Associate Teacher Certificate

The Associate Teacher Certificate is for students seeking to obtain entry-level employment in the field of Early Childhood Education in a preschool or child care setting. The Associate Teacher Certificate requires 12 core Child Development and Education units. This Certificate meets California Title 5 requirements for the Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. Applications can be obtained through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Office. Meets Title 22 requirements for working in a child care center working with preschool-aged children 101216.1.

Enrollmemt Completer Projections: 100 per year

The Associate Teacher Certificate is designed to be the first step toward obtaining entry-level employment in the field of Early Childhood Education in a preschool or child care setting. The Associate Teacher Certificate requires 12 core CDE units. This Certificate meets California Title 5 requirements for the Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. Applications can be obtained through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Office. Meets Title 22 requirements for working in a child care center working with preschool-aged children 101216.1 The adoption of the California Quality Rating and Improvement System (July 2015) requires funded child care facilities to meet minimum requirements to ensure continued and increased funding. One criteria child care programs are rated on is the education level, coursework and current CA Child Development permit levels. Completion of the coursework in this Associate Teacher Certificate meets minimum qualifications for students applying for the entry level permit qualifying the classroom and program for state and federal funding.

Complete the following courses units: Suggested Sequence Required Core CDE 101 Principles and Practices 3 Yr 1 FA Required Core CDE 103 Appropriate Curricula for Young Children 3 Yr 1 FA Required Core CDE 110 Child Development 3 Yr 1 SP Required Core CDE 125 Child, Family and Community 3 Yr 1 SP Required Total: 12 units Course Descriptions: CDE 101 Principles of Early Childhood Education (3 units) This course is an examination of the historical and current principles and developmentally appropriate practices applied to different types of educational settings serving children aged birth to eight years. Special emphasis will be given to staff roles, appropriate learning environments and curricula, home-school partnerships, advocacy, professional ethics and career options. Students will be required to observe licensed child care environments. Some licensed care settings may require TB and Criminal Record Clearances. CDE 103 Appropriate Curricula for Young Children (3 units) This course addresses creative teaching methods and curriculum development for children with and without disabilities or other special needs. Students learn to observe children’s play and to use it as a foundation for planning, implementing and evaluating meaningful learning experiences. Emphasis is given to creating a responsive curriculum, aligned to state and professional guidelines, that provides integrated activities supporting developmental and individual needs. CDE 110 Child Development (3 units) This course addresses children's typical and atypical physical, cognitive and social/emotional development from conception through adolescence. Emphasis is given to theories providing frameworks for understanding development, to research offering scientific evidence about development, and to application of theory and research. Students will be required to observe children or environments within licensed settings. Some settings may require TB and Criminal Record clearances. CDE 125 Child, Family and Community (3 units) This course examines the developing child in a societal context which focuses on the interrelationships of family, school, peers, community and media, including culture, religion, economics, politics and change. The processes of socialization and identity development will be highlighted as well as an emphasis on historical and sociocultural factors that may affect typical and atypical development. Students will be required to observe children or licensed care settings and may need TB or Criminal Record Clearances.