Early Education Certification
A large number of the preschools and childcare programs throughout the world are ministries of the religious community. Because many of these early education programs fall under governmental regulations, it is more important than ever that Christian schools and centers maintain a thoroughly Christian curriculum while also providing a program that is age appropriate.
ACSI early education certification options have been designed to enable Christian early education programs to uphold their commitment to a biblical philosophy while encouraging the professional development of their faculty and staff. Those whom God has called to work with young children have accepted a high calling. It is therefore vital that their lives be characterized by both spiritual and academic integrity.
Five Certificate Options
Realizing that early education ministries require differing degrees of responsibility, the ACSI Early Education Certification program provides three types of certificates for teachers of children ages birth through prekindergarten five-year-olds: Early Education Provisional Certificate, Early Education Associate Certificate, and Early Education Teacher Certificate. Please make your check for $45 payable to ACSI.
- The Early Education Provisional Certificate is designed to encourage entry-level workers to obtain a nationally recognized associate credential (i.e., Preschool Associate Credential, Child Development Associate, Certified Childcare Professional, National Child Care Associate, or an equivalent) within three years.
- The Early Education Associate Certificate is for persons who currently hold a valid ACSI Preschool Associate Credential (PAC) or its equivalent. People without a valid credential are able to earn one through the ACSI Preschool Associate credentialing program. This credential is designed for entry-level workers in all types of Christian early education programs. It is a nonacademic certificate based on meeting specific educational and observational requirements, and is equivalent to other nationally recognized competency credentials.
- The Early Education Teacher Certificate is an academic certificate requiring a minimum of an associate degree with a major concentration in early childhood education or child development. Teachers with a degree in a field other than EC/CD must have a minimum of 3 additional semester hours in EC/CD or 120 professional clock hours as required for the ACSI Preschool Associate Credential in addition to a degree.
- The Early Education Director Certificate is for directors working in early education programs (birth to pre-kindergarten five-year-olds) and who possess an Associates of Bachelors degree with at least 6 semester units in Child Development or Early Childhood Education.
- The Early Education Auxiliary Staff Certificate validates the importance of support staff who are working in early education programs (birth to pre-kindergarten five-year-olds). Positions eligible for this certificate include, but are not limited to: secretary, bookkeeper, bus driver, hospitality, janitor, cooks, kitchen help, etc.
Early Education Certificate Application
EE Certification App.pdf (42.5 kB) [~00:12 @ 28.8kbps]
EE Director Cert App.pdf (40.6 kB) [~00:11 @ 28.8kbps]