Early Childhood Education - Competency Based Certificate

Certificate | SC Program: CT.3460

This certificate prepares you to create and manage learning environments for children from birth to age 8. You are required to be working in a early childhood education setting, which includes TK-3rd grade classrooms.

The program includes 24 short, 1-unit learning modules (called competencies). These competencies are grouped into eight courses for your transcript and are fully transferable. You’ll get a special competency transcript that shows exactly what skills you’ve mastered, along with your regular college transcript.

You will need to demonstrate mastery in all 24 competencies; mastery is defined at 80% or better.

When you finish, you’ll be eligible to apply for a California Associate Teacher Permit and meet the 24-unit early childhood education requirement for the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential.

This certificate is designed to meet important industry standards, including:

• California Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs)
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards
• California Course Alignment Project

Early Childhood Education Competency Certificate

• The ECE faculty have developed twenty-four, 1-unit competencies that align with the following traditional 3-unit ECE classes. Students will complete the aligned competencies in this order:
  • ECE 17: Principles and Practices
  • ECE 20: Intro to Curriculum
  • ECE 9: Child, Growth, and Development
  • ECE 2: Child, Family, and Community
  • ECE 52: Guidance and Classroom Management Strategies
  • ECE 28: Teaching in a Diverse Society
  • ECE 7: Early Childhood Observation and Assessment
  • ECE 8: Teaching Practicum for Young Children
• Online (mostly): All the competencies will be fully online, except for the 54-hour in-person practicum aligned with ECE 8.  If you are currently employed in an early childhood education setting, your work hours may count towards the 54-hour practicum.
• Previously completed coursework: If you have already completed any of the above coursework (or equivalents from another college) with a grade of “B” or better, you will not be required to complete the aligned competencies for that course.
• What about other courses? At this point in time, these are the only ECE courses that are taught in a CBE format; the faculty are working on the following courses for CBE for 2026-27:
  • ECE 12: Infant Toddler Learning
  • ECE 15: Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition
  • ECE 22:  Care and Education for Infants and Toddlers

Choose your Pace: Sprint, Run, Jog, Walk

The "Sprint" Pace (Full-Time)

• Units per term: 12 units
• Time to 24 units: 2 full semesters (e.g., one Fall and one Spring).
• Total calendar time: About 8–9 months.
• The workload: You are completing a competency every 9–10 days (on average). This is the fastest way to finish but requires a significant time commitment.

The "Run" Pace (3/4 Time)

• Units per term: 9 units
• Time to 24 units: Approx. 2.5 semesters. (e.g., one Fall, one Spring, one Summer)
• Total calendar time: About 12–14 months.
• The workload: In Fall and Spring, you would want to try to complete a competency every 2 weeks (on average); in the summer, you would complete one competency every week and a half.

The "Jog" Pace (Half-Time)

• Units per term: 6 units
• Time to 24 units: 3 full semesters plus 1 summer; or 4 full semesters.
• Total calendar time: About 16 months to 2 years. 
• The workload: You are completing one competency every 3 weeks (on average).  

The "Walk" Pace (Part-Time)

• Units per term: 3 units
• Time to 24 units: 6 full semesters and 2 summers; or 8 full semesters
• Total calendar time: 3.5 to 4 years.
• The workload: You finish one competency every 5.5 weeks in a semester, every 2.5 weeks in summer (on average). This is the most flexible option but takes the longest to reach the finish line.

For more information on Competency Based Education, visit our CBE homepage.

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