Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC)

20 Vocational Credit Hours /600 Clock Hours

The Early Childhood Education Program focuses on broad, transferable skills for the Early Childhood industry:

•  Planning, management, finance, and technology skills
• Understanding of labor, community, health, safety, and environmental issues
• Developmentally appropriate practices for children (Birth-8 Years)

The Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC) is a 600-hour program with four occupational

completion points. Each level consists of classroom instruction and direct work with children. The four levels are:

• Child Care Worker 1 (150 hours): Students who complete this level and pass the required Department of Children and Families (DCF) exams with a score of 70 or better will have completed the DCF  40-hour Mandated Introductory Child Care Training (Part I and II).
• Child Care Teacher 2 (150 hours)
• Teacher Aide (Preschool) (150 hours)
• Preschool Teacher (150 hours)

Completion of all of four levels of the ECPC program meets the staff credential requirement for theFlorida Department of Children and Families. In Florida, this program is equivalent to the National Child Development Associate (CDA).

Students who have an AA degree are encouraged to complete six (6) college credit hours of Early Childhood Education, rather than complete this program.

Enrollment Requirements:

Students must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Provide documentation of a high school diploma or GED
3. Complete the NFCC application and pay non-refundable application fee
4. Complete the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) with the first six (6) weeks of admission into the program. It is strongly recommend that the basic skills examination be completed prior to entry into the program.

Program Courses:

Course #	Title	Credit Hrs	Clock Hrs
HEV 0870	Child Care Worker 1  (OCP A)	5	150
HEV 0871	Child Care Teacher 2  (OCP B)	5	150
HEV 0872	Teacher Aide (Preschool) (OCP C)	5	150
HEV 0873	Preschool Teacher (OCP D)	5	150
Total Hrs.		20	600

ECPC Certificate Requirements:

Students must complete the following requirements BEFORE an Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC) will be awarded:

• Complete the program courses with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Earn TABE scores of 9.0 in Reading, 9.0 in Math, and 9.0 in Language
• Pass the required DCF mandated training competency exams with a score of 70 or higher.
• Complete a DCF approved 5-hour literacy course
• Provide documentation of current certification for Infant/Child CPR and First Aid
• Complete 480 hours of direct work with children in an approved child care setting.
• Documented observation by a qualified observer
• Completion of the Professional Resource File (Portfolio)
• NFCC Application for Graduation

Any requirement not finished by the end of the HEV 0873, must be completed within one year from the course finish date.

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