who never obtained a college degree, this may mean obtaining an associate degree. Those with an associate degree might return to school to get a bachelor's degree to increase their knowledge of child development and the best educational processes for young children. By the same token, early childhood and kindergarten teachers can advance their careers by obtaining a master's degree.
Pursuing an internship is another way to gain valuable skills and obtain additional ECE certifications in particular areas. An internship can also help an educator build useful professional connections when looking for a new teaching position.
Gain Skills
Obtaining certifications in basic medical skills, such as first aid and CPR, help teachers provide a safe environment for students and increases the teacher's knowledge base. Certifications like this enhance and add skills that make daycare providers, preschool educators, and kindergarten teachers more effective in the classroom and help increase their job prospects.
Additional Early Childhood Education Credentials and Certifications
Teachers focused on early childhood education may wish to expand their expertise and marketability by obtaining additional early childhood education credentials.
Early Childhood Degree Options
Depending on the teacher's current level of education, they may decide to return to college to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in early childhood education or early childhood development. In some states, earning a bachelor's or master's degree and meeting other requirements can provide an early childhood education certification to teach children from birth to age eight (rather than the age five provided by most certifications). This equips early education teachers with the ability to teach first or second grade, thereby increasing their job prospects.
Having an advanced degree is ideal for those wanting to move into administrative leadership positions within a daycare or preschool. Those looking to pursue further study and teach others how to become early childhood educators may also obtain a doctoral degree in early childhood education.
Early Childhood Credentials
Other teachers may choose to pursue an early childhood education credential for a specific age range or need. For example, a teacher with a general credential to teach children from birth to age five may seek specialized education in caring for infants or toddlers or learn more about preschool education to increase their knowledge and efficacy in the educational environment where they most want to work.
Teachers working with young children learning English as a foreign language can work toward earning a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certification. Those interested in Montessori early childhood education can pursue certification in that area, opening the door to work in a Montessori classroom.
Early Childhood Education Certificate
The Early Childhood Education Certificate (ECEC) provides foundational skills for teaching young children in a daycare or preschool setting. Obtaining the ECEC is a great choice for someone who has recently graduated from high school and wants to work with young children or those looking to change careers to begin working with children.
Students are expected to take various classes as part of the ECEC program. Topics covered include:
Early childhood development
Understanding diverse family structures
Troubleshooting danger in childcare classrooms
Cultivating good nutritional habits in children
Teaching students with various needs
Students will learn how to observe and keep records of student behavior, interact positively with all children, create learning environments that encourage educational and social development, and create lesson plans to meet the needs of all children in their care. Prospective early childhood teachers will also learn how to develop their own communication skills and continue to grow as educators when on the job.
A high school diploma and solid English writing and speaking skills are required to pursue this program. It can often be completed in one year or less. ECEC programs often include both classroom work and an internship or student teaching so prospective early childhood education teachers can develop practical skills and gain experience in a daycare or preschool environment. Students who acquire this early education certification may focus on infant or preschool care at both the assistant teacher and full teacher levels. There are also programs for preschool directors.
Child Development Associate Credential
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is a national certification to work with children from birth through age five. This early childhood education credential has great value because it demonstrates an educator's commitment to their professional development. Three different certifications are offered under the CDA designation.
Center-Based Infant-Toddler Certification
This certification is for those who work in state-approved centers for children from birth to 36 months. Prospective teachers complete 120 hours of training, developing a wide range of skills to help nurture children in this age range and communicate well with their families. They also must have 480 hours of professional experience, during which they must work with young infants, mobile infants, and toddlers. During a professional evaluation, the educator is observed working with children, and their professional portfolio of resources is reviewed.
Center-Based Preschool Certification
This preschool teacher certification provides credentials to those who work in state-approved centers for children from three to five years old. After completing 120 hours of training in various topics related to early childhood education and 480 hours of classroom experience in an approved preschool setting, the preschool teacher is observed by a professional development specialist. The teacher must also submit a portfolio of early education resources.
Family Child Care Certification
A Family Child Care certification is for educators working in family care settings that meet local or state regulations with at least two children between birth and five years old not related to the teacher. As with the other certifications, prospective teachers complete 120 hours of training followed by 480 hours of hands-on experience before being observed in an evaluation. A professional portfolio is also required.
Childcare Professional Credential
The Certified Childcare Professional (CCP) certification is a nationally recognized early childhood education credential. Teachers who obtain this professional certification are more attractive to employers and eligible for promotion. It provides employers, parents, and the community at large with evidence that the educator has the professional skills necessary to create positive learning experiences for the children in their care.
Preparation for the CCP includes training designed to help the early child educator:
Create safe, nurturing, and culturally inclusive educational settings
Gain knowledge in child development and the practical skills to encourage children's appropriate development in all areas
Develop age-appropriate lesson plans
Engage in assessment and reporting on outcomes
Have the necessary technological skills
Take part in continuing professional development
To obtain the CCP credential, educators must have a high school diploma and at least 720 hours of experience working in an approved child-care center with children under six years old. They need to complete at least 180 hours of training and pass the National Early Childhood Education exam. In addition, a portfolio demonstrating professional development, professional observations, evaluations, writing samples, and a plan for continued professional growth is required.
First Aid, CPR, and AED Certification
Some childcare centers will require their teachers and assistants to have First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications, but whether they are required or not, it is helpful for an early childcare educator to have. While not specifically involved in an early childhood education credential, accidents and medical emergencies do happen, and it can be a matter of life or death for a baby or child to know how to respond correctly. These trainings will provide educators with the confidence to react quickly and appropriately when emergencies occur. Having these certifications is also an added benefit to an early childhood educator's resume.
First Aid training will help daycare providers and preschool teachers know how to assess an injury, stop bleeding, treat minor injuries, respond to breathing issues, take necessary steps in the event of poisoning, and help those experiencing heat stroke or hypothermia. It also helps educators know when additional medical help should be sought.
Child and Baby CPR can help save a life if a child goes into cardiac arrest and their heart stops beating. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As child and baby CPR differs from adult CPR, those who work in childcare or preschool settings should be sure to learn how to perform CPR on the youngest individuals.
AED Certification instructs teachers on how to use an automatic external defibrillator (AED). AEDs are now available in many public places, including schools. They can help resuscitate a person experiencing cardiac arrest. In this certification program, teachers learn how to use defibrillators safely.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certification
Many young children in daycares and preschools come from families that speak a lanuage other than English at home. While children learn to understand and speak a second language through exposure easier than older students, obtaining an early childhood education credential in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) can help early childhood educators teach their students English more systematically. It can also help with their job prospects as it sets their resume apart from other candidates and enables them to better meet the needs of the children in their care.
Coursework for this certification covers the unique challenges of teaching English to young children, practical pedagogical skills and strategics to use in the educational setting, and how to use games and activities to engage children so that they can learn through play. Prospective educators will also learn how to continue their professional development and practice self-evaluation so that they can continue to improve their effectiveness at teaching English to their students.
Those with a TEFL certification will be able to:
Create effective lesson plans and learn how to adapt them for students of different abilities and learning styles
Use best practices in the classroom for teaching English as a foreign language
Increase student participation through fun, interactive activities
Communicate well with families and school administrators to achieve the best outcomes for students
Manage classroom behavior
With these skills, early childhood educators can help provide their students who are learning English as a foreign language with the best possible start as they begin their formal academic journey so that they can succeed both in school and in life.
Montessori Teacher Certification
Montessori education is based on the teaching principles put forth by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician who was deeply interested in the best ways to educate young children. It is a child-centered approach to education featuring special materials designed to allow children to work independently and in groups. Students are largely self-directed and learn at their own pace to master activities and achieve learning objectives.
Teachers who obtain an early education certification in Montessori education learn to facilitate this self-directed student learning. They study Dr. Montessori's philosophy, learn how to work with the Montessori materials, and develop the skills needed to guide young children on a path of educational discovery.
For early childhood educators, there are two levels of Montessori certification:
Infant and Toddler is for teachers who want to work with children from birth to age three.
Early Childhood is for those who want to work with two-and-a-half to six-year-olds.
To pursue either of these certifications, prospective teachers should have a bachelor's degree. Those with an associate degree may be eligible for a lower-level certification but are encouraged to complete a bachelor's degree program. It takes one to two years of study and hands-on activities and then a one-year practicum to be eligible for this certification.
Those with a Montessori certification are eligible to teach in a public or private Montessori school. Early childhood educators who work in other facilities may be able to incorporate some of what they have learned into their classroom environments to provide a richer experience for their students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest degree in early childhood education?
The highest degree in early childhood education is a doctoral degree. Those who obtain this degree may work as school administrators, college professors, or work on creating early childhood curricula,
What is the best degree for preschool teacher?
Most preschools require their early childhood educators to have at least an associate's degree or comparable certification to be eligible to teach.
What is CDA certification?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is a national early childhood education certification. Teachers may earn a Center-Based Infant-Toddler certification, a Center-Based Preschool certification, or a Family Child Care certification.
What is the difference between ECE and CDA?
ECE certification refers to any program that provides certification to teach and care for early childhood students. CDA is the Child Development Associate credential which is one type of certification that early childhood educators can obtain.