North Carolina is the first in the nation to increase its workforce professional development standards by certifying the education of those who work directly with, intend to work with, and/or work on behalf of children ages birth to twelve. Early Educator Certification (EEC) recognizes and validates educational accomplishments of Early Educators. Individuals, children, programs, and society benefit when the education of those working in a profession increases. EEC is acknowledgement of an individual’s verified level of educational achievement, based on standardized scale.
The North Carolina Institute for Child Development Professionals (Institute), founded in 1993, is the certifying body for Early Educators in North Carolina. The mission of the institute is to define and advocate for the implementation of a comprehensive early childhood professional development system that provides supportive, accessible, and individually appropriate education which is linked to compensation in order to ensure high quality care and education services for children and families.
The Early Educator Certification Scale that reflects the amount of education earned in the field of early childhood education (ECE), child development (CD), and/or related fields of study. EEC is acknowledgement of an individual’s verified level of educational achievement, based on a standardized scale. EEC does not issue a personal or teacher license. For example, North Carolina Birth-through-Kindergarten licensure is granted under the authority of the North Carolina State Board of Education to individuals who successfully complete formal education and student teaching requirements through an accredited teacher program.
Currently over 41 early childhood educators in Alexander County have attained the Early Childhood Educator Certification. Centers and Family Child Care Homes participating in the certification process include: Alexander Head Start; LuLus Child Enrichment Center; Millersville Child Development Center; Salem Sloan Child Enrichment Center; and Sandy’s Family Child Care Home. Others centers and Family Child Care Homes in Alexander County are in the certification process or have obtained certification since the last certification listing. Congratulations to these Early Childhood Educators!!!
