The document describes various positions in early childhood education and their typical qualifications. Positions include teachers, teacher assistants, directors, home visitors, special education teachers, and in-home daycare providers. Teacher certification is required for public pre-K teachers but qualifications vary by role and setting. Degrees range from high school diplomas for assistants to bachelor's or master's for teachers and directors. In-home providers generally have fewer qualifications than center-based staff.
Early Childhood Career Options Under 40 Characters
1.
2. The positions
Aide
Assistant to Head of Group
available may vary Certified Teacher
Certified Special Education Teacher
with the level of Director/Administrator
Family Child Care Provider, Alternate
degree you have Provider, Group Family Child Care
Assistant
and the amount of Government Official
field experience Head of Group/Lead Teacher
Home Visitor, Family Worker
you have built up. In-Home Provider –
Nanny, Governess, Au Pair
Many positions Parent Educator
Principal, Superintendent, Administrat
include, but are not or
limited to:
Researcher
College Professor
School Social Worker
Substitute Teacher
Teaching Assistant
Home centers
(Earlychildhood, 2012)
3. Description: All teachers in public schools, universal
and experimental prekindergarten programs must be
certified. In some cases a waiver is provided for those
seeking certification. Others who are responsible for a
group of children in child care and education
settings are defined as Head of Group in center-
based child-care, school-age child care, or group
family child care.
Required Qualifications: include a bachelor’s
degree, or a master’s degree, which leads to initial
certification.
The term teacher is freely used to refer to the adult
who is responsible for instructing a group of children.
(Earlychildhood, 2012)
4. Description: Recognizing the family as the
child's first teacher, the home visitor works in
the homes of participating families, building
positive relationships with them to support their
parenting roles.
Required Qualifications: The qualifications for
family worker/home visitor vary widely
depending on the sponsoring agency and the
purpose of the program. While some may
require only a high school diploma with training
such as Head Start family workers, others may
require a master's degree such as child early
intervention services.
(Earlychildhood, 2012)
5. Description: Assists in the classroom under
the direction of the Teacher, Head of
Group or Assistant to Head of Group. May
be assigned as a one-on-one aide to a
child with special needs.
Required Qualifications: High School
Diploma or its equivalent or substantial
experience working with children under 13
years of age.
Different establishments may have slightly different
descriptions but most are along the same lines.
(Earlychildhood, 2012)
6. Description: Special education teachers
design and modify instruction to meet a
student's individual needs. Teachers also
work with children who have other
special instructional needs including, for
example, gifted and talented.
Required Qualifications: A bachelor’s
degree, or a master’s degree, which
leads to initial certification.
(Earlychildhood, 2012)
7. Description: To oversee all aspects or the program
including overseeing staff, curriculum and facilities.
The director is responsible for compliance with state
and local regulations and program policies.
Required Qualifications: Qualifications for Directors
vary with individual settings and the federal, state,
and local regulations. These include:
› Public Schools - Teacher certification and experience
› Private Schools - Teacher certification and experience
› Head Start - Education requirement is locally
determined and experience
› Child Care and Education programs
(Earlychildhood, 2012)
8. Description: Licensed In-Home Childcare is run by a
caretaker who is licensed by the state that they do
business in, and regulated by their childcare laws
and regulations. This type of environment should
provide a fun, stimulating environment for children in
addition to caring for their needs and ensuring their
safety.
Required qualifications: Qualifications vary by state.
Unlike the majority of preschools and centers, most
home daycare providers do not need college
training in early childhood development to get a
license. In some states they must only mail in a self-
certification form or register as an official place of
business before they can get a license and open
their doors.(Baby center, 2012)
9. My short term goals are to finish at Ivy
Tech.
Then transfer to Ball State University for
my bachelors in early childhood
education.
10. After getting my bachelors I hope to get
a head teaching job close to home.
After I have put some time in teaching, I
have thought about opening a day
care. The community I live in is
desperate for child care services.
11. Earlychildhood.org. (2012). Career
Development Resource Guide. Retrieved
from:
http://www.earlychildhood.org/cdrg/exp_p
ositions.cfm
Baby center. (2012). What are a home
daycare provider's qualifications?.
Retrieved from:
http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-
are-a-home-daycare-providers-
qualifications_6123.bc