Early Childhood Development with Child Development Associate Credential Certificate

The Early Childhood Development Associate (CDA) Credential Certificate program at Bunker Hill Community College prepares students who wish to be certified by the CDA Council for Professional Recognition. The CDA is a performance-based assessment of childcare workers, home visitors, center, and family childcare providers. Our CDA program provides students with the 120 hours of training needed for the CDA credentialing program. Our program includes formal supervised practicum and portfolio development in Early Childhood Education centers to help students gain hours of professional work required by the Council for Professional Recognition. Student will earn 150 hours of work experience in the required ECE-223 CDA Professional Portfolio&Practicum development course. Students requiring more work experience in the field will take ECE-224 CDA Professional Portfolio&Practicum2 for an additional 150 hours.

* Milestone Courses should be taken in the order shown. This will help you stay on track and graduate on time.

Admission Requirements

Age Must be 18 years of age
Diploma High School diploma or GED
Hours Must have completed specific number of hours in ECE - see note
Courses Completed minimum of three ECE courses with C or better

Admission Requirements Advising Note

Must be at least 18 years of age and have U.S. Work Authorization
Must have completed 120 hours of formal training in Early Childhood Education in subject areas covered by the Early Childhood Development with Child Development Associate Credential Certificate
Must have completed within the last 3 years 300 hours of professional work experience in a group setting supervised by a professional Early Childhood educator
As a prerequisite for a clinical placement or internship this program requires that all students must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. For more information regarding the College’s CORI/SORI check process, please contact the College CORI/SORI Officer at 617-228-2193 or visit https://www.bhcc.edu/studentcentral/academicrecords/coriandsorichecks/

Semester 1

ECE-103 Child Growth and Development Credits: 3 *
ECE-106 Program Environments Credits: 3 *

Total Credits: 6

Semester 1 Advising Note

Employment in Early Childcare and Education requires criminal background checks to ensure the safety of young children. Students in the Early Childhood Development program will undergo CORI background checks before starting ECE-223 CDA Professional Portfolio&Practicum . Students with concerns about this requirement should contact the Department Chair before beginning this program.
ECE-103 and ECE-106 are courses required to be certified by Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
PSY-209 Child Psychology may not be substituted for ECE-103 Child Growth and Development .

Semester 2

ECE-104 Curriculum in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3 *

Total Credits: 3

Semester 2 Advising Note

ECE-104 is required to be certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Semester 3

ECE-223 CDA Professional Portfolio&Practicum Credits: 3
Elective- Early Childhood Elective Credits: 3

Early Childhood Elective Options:

ECE-101 Guidance and Discipline , ECE-108 Infant/Toddler Curriculum Development , ECE-224 CDA Professional Portfolio&Practicum2

Elective- Early Childhood Elective Credits: 3

Early Childhood Elective Options:

ECE-101 Guidance and Discipline , ECE-108 Infant/Toddler Curriculum Development , ECE-224 CDA Professional Portfolio&Practicum2

Total Credits: 9

Semester 3 Advising Note

ECE-101 is a course required to be certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
ECE-108 is required to be certified as an infant toddler teacher by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
ECE-223 and ECE-224 require that students are working in a classroom for development of portfolio and completion of the credentialing requirements. Students are required to pay their own credentialing fee at the end of the program upon taking the national test and sitting for other requirements of the CDA Council for Professional Recognition. Usually, it is recommended that students complete ECE-223 before moving to ECE-224 , however, a waiver of this requirement is possible if student is completing program and will be ready to graduate at the end of this third semester.

Upon Completion of This Concentration Graduates Will Be Able To:

Use knowledge of child development and relationships with children and families to understand children as individuals and plan for their unique development by organizing environments which facilitate development in all developmental areas.
Design and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences using methods and materials which promote growth and development.
Work with parents, families, and community leaders to support growth and development of children by engaging each child in meaningful experiences.
Observe children in their care to analyze and synthesize information about those children so as to improve their work with children, families, and communities.
Analyze, evaluate and strengthen their work with children by reflecting upon effective practices and collaborating with other professionals in the field.

Career Outlook

Graduates of this certificate program may qualify for employment in a variety of settings, including day care centers, preschools, head start programs, family home care. Upon completion of this enhanced certificate, graduates are eligible to apply for the national program known as Child Development Associate Credential and will be recognized by DEEC as lead teacher qualified.

Explore Career Options

General Advising Notes For This Program

All developmental courses: RDG-090 , RDG-095 or ESL-098 , ENG-090 and ENG-095 must be taken and completed with a grade of C or higher before beginning the first semester towards a two semester certificate plan.
Students are encouraged to take fewer courses and go slower if they have life responsibilities with family, work and personal challenges; these part-time students and/or those taking 1, 2 or 3 per semester are encouraged to use a longer route to completion to assure quality work.
ECE-103 must be completed in first semester with a C or better to move to other ECE courses in subsequent semesters. All ECE courses after the first semester require ECE-103 to be completed with this grade requirement.
No other developmental Psychology courses may be substituted for ECE-103 . Only ECE-103 is allowed for this degree plan and will not be counted toward qualifications for certification by Massachusetts DEEC.