Careers in Early Care & Education
Today is an especially good time to enter the field of early care and education. As Kern County grows, the need for early care and education programs increases.
Many new early care and education positions are being added to our local work force. These jobs are on all levels – from center director to site supervisor to teacher to teacher’s aide to family-based child care entrepreneur. Early care and education graduates work in school districts, Head Start Programs, private and state-funded child development centers, and community-based organizations.
Sorting through the education and certification requirements for these early care and education career options can be confusing. This brochure aims to explain the requirements for each position and where you can find the courses needed to fulfill those requirements.
Positions and requirements as stated in the Child Development Permit Matrix: www.childdevelopment.org
| Assistant |
In this position you are qualified to: assist in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program under the supervision of an Associate Teacher or above.
Education Required: 6 units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development. *
Experience Required: None.
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| Associate Teacher |
In this position you are qualified to: provide service in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program; and supervise an Assistant and/or Aide.
Education Required: 12 units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development including core courses. *
Experience Required: 50 days of 3+ hours per day within 2 years.
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| Teacher |
In this position you are qualified to: provide service in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program and supervise Associate Teachers, Assistants and Aides.
Education Required: 24 units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development including core courses plus 16 General Education units. *
Experience Required: 175 days of 3+ hours per day within 4 years.
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| Master Teacher |
In this position you are qualified to: assist in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program and supervise all positions noted above; may also serve as a coordinator of curriculum and staff development in a child care and development program.
Education Required: 24 units of Early Childhood Education or Child Development including core courses plus 16 General Education units, plus 6 specialization units, plus 2 adult supervision units. *
Experience Required: 350 days of 3+ hours per day within 4 years.
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| Site Supervisor |
In this position you are qualified to: supervise a child care development program operated at a single site; provide service in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program; and serve as coordinator of curriculum and staff development.
Education Required: AA (or 60 units) which include 24 Early Childhood Education units with core courses; 16 General Education units, plus 6 administration units, plus 2 adult supervision units.*
Experience Required: 350 days of 3+ hours per day within 4 years including at lease 100 days of supervising adults.
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| Program Director |
In this position you are qualified to: supervise a child care development program operated at a single site or multiple sites; provide service in the care, development and instruction of children in a child care and development program; and serve as coordinator of curriculum and staff development.
Education Required: BA or higher–does not have to be in Early Childhood Education but must include 24 Early Childhood Education units with core courses, plus 6 administration units, plus 2 adult supervision units. *
Experience Required: Site Supervisor status and one program year of Site Supervisor experience.
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* There are alternatives to some of these required qualifications. See your guidance counselor or the Child Development Training Consortium, www.childdevelopment.org or call (209) 572-6080 for details.
