Our short-term Infant/Toddler Care certificate program will provide you with the foundation you need to begin working with infants and toddlers. Upon completion, you will have 16 credits which can be applied to the Early Childhood Education diploma or degree program.
You will also be eligible to apply for the National Child Development Associate Infant/Toddler credential provided through the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC. Students must earn a C or better in all courses. These courses count for the 120 hours of professional education requirement. Additional requirements for the CDA must also be met prior to applying. See your advisor for more details or visit http://www.cdacouncil.org.
This is a certificate program and requires fewer credits and less time to complete than a degree or diploma program. Certificate programs can be taken alone but are often taken along with other Early Childhood Education programs.
The Early Childhood Education program also offers degree, diploma, and additional certificate options.
Learn more about this program’s student outcome data.
*Practicums must have prior approval and observations conducted at an educational institution.
Skills You’ll Learn
The Early Childhood Education program is focused on job-related skills in the following areas:
- Understanding child growth and development, physical/nutritional needs of children, care and guidance of children, and communication skills with parents and children
- Mastering cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children
Career Opportunities
There are many employment opportunities for Early Childhood Education graduates, including:
- Childcare programs
- Private preschool programs
- Recreational centers
- School-age programs
Additional Information
- Most career opportunities in child care require you to pass the NC Division of Child Development and undergo a fingerprint and Early Education background check
- You must complete EDU 119 with a grade of C or higher in order to be eligible for the NC Childcare Credential
- Public schools require 40 credits hours to be a teacher assistant (Craven County also requires a bus driver’s license)
Certificate requirements
16 Credit Hours
Courses in this program
Course | Course Code | Credit Hours | Link to course details |
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EDU-119 | 4 | ||
This course introduces the foundations of early childhood education, the diverse educational settings for young children, professionalism and planning intentional developmentally appropriate experiences for each child.
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EDU-131 | 3 | ||
This course covers the development of partnerships among culturally, linguistically and ability diverse families, children, schools and communities through the use of evidence-based strategies. Emphasis is placed on developing skills and identifying benefits for establishing and supporting respectful relationships between diverse families, programs/schools, and community agencies/resources reflective of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and the Code of Ethics for North Carolina Educators.
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EDU-144 | 3 | ||
This course includes the theories of child development, observation and assessment, milestones, and factors that influence development, from conception through approximately 36 months.
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EDU-153 | 3 | ||
This course covers promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of every child. Topics include health and nutritional guidelines, common childhood illnesses, maintaining safe and healthy, learning environments, health benefits of active play, recognition and reporting of abuse/neglect, and state regulations. Upon completion, students should be able to apply knowledge of NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development for health, safety, nutritional needs and safe learning environments.
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EDU-234 | 3 | ||
This course covers the development of high-quality, individualized, responsive/engaging relationships and experiences for infants, toddlers, and twos. Emphasis is placed on typical and atypical child development, working with diverse families to provide positive, supportive, and engaging early learning activities and interactions through field experiences and the application of the NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development.
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