What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Certificate? Being so committed to fostering a passion for learning in children indicates that you value education highly. However, it is easier said than done to carve out time for one’s education.
Financial and familial obligations might derail years of dedicated study. You could be better financially able to continue your studies in a few years. Who knows? Life is full of surprises. While you wait, alternative options exist to further your education.
A certificate in early childhood education (ECE) may be earned in as little as nine to twelve months. A single ECE credential might pave the way to the career you’ve always imagined. Below is a list of possible occupations that might become available if you get a credential in early childhood education.
What Is Early Childhood Education?
Education for children from the time they are born until they are eight years old is known, in a more formal sense, as early childhood education. An abundance of programs and pedagogical techniques characterize the early childhood years, beginning with preschool and continuing until the end of the first grade. Private organizations, states, and even the federal government may contribute. They are all designed to get kids to a particular point where they can use what they’ve learned so far in their schooling. A degree in early childhood education opens several opportunities. Many job opportunities will become available after your early childhood education degree.
Preschool teacher
A two-year associate’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) is usually required to work as a preschool teacher. Daycares, public and private schools, community centers, religious organizations, and even people’s homes will be among the places you may find employment. Teaching children the basics and building blocks that will help them reach developmental milestones is the job of preschool educators. For children in the preschool and kindergarten age range, play is a powerful medium for learning. Preschool instructors significantly impact their students’ social and emotional development in addition to their academic knowledge and standards. Preschool instructors may expect an average salary of $31,930 per year, according to the BLS.
Family support specialist
Helping those in need inside families is the job of family support specialists and workers. Providers of social work services may find employment in various governmental, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. Daycare coordination, low-cost home searches, and food program establishment are all part of its remit. Although companies sometimes require a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree is usually enough. On average, social workers make $51,760 a year.
Early childhood policy consultant
Nonprofits, schools, government agencies, political groups, lobbying companies, corporations, and individuals from all walks of life use early childhood policy consultants to help with various tasks. The development of financing mechanisms, the creation of early childhood education laws, the establishment of policies, and the performance of quantitative and qualitative evaluations are all part of their purview. ZipRecruiter reports that the average salary for this job is $48,394.
Researcher
A doctorate in early childhood education or a closely related field, such as childhood development, is required to work as a researcher in this field. Job opportunities for researchers in this field exist in various settings, including universities, nonprofits, and state and federal agencies that aim to improve students’ educational experiences. Scientists plan their studies, gather information, analyze it, and write their results. Participation in scientific meetings, preparing funding proposals, publishing in academic journals, and presenting results are all possible future developments of this function. An educational researcher can expect to make an average of $85,074 a year, as reported on Glassdoor.com.
Kindergarten and elementary school teacher
Lesson planning, curriculum, and student success are all responsibilities of a kindergarten and elementary school teacher. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is required to teach in this environment. Teachers in grades k–2 have much greater physical and geographical mobility than preschool teachers, whose classrooms are often located in one location. Students may need to switch classrooms, move outdoors for lessons, skip lunch and recess, etc. Reports from Payscale.com indicate that the average compensation for this role is $47,272.
Daycare center director
The director oversees the daily activities of a childcare facility. They provide the resources the faculty and students need to create a welcoming, stimulating, and instructive setting. Additionally, they are responsible for ensuring that the facilities adhere to all applicable rules and regulations. Daycare center directors must have a valid license and a degree in early childhood education, either an associate’s or a bachelor’s. A salary of $45,347 is typical.
Special education teacher
All types of disabilities, whether physical, emotional, learning, or mental, are addressed by exceptional education instructors. One needs a bachelor’s degree and a certification or license from the state to teach special education in a public school. It is possible that certification and licensing are not necessary in private schools. Salary averages $61,420 per year, according to the BLS.
How Do I Choose An Early Childhood Education Certificate?
Make sure you choose the correct program for you. Your needs, money, and schedule should all be considered when selecting a program.
Before enrolling, make sure the program is convenient for you. Is it necessary to work if you want to go to school? Students may be able to participate in specific programs with jobs, while others may make it a requirement. In most cases, you will have a leg up when applying for jobs when you have worked in your profession while receiving your certification. Also, be sure that the duration of the program works with your schedule. Finishing a shortened program will take less time, but more work will be done.
Secondly, make sure the program is affordable. Debt is an inevitable part of higher education in today’s society. But it would be best to never put yourself in a position where you can’t manage your debt, especially not with student loans. Check into financial assistance options if you’re struggling with the money for college. Scholarships and other forms of financial assistance are not always readily available.
Last but not least, check if the application is suitable for your requirements. Get the details about the position you’re interested in before applying. Applicants may be required to have attended an approved school for the public school to meet federal and state requirements. If you are considering continuing your education, you may find that specific certificate programs may be used toward a degree in early childhood education.
Additional Education
Earning a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in early childhood education is an excellent next step if you find that working with kids is something you like. You may take more courses in ECE and finish your general education requirements by enrolling in a degree program.
Often, a preschool director’s position requires a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s or associate’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) is also required by certain schools for teaching opportunities. In 2019, over half of Head Start instructors were required to have bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education or a related subject, according to the BLS. With this degree under your belt, you could be able to instruct students in grades kindergarten through third.
Getting an early childhood education certificate and bachelor’s degree in a different field in addition to your certificate is also possible. One possible career path that may be paved for you with a bachelor’s degree in business is to start your preschool or daycare. Staying in your industry and getting a bachelor’s and maybe even a master’s degree will put you in a position to teach others how to get their certificates. On the other hand, you may conduct studies that lead to better programs for young children’s education.
