Program Map for Early Childhood Education Certificates and ATA
Early Childhood Education at Everett Community College is an professional technical program designed to develop the skills needed to be a successful Early Childhood professional. This program is directed toward students planning to work with young children in preschools, child care centers, family child care, and/or other programs for young children. The majority of courses are offered in an online and hybrid environment.
The State Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate (12 credits) is required by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) for all those working in Early Childhood Education. Additional hiring requirements vary from Early Childhood Education program to program, but with a certificate or Associate in Technical Arts (ATA) degree, you can expect to increase your employment opportunities. More information on academic requirements can be found at this DCYF link.
For further information, contact faculty program advisors: Dr. Michelle Barnes at 425-388-9976 or Jayne Joyner at 425-388-9964, x7325.
CHECKLISTS
Program Options
- State Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate – 12 credits. * DCYF minimum requirements for Early Childhood Family home owner, lead teachers, assistant teachers, family home aid and family home volunteer, center teacher, center aid and center volunteer
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State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization – 20 credits. *DCYF requires this within 5 years of obtaining the Initial certificate.
- Early Childhood Education (General)
- Infants and Toddlers
- Administration
- Family Childcare Management
- School Age Care
- State Early Childhood Education Certificate – 47 Credits. *DCYF minimum requirement for Center Director and Center Assistant Director, Center Program Supervisor, Head Start Assistant and ECEAP Assistant Teacher.
- Associate in Technical Arts in Early Childhood Education – 90 credits. *Qualifies you for all positions listed above, ECEAP Lead Teacher, and is an alternative pathway to Head Start Lead Teacher. This opens the door to many other Early Childhood positions as well. This degree transfers into Bachelor of Applied Science ECE degrees at multiple Washington state colleges.
- Associate in Arts and Sciences – Direct Transfer Agreement (“DTA”) – 90 credits. This degree is intended for students interested in pursuing a university transfer and a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, P- 3 Elementary Education Certification or other related degrees.
- IMPORTANT: To earn a certificate or degree the courses must be completed with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher, and all ECE courses must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.
- Employment in the Early Learning field in Washington State requires the ability to pass the Department of Early Learning Portable Background Check in the MERIT system. Students are required to pass the Portable Background Check before completing the second practicum course. Inability to pass the Portable Background Check will prevent students from completing the ATA degree.
Notes on using this map:
* indicates an elective course that is recommended but not required and could be substituted with another appropriate course. For example, ENGL& 102* on a map means that ENGL& 102* is recommended, but any 5-credit course from the Basic Communication Skills list on the DTA would also be acceptable.
→ indicates a pre-requisite relationship. For example, MATH&141→ MATH&142 on a map indicates that a student must pass MATH& 141 before taking MATH& 142
(F, W, Sp, Su) indicates the quarters in which a course is offered, if not offered every quarter. For example, ART 116 (W) means that ART 116 is only offered during Winter quarters
TS stands for Transitional Studies. Courses taken through the Transitional Studies department do not qualify for financial aid but cost only $25 per quarter. To see if you qualify, contact the Advising Center at advising@everettcc.edu or 425-388-9339.
& as part of a course number (e.g. ACCT& 202) indicates that the course is part of the Common Course Numbering System
D as part of a course number (e.g. ENGL& 102D) indicates that the course fulfills the Diversity Course requirement for the AAS-DTA degree
This icon is used for course requirements
The learning objectives of this course are the foundation of future courses in this pathway. Success in critical courses positions you to be successful in later courses in this pathway..
This icon is used for mandatory or recommended actions related to advising.
Before you can take your college-level courses, you may need to complete prerequisites.
After you have applied to EvCC and taken the Online Orientation, schedule a mandatory Entry advising appointment with Michelle Barnes for this professional technical program.
See your advisor for self-paced or accelerated alternatives in Math and English to prepare for college-level classes. Want to move further faster? Learn about EvCC's I-BEST classes.
Take COLL 101 - College Success if you are planning to complete more than your State Initial Early Childhood Education Certification: College Success in your first quarter to prepare for the pace and rigor of college.
State Initial Early Childhood Education Certification
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ECED&105 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education - ECED& 107 - Health, Safety and Nutrition
- ECED& 120 - Practicum- Nurturing Relationships HYBRID Course
If required classes for the State Initial Early Childhood Education Certification are full, take:
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EDUC&115D - Child Development. This is a prerequisite for all courses which come after this initial certificate.
Before registering each quarter, check your Degree Planner to see what classes you should take to stay on track. See your faculty program advisor with any questions you have.
Recommended Actions
- Looking for more support and assistance by phone, tablet, or computer? Visit the Online Student Support and Resources page.
- Do you qualify for Financial Aid? Fill out a FAFSA or WASFA and visit the Financial Aid Office to begin talking about how to pay for college.
- Visit the Tutoring Center, Writing Center, and the Library.
- Consider registering for a study skills class offered by DEVED department.
- Get involved with Student LIFE and join a campus club.
- See if you qualify for TRiO, MESA, scholarships, support from CDS, Worker Retraining Funds, Early Achievers Grant.
- Need online support with Canvas? Contact Canvas Help.
Completing your State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization (20 credits) gives you valuable knowledge and experience in the field of Early Childhood education. Focusing your studies on these specializations are key to professionalism and building a successful career in Early Childhood. Skip to Phase Three after your State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization:Early Childhood Education (General):, if your focus is the State Early Childhood Education Certificate – 47 Credits.
- Early Childhood Education (General)
- Infants and Toddlers
- Administration
- Family Childcare
- School Age Care
State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization: Early Childhood Education (General):
- Initial Certificate complete
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EDUC&115D - Child Development
- EDUC&130 - Guiding Behavior
State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization: Infants and Toddlers
- Initial Certificate complete
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EDUC&115D - Child Development complete
- ECED&132 - Infants and Toddlers
State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization: Family Childcare
- Initial Certificate complete
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EDUC&115D - Child Development complete
- ECED&134 - Family Childcare Management
State Short Early Childhood Education Certificate of Specialization: School Age Care
- Initial Certificate complete
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EDUC&115D - Child Development complete
- EDUC&136 - School Age Care
Recommended Actions
Here is where you need to make a decision. Will you continue completing Certificates of Specialization, State Early Childhood Education Certificate leading to the Associates in Technical Arts in Early Childhood Education (ATA) OR will you choose to complete a DTA in Early Childhood Education? Schedule an advising appointment with Michelle Barnes if you have questions about this decision.
- Schedule an advising appointment with Michelle Barnes to discuss tuition waivers and scholarships to complete the State Early Childhood Education Certificate – 47 Credits.
- Apply here for the certificates you have earned.
Moving forward State Early Childhood Education Certificate – 47 Credits. When planning which classes you will take in which quarters, you need to be aware that not all courses are offered all year long. See the Annual Planning Guide to plan carefully with your advisor, so you don’t get caught having to take a required course in a quarter you didn’t plan for!
Choose one Math OR one English class to take and one ECE course. See below. After placement testing, begin your math sequence. It doesn’t matter where you begin! EvCC will teach you and you will get to MATH&107. If there are more math courses in your progression, no sweat! Your advisor will build it into your academic plan. If your math place is below MATH& 107, take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
- TS 60 → TS 70 → MATH/TS 76 → MATH/TS 86 → MATH& 107
Same with English, after placement testing, begin your English sequence. It doesn’t matter where you begin! EvCC will teach you and you will get to ENGL& 101. Your advisor will build whatever you need into your academic plan. If your English placement is below ENGL& 101, you’ll need to take following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
- ENGL/TS/AEP 97 → ENGL/TS/AEP 98
Note: English language learners may need additional courses before ENGL/TS 97 depending on their placement.
Fall Quarter Courses: Your course load is your choice. Make a plan with your advisor.
- Math or English
- EDUC& 150D - Child, Family, & Community
Winter Quarter Courses:
- Math or English if needed
- ECED& 180 - Language and Literacy Development
- ECED& 190 - Observation and Assessment
Spring Quarter Courses:
- Math or English if needed
- ECED& 160 - Curriculum Development
- ECED& 170 - Environments--Young Child
Recommended Actions
Check back in with your faculty program advisor Michelle Barnes to discuss if you are on the right track.
- Not a full time student? No problem! If you choose to take just a few courses at a time, that is fine, just keep in mind the quarter courses are offered and plan accordingly.
Associate in Technical Arts in Early Childhood Education – 90 credits. *DCYF qualifies you for all positions listed above, ECEAP Lead Teacher and is an alternative pathway to Head Start Lead Teacher. This opens the door to many other Early Childhood positions as well. This degree transfers into Bachelor of Applied Science ECE degrees at multiple Washington state colleges. Your course load is your choice. Make a plan with your advisor.
Please be aware: To enter ECE 132 Practicum Lab II, these things need to be documented: MERIT background test, TB Test, First Aid, CPR and HIV Certification, Food Handlers card OR PEHW 201 (see your advisor)
Fall Quarter Courses:
- ECE 135 Family Dynamics
- ECE 207 Applications of Math and Science in ECE
- EDUC&203 Exceptional Child
Winter Quarter Courses:
- ECE 215 Art and Storytelling for Young Children
- ECE 132 Practicum Lab II (Instructor permission required)
Before entering ECE 132, these things need to be documented: MERIT background test, TB Test, First Aid, CPR and HIV Certification, Food Handlers card OR PEHW 201 (see your advisor)
Spring Quarter Courses:
- ECE 233 Practicum III (Instructor Permission Required)
General Required Courses: Please check the Class Schedule per quarter for offerings
- CMST&210 Interpersonal Communications or CMST 223 Public Speaking for Educators
- PSYCH&100 General Psychology
- Natural Sciences. Your choice which course
- College 101
Note: Select a natural science course from the list of approved Natural Sciences courses in the AAS-DTA degree. NUTR&101 - Nutrition and/or BIOL 107 - Life Science for Everybody is strongly recommended.
Other Recommended Courses:
- ENGL 183/183D Children’s Literature
- SOC 220D The Family
- ECED&139 Administration of Early Learning
- ECED&132 Infants and Toddlers Care
- ECE 239 Leadership & Mentoring in ECE
Apply for graduation at least one quarter in advance. Be aware that students graduating should have the ability to lift and move 50 pounds.
Recommended Actions
Meet with your program advisor Michelle Barnes to make sure all degree/certificate requirements are met and to find out about your options to transfer into a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) program.
- Headed to a DTA? See the DTA Map. The DTA will allow you to transfer to a university and earn bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, P- 3 Elementary Education Certification or other related degrees.