This certificate program is only available in English.

Setting: Birth through Age Eight
Program Code: 1204-ECC
Program Length: 180 Hours
IACET CEU Value: 18 CEU’s
Program Start Date: Rolling Enrollment – Start Anytime
Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment date

Textbook Information:  A textbook is required and must be purchased at the student’s expense.

Working With Young Children by Judy Herr; 6th Edition; Goodheart-Willcox Publishing; ISBN – 978-1-59070-813-2; Approximate Cost: $70

Order textbooks here. 

Program Description: The Online Early Childhood Credential Program offered by ChildCare Education Institute provides 180 hours of professional development for early care providers. The program is broken into 8 Instructional Units. These units focus on the Principles of Child Growth and Development, Safe, Healthy Environments, Social and Emotional Development, Motor, Language, and Cognitive Development, Principles of Assessment, Program Management, Families, and Professionalism.

This credential is designed to give a basic framework of early childhood theory and application of that theory through content based coursework, reading assignments, practical application exercises, essays and classroom observation.

CCEI's Early Childhood Credential is recognized by NAEYC to meet a part of the Alternative Pathways to Achieve Educational Qualifications for the Designated Program Administrator.

The CCEI Early Childhood Credential program gives students the opportunity to articulate college credit toward an early childhood degree with one of CCEI's college credit partners. See the CCEI Articulation Partners page for details.

This program satisfies the formal training requirements of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential established by the Council of Professional Recognition.

Program Objectives:  Upon satisfactorily completing the Online CCEI Early Childhood Credential program, students should be able to:

• Define and apply the basic principles of child growth and development
• Identify important milestones of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development during early childhood
• List the requirements for a safe, healthy environment for young children
• Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for young children.
• Apply positive guidance techniques that support appropriate social and emotional development of young children
• Demonstrate the ability to implement effective assessment methods in the early childhood setting
• Identify elements of a developmentally appropriate curriculum and overall learning environment in the early childhood setting
• Apply the recommended strategies for building and maintaining positive relationships with families
• Formulate strategies to develop and maintain a successful program operation
• Identify the requirements for maintaining a commitment to professionalism and ethical conduct
• List the required components to document professional growth

Student Assessment:  Students enrolled in the Online CCEI Early Childhood Credential program are assessed using the following methods:

• Competency based multiple choice questions
• Student written essays with written feedback
• Student activity and/or observations with written feedback
• End of course quizzes in multiple choice format
• Formal Classroom Observation
• Early Childhood Portfolio Review
• Oral Interview
• Cumulative Final Exam in multiple choice format

Enrollment Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must possess a high school diploma or GED and submit documentation as proof
• Must have access to a computer and printer
• Must have a valid email address
• Must have access to the Internet through a JavaScript enabled web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Mozilla Firefox, etc.)
• Must be able to speak, read, and write well enough in English to understand and complete the course material
• Must submit proof of 480 clock hours, in the last five (5) years, of working with children in an early childhood care setting. Of the 480 clock-hour requirement, 80 clock hours must be completed while enrolled in the program.

To securely enroll online now, click here.