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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
Meet Our Instructors
What students are saying
"She’s really inspired me to do a lot of things I was not doing with the kids. It helps you think differently about your role. It helped me a lot with teaching art and creativity. If they want to color a heart blue, we let them do it."
— Vandana Gupta
International Student
Child Care Teacher
Certificate Inquiry Form
Recommended Course Sequence
Flexible course sequence
Courses may be taken in any order provided the prerequisites are met.
Substitutions
To receive your certificate
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, 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.