ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), an accredited distance learning institution, is pleased to announce that practitioners who complete the CCEI Online Early Childhood Credential program are considered qualified by the Office of Head Start to meet formal education requirements for certain positions.
By September 30, 2013, all Head Start assistant teachers are required to have a minimum of at least a Child Development Associate Credential or be enrolled in a credential program to be completed within 2 years, or enrolled in a program leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree. Holders of the CCEI Early Childhood Credential can be considered qualified for Head Start positions that have this requirement, making CCEI’s Online ECC an alternate route to meet the education qualifications in Section 648A of the Head Start Act, as amended in 2007, for the 2013 deadline.
CCEI’s Online Early Childhood Credential (ECC) also satisfies the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential formal training requirements, which include the six CDA Competency Goals and 13 Functional Areas. This 180-hour program is for professionals working with children in the birth to eight-year age range and is designed to provide a basic framework of early childhood education theory and application. In addition, the ECC is recommended by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (National CCRS) for 12 semester hours of college credit in Early Childhood Education (ECE). The National CCRS has over 1,500 higher education institutions willing to consider its college credit recommendations.
The ECC is also recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to meet part of the Alternative Pathways for directors working to qualify as Designated Program Administrators.
“CCEI is proud to offer this high-quality credential to help early care providers meet their professional development goals,” said Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO of CCEI. “Whether it’s the 18 IACET CEUs, college credit eligibility, CDA training requirement fulfillment, or a number of other reasons, the ECC meets a variety of needs in the early care and education market.”
New and returning CCEI users can enroll securely at any time for the Early Childhood Credential through online enrollment on CCEI’s website.
