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Certificate Program

Early Childhood Education: Associate Teacher

The youngest minds teach us the most

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certificate Description

Teach our youngest to love learning.

Preschool teachers and child care center operators in the Early Childhood Education Associate Teacher program gain the academic preparation and field experience needed to work in preschools, day care facilities, infant and toddler centers and other programs serving young children. You will study the latest instructional techniques that promote intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and creative growth in children.

Key focus areas

  • Child growth and development
  • Strategies for effective classroom teaching
  • Developmentally based curriculum
  • Current research and trends in this field

ECE Associate Teacher Learning Outcomes

  • Develop daily schedules and implement age-appropriate curriculum for a center or classroom.
  • Identify social, intellectual, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of infants through middle childhood.
  • Distinguish differences in major learning theories and curriculum models relating to early childhood education center philosophies.
  • Communicate effectively with families, staff, and communities about the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs of children.
  • Decode healthcare policies and procedures that relate to child care setting licensure.
  • Develop positive guidance strategies to work with diverse groups of children including those with special needs.
 

Meet state licensing requirements

Dept. of Social Services Title 22

The  Early Childhood Education Associate Teacher certificate program satisfies the Department of Social Services Title 22 Community Care licensing requirements for qualified infant-toddler and preschool teachers, as well as before and after school-age caregivers in a licensed early childhood program.

Department of Education Title 5

This program also satisfies the California Department of Education Title 5 child development coursework requirements for the Child Development Assistant or Associate Teacher permit. 

Transitional Kindergarten ECE

This program is designed for teachers requiring ECE/CD coursework for Transitional Kindergarten ECE units.

Program Overview | Downloadable PDF

Plan your path to an ECE Associate Teacher Certificate.

Program Overview

Estimated Cost: Starts at $2,880. (You pay only for courses you enroll in.) | International Tuition Cost
Program Requirements: 5 courses (20 quarter units).
Minimum Hours of Instruction: 200 hours of instruction.
Estimated Duration: A full-time student can complete the certificate in 9–12 months.
Modality: This is a fully online program with live-online & self-paced course formats.
Special Programs: This program is not approved for workforce or international students.

Courses


1. Required Course(s):

Quarter Units: 4.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-25-2025 to 03-22-2025
$560.00
ECED.X301.(15)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 4.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 4.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 4.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-08-2025 to 02-08-2025
$560.00
ECED.X304.(815)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 5.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

02-12-2025 to 04-01-2025
$690.00
ECED.X308.(815)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

2. Completion Review:

Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

3. Related Course(s): These Courses Are Not Part of The Certificate Program

Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

02-22-2025 to 03-22-2025
$435.00
ECED.X312.(15)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-22-2025 to 03-26-2025
$435.00
ECED.X314.(12)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 2.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 1.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

Meet Our Instructors

Jessica Roth
Teacher, Mentor, Curriculum Developer, Academic Coach
Lu Perez
Teacher
Lynne Mariam Goldfarb
Chief Executive Educator, Doctors of Education | Consultant
Melissa Chi Le
Teacher
Ninet Moradi
Instructor | Program Chair | ECE Professional Advisor
Robyn F Stone
Leader in STEM Education

What students are saying

Certificate Inquiry Form

Contact Us

Speak to a student services representative.

Call (408) 861-3860

Envelope extension@ucsc.edu

Professional Development

Child Development Permit

Here's what you need to apply for the Child Development Associate Teacher Permit:

  • Coursework completion of coursework.
  • Complete 50 days of experience in an instructional capacity in a child care and development program, working at least three hours per day.
  • Instructional experience needs to have occurred in the last two years.

Please visit the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for more information.

Licensure and Certification Policy

Professional licensure or certification is mandatory to practice in this field of instruction.

Please see our Licensure and Certification Policy to learn more.

Requisite Knowledge

There are no requirements to join the program.

Advisory Board

Robyn Stone, Education Instructor

ROBYN STONE, M.A., an educational leader in Santa Clara County, has been teaching at the pre-kindergarten, elementary, and middle school levels in both science specialty and general education classes for 13 years. She holds several California credentials, including an Administrative Services Credential, a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. A member of the National Science Teachers Association, the California Science Teachers Association, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the California Association for the Education of Young Children, she presents workshops for educators and administrators at regional and national education conferences. She has served as chair since 2024.

Establish Candidacy

Grade Requirements

Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements. Personal Financial Planning students have additional grade requirements for individual courses to attain a certificate.

See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.