Teacher Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent

OR

Completed and hold a currently active Para-Professional or higher certification on the Early Care and Education Professional (ECE) scale issued by the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (upload a copy of the certificate).

Approved High School Coursework

Purpose: The North Carolina Lead Teacher Equivalency for Approved High School Coursework is authorized by the current Memorandum of Agreement between the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, the NC Community College System and the NC Department of Public Instruction to improve the quality of child care through personnel preparation. The coursework completed in high school can only result in an equivalency to the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) if certain conditions are met. This qualification meets education standards for child care lead teacher, teacher, and family child care home provider positions.

OPTION 1: Earned Articulated College Credit and NCECC Equivalency

To earn articulated college credit, high school students must:

  1. successfully complete the approved Early Childhood Education I (FE11- version 2008) and II (FE12- version 2009) courses with a grade of "B" or higher in each course
  2. obtain a scale score of 90 or higher on the standardized CTE post-assessment
  3. enroll at a community college offering an early childhood education program within two years of their high school graduation date

Additionally, high school students must have the following:

  1. received articulated college credit for approved Early Childhood Education I and II courses
  2. obtained a high school diploma or GED
  3. be 18 years of age
  4. enrolled at a community college offering Early Childhood Education

After meeting both sets of criteria, students applying for the NCECC equivalency should request an official college transcript showing articulated courses. An official college transcript should be mailed to the Division of Child Development and Early Education, Workforce Education Unit to determine eligibility for the NCECC equivalent.

OPTION 2: NCECC Equivalency

To earn the NCECC equivalency, high school students must:

  1. successfully complete the approved and newly revised Early Childhood Education I (FE11- version 2008) and II (FE12- version 2009) courses with a grade of "B" or higher in each cours
  2. obtain a score of 90 or higher on the standardized CTE post-assessment
  3. obtained a high school diploma or GED
  4. be at least 18 years of age

After meeting both sets of criteria, students applying for the NCECC equivalency should request an official high school transcript showing required courses and CTE post-assessment score. An official high school transcript indicating graduation should be mailed to the Division of Child Development and Early Education, Workforce Education Unit to determine eligibility for the NCECC equivalent.

OPTION 3: NCECC Credential

To earn the NCECC Credential, a student must complete the EDU 119 course (Introduction to Early Childhood Education) with a "C" or better.

Official transcripts must be submitted for ALL completed college level coursework, certificates, diplomas and/or degrees. Please do not upload copies of in-service training documentation as these are not considered college coursework. Photocopies of transcripts, student or internet copies and grade reports are NOT accepted.

Only official transcripts from post-secondary schools which are accredited will be evaluated. Accredited is defined as an institution of higher education having nationally recognized regional accreditation by one of the six regional accrediting agencies. (For schools outside the U.S.A., the recognized system of the specified country's accreditation process will be accepted).

To be qualified for a position, you must meet the minimum education requirements in this section for each child care position selected. Submit official transcripts and/or upload copies of any qualifying certificates, such as a BSAC or a nationally accredited credential certificate. The nationally accredited credential certificate must meet the following criteria: 1)Nationally accredited and available in all 50 states, 2) Comprehensive in scope which is inclusive of the following six areas: child growth and development; professionalism; health and safety; creation of appropriate environments that enhance physical, emotional, social and cognitive development; developmentally appropriate learning activities; and working with families, 3) 120 clock (contact) hours of education and/or training, 4) Formal observation and/or portfolio assessment, 5) Standardized written assessment, and 6) Individually earned.

This chart shows the education requirements for the positions listed. Please note, completion of high school or its equivalent is required for all positions.

LEAD TEACHER TEACHER FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME PROVIDER GROUP LEADER PROGRAM COORDINATOR

High School Diploma or equivalent

AND EITHER:

NC Early Childhood Credential (earned by completion of EDU 111 and 112 or EDU 119 and meeting above criteria)

OR

One of the equivalency options listed below:

  1. JW Model (completion of EDU 111 and 112 or EDU 119 but did not apply for and/or earn the NC Early Childhood Credential)
  2. Tested out of the Division of Child Development and Early Education NCECC standardized equivalency test prior to 1/1/08.
  3. Completed and hold a currently active nationally accredited credential certificate to include CDA, CCP and AMS or AMI Montessori (upload a copy of the certificate).
  4. Completed a post-secondary two-year degree or higher in Early Childhood, Child Development, Human Growth & Development or Early Childhood Special Education from an accredited institution of higher education.
  5. Completed a post-secondary two-year degree or higher in any subject area with at least 6*** sch in Early Childhood Education and/or Child Growth & Development from an accredited institution of higher education.
  6. Completed 12 sch (with or without a degree) in Early Childhood, Child Development, Human Growth & Development and/or Early Childhood Special Education programs with at least 3*** sch in Child Growth & Development from an accredited institution of higher education.

OR

Completed and hold a currently active Level I or higher certification on the Early Care and Education Professional (ECE) scale issued by the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (upload a copy of the certificate or letter).

High School Diploma or equivalent

OR

Completed and hold a currently active Para-Professional or higher certification on the Early Care and Education Professional (ECE) scale issued by the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (upload a copy of the certificate or letter).

High School Diploma or equivalent

OR

Completed and hold a currently active Para-Professional or higher certification on the Early Care and Education Professional (ECE) scale issued by the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (upload a copy of the certificate or letter).

High School Diploma or equivalent

AND

Basic School- Age Care Certificate (BSAC)

(upload a copy of the certificate)

High School Diploma or equivalent

AND EITHER:

NC School-Age Child Care Credential (earned by completion of EDU 145 and either EDU 235 or EDU 263)

OR

2 sch of Child/Youth Development courses and

2 sch of School-Age Program courses

OR

Lead Teacher qualification and BSAC (upload a copy of the certificate)

OR

Administrator qualification and BSAC (upload a copy of the certificate)

OR

Completed and hold a currently active Level I or higher certification on the School Age Professional (SA) scale issued by the NC Institute for Child Development Professionals (upload a copy of the certificate or letter).

***The criteria for approving courses in Early Childhood Education and Child Growth & Development (ECE/CG&D) for the required six (6) sch in Option #5 and the specific three (3) sch required in Option #6 is for the course content to emphasize developmental understanding of young children, and/or developmentally appropriate educational approaches for the early years. When course content meets this criteria but the course title is not early childhood or age-specific, the course description will need to indicate that the course focuses on ages between birth and five years, and/or the early years, early childhood, preschool, and/or young children. The coursework needed for completion of Option #6 (12 sch) includes ECE/CD related coursework that does not necessarily emphasize birth through 5 years (example - General Psychology) with at least 3 sch specific to child growth & development.

sch - semester credit hours