The document outlines several career opportunities in early childhood education, including preschool teacher, child care center director, family support specialist, elementary school teacher, and child development services coordinator. Each role has different education and experience requirements, such as a minimum of an associate's degree in early childhood education plus experience for preschool teacher and a bachelor's degree plus experience for child development services coordinator. The roles involve working with young children and families in areas like curriculum, child development, advocacy, and programming.

1. Early Childhood
Roles and Opportunities
Early Childhood Advocacy, Research and policy
Rasmussen College
What jobs are available?
Preschool Teacher
Child Care Center Director
Family Support Specialist
Elementary School Teacher
Child Development Services Coordinator
2
Preschool Teacher
Preschool Teachers can work within Center or In-Home
Programs.
The location must be licensed to meet the basic needs of ECE
and the children it serves.
Many Center based programs can be within non-profit
organizations, and sometimes for-profit organizations.
Preschool Teacher Requirements

2. A teacher must be at least 18 years of age, and meets teacher
criteria as follows:
A teacher must have a high school diploma, or that of
equivalence as well as 4,160 hours as assistant teacher
experience.
A teacher must have a diploma from an accredited college with
their Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education with
2,080 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or student intern
experience.
A teacher must have their Child Development Associates
Certificate as well as 1,560 hours as assistant teacher, aide, or
student intern experience.
A Bachelorettes Degree as well as 1,040 hours as assistant
teacher, aide, or student intern experience.
A License from the MN- Department of Education and 520
hours as assistant teacher, aide, or student intern if teaching
children under school age (DHS, 2017).
.
A teacher must have experience with:
Curriculum planning, Early Childhood Education Theories,
working with children and families, behavior guidance,
nutrition, be familiar with licensing requirements within
childcare centers, child development, developmentally
appropriate practices and working with children with special
needs ( Sara, 2014).
Child Care Center Director
A child Care Center Director would be within any licensed
Early Childhood Education provider within the state.
Responsible for the day to day operations within the ECEC.
Child Care Center Directors can find positions within Non-
profit and For-Profit agencies/ organizations.

3. Child Care Center Director Requirements
A center Director must be at least 18 years of age, and meets
the following criteria:
If taking on any Teaching responsibilities within the classroom
the Director must meet teaching criteria as well as Center
Director Critera.
A director must at minimum be a graduate of a high school or
hold an equivalent diploma attained through successful
completion of the commissioner of education-selected high
school equivalency test.
A Director must have at least 1,040 hours staff supervision
experience.
A Director must have at least nine quarter credits or 90 hours
earned in any combination of accredited courses in staff
supervision, human relations, and child development (DHS,
2017).
A director must have experience with:
Helping improve curriculum standards, maintaining teachers in-
service hours and trainings, be familiar with MN state licensing
requirements for Child Care Centers, be comfortable and
familiar with record keeping, have the ability to maintain
communication between staff and families, be comfortable with
evaluating and hiring staff and be familiar with child
assessments and curriculum practices (Heinrich, 2017).
Family Support Specialist
Working within School District's
Child Care Centers
County Assistance Service Locations

4. Family Support Specialist Requirements
A Family Support Specialist must be at least 18 years of age.
Has a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School
Diploma.
Can Pass a background Check.
BA in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
A Family Support Specialist has many roles and responsibilities
such as:
Working with children and families to meet their individual
family needs:
- Helping find resources to pay for child care
- Health and Emotional Crisis resources.
- Offer other community resources.
A Family Support Specialist has experience with child
development, best practices, working with families, ability to
access local resources, be aware of child care rules and
regulations, be an advocate for children and families, and have
the ability to travel if needed.
Elementary School Teacher
Within a Elementary School Setting
Kindergarten through grade 5
Have a License from the MN- Department of Education.
Private Schools or Public School Districts.
Elementary School Teacher Requirements
Elementary School Teachers must be a minimum of 18 years of
age and meet the following Criteria:
Teaching requirements within the state of MN (DHS, 2017)
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=9503.0032

5. Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education
Pass a background Check
Pass the exams to certify you as a K-5 teacher
Acquiring Teaching license (DHS, 2017)
Elementary School Teachers must have experience with:
Curriculum planning, Child Development, Best Practices,
Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Lesson planning,
structuring a large classroom, time management, experience
supervising a classroom or assisting a classroom teacher,
familiar with family conferences, able to communicate with
teaching staff and families, give positive-re-direction and be
familiar with Early Childhood Special Needs (Sara, 2014).
Child Development Services Coordinator
Early Childhood Education Programing
Center Programing
Private Schooling
Public School System
Child Development Services Coordinator Requirements
Child Development Services Coordinator must be a minimum of
18 years of age and meet the following criteria:
Have a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education or,
A Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and a
minimum of 2 years working as a teacher for young children.
Pass a background check.
Current Drivers License and availability to travel if needed (
DHS,
Child Development Services Coordinator must have experience
with:
Collaborating with families to support family goals, planning

6. and implementing social/emotional health practices, be familiar
with Child Development, Developmentally Appropriate
Practices, State assessment standards, Screening for
Developmental Delays, ability to work in an unbiased
environment, and must maintain positive and safe learning
environments for children within the programming ( DHS,
2017)
References
DHS. (2017). Minnesota Administrative Rules; CHAPTER
9503, CHILD CARE CENTER
LICENSING. Retrieved from Office of the Revisor of Statutes:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=9503
Heinrich, A. (june, 21 2017). The Best Early Childhood
Education Jobs for All Degree Holders .
Retrieved from Rasmussen :
http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/best -
early-childhood-education-jobs-degree-holders/
Sara. (October, 23 2014). What Careers Can I have with an
Early C hildhood Education Degree?
Retrieved from Early Childhood Education Zone:
https://www.earlychildhoodeducationzone.com/early -education-
degree-careers/