Consumer Information

Early Childhood Education

The below information applies to all states and Washington, D.C.

Qualifies students for initial or additional state license:

• None.

Licensure required as a prerequisite:

• None.

Licensing board approval:

• State Departments of Education (SDOE)

Leads to national certification or credential:

• None at the associate level. Teaching certification is approved by the SDOE and students must complete the Praxis exam for their education discipline. The AAS in Early Childhood does not lead to a Child Development Associate credential, but the industry does have a nationally recognized credential that Cuyahoga Community College offers credit-for prior learning.

National certification exam:

• Five Steps to Obtain a CDA Credential - CDA Council

Programmatic accreditation:

• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (caepnet.org)

Field experience: online or on-ground?

• Both online and on-ground. The (ECTC) is a competency-based credential awarded by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to individuals at the Associate and Bachelor degree level with concentrations in Infant/Toddler, Preschool or Infant/Toddler AND Preschool. Accredited colleges may offer the early childhood education programs online synchronous and asynchronous. 

National professional association/organization:

• National Association for Education of Young Children - NAEYC