What can I do with this?
The Child Development Associate Teacher Certificate
- Provides students with the minimal level of education to work with children in a group setting.
- Includes required classes in the core areas (development; child, family, and community; curriculum).
- Allows students to qualify for Assistant Teacher and Associate Teacher* permits.
*Associate Teacher Permit: Associate Teacher Certificate of Proficiency requirements plus experience requirement of 50 days of 3+ hours per day within 2 years.
Taught in Spanish / Ensenado en Español
This certificate of achievement is taught in Spanish through online, synchronous Zoom!
For more details, download the flyer:
in English | en Español
You can use this to:
- Enhance career opportunities as:
- Child Care Center Assistant Teacher
- Child Care Center Associate Teacher
- Elementary School Classroom Assistant
- Preschool Teacher
- Child Care Worker
All professionals working with children are required to have a clean criminal record, to demonstrate freedom from tuberculosis (TB), and to demonstrate the physical ability to perform all of the duties of a professional position working directly with children.
Early-childhood education "improves children's cognitive abilities, helps to create a foundation for lifelong learning, makes learning outcomes more equitable, reduces poverty and improves social mobility from generation to generation.
(OECD, 2012)
What will I learn?
- To examine teaching and care practices that provide a developmentally appropriate program to support children's growth, development, and learning.
- To identify one's own values, experiences, and philosophies and how they guide and inform practices.
Program Learning Outcome Assessments
Thank you so much for all your productive feedback, prompt grading, and for caring about all of your students and the children who will benefit from them. It has been a pleasure for me to be part of this class...
—Online Student
What courses do I take?
Note: Some courses within the major may have a required prerequisite. If you feel you have equivalent knowledge and skills to those included in the prerequisite course through professional experience, licensure, or certification, you have the opportunity to submit a Prerequisite Challenge to be reviewed by the faculty chair. For the Prerequisite Challenge to be considered, you must submit documentation/verification to substantiate the basis for the challenge. Please consult a counselor for more information regarding Prerequisite Challenge.
The requirements for this program are complex. You MUST meet with a Child Development faculty member AND a counselor.
Complete all of the following courses:
C-ID: ECE 120 Principles & Practices of Teaching Young Children
Advisory: ENGL C101, LIBR C100
54 hours lecture. This course provides historical context and theoretical perspectives of developmentally appropriate practices in early care and education for children from birth through age eight. The course emphasizes best practices for developmentally appropriate learning environments, curriculum, and effective pedagogy for young children including how play contributes to children's learning, growth, and development. Topics include professional ethics, career pathways, professional standards, and the typical roles and expectations of early childhood educators. Students are required to observe children in a group setting.
C-ID: ECE 130 Introduction to Curriculum
Advisory: ENGL C101, LIBR C100
54 hours lecture.This course explores developmentally appropriate curriculum and environments for children from birth through age eight. Students use knowledge of children's development, theories of learning and development, and examples from various models of developmentally appropriate practice to plan environments and curriculum in all content areas to support children's development and learning integrated throughout indoor and outdoor settings. Students are required to observe children in a group setting.
C-ID: CDEV 110 Child Family and Community
Advisory: ENGL C101, LIBR C100
54 hours lecture. This course examines the processes of socialization focusing on the interrelationship of family, school, and community, and the influence of multiple societal contexts. Students explore the role of collaboration between family, community, and schools in supporting children's development, from birth through adolescence. Students are required to observe children in a group setting. Approved for IGETC Area 4, CSU GE Area D, Local GE Area 2.
C-ID: CDEV 100 Child Growth and Development
Advisory: ENGL C101, LIBR C100
54 hours lecture. This course examines progression of development in the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains and identifies developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence. There is an emphasis on interactions between biological processes and environmental factors. Students observe children, evaluate individual differences, and analyze characteristics of development at various stages according to developmental theories. Approved for IGETC Area 4, CSU GE Area D or E, Local GE Area 2.
Permit
STATE OF CALIFORNIA CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERMIT: The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing grants permits in accordance with the Child Development Permit Matrix. Applications are separate from Cerro Coso Community College and must be submitted to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Contact any Child Development faculty member or visit the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/ for more information regarding the Permit Matrix and Professional Growth Advisors. For all Permits, all course work must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Associate Teacher Permit: Associate Teacher Certificate of Proficiency requirements plus experience requirement of 50 days of 3+ hours per day within 2 years.
Program Pathways
All classes needed for this certificate are available at the following campuses: CC Online
See Counseling for specific help with enrolling and completing this major.
How can I afford it?
This certificate requires 12.0 units and will likely take 1 semester.
Approximate Total Costs
CA Residents
12.0 units
at $46 per unit
Equals $552 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $720* for books and supplies
Total cost $1,272 for 1 semester
Non-residents
12.0 units
at $388 per unit
Equals $4,656 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $720* for books and supplies
Total cost $5,376 for 1 semester
*This is an estimate. Actual costs will vary.
Need help? Financial Aid can help with fee waivers and scholarships and other aid. Make sure to fill out your FAFSA every January.
