Workforce Development

The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education is the state sponsor for Alabama’s Early Childhood Education’s Apprenticeship Program. The program is designed to be a credentialing pathway for individuals working in early care and education settings.

The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education sponsored apprentices are able to complete stackable credentials, a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, a 9-hour short term certificate, an associate degree, and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, all while employed with a childcare provider or in an Alabama First Class Pre-K classroom.

Early Childhood Education Apprenticeships:

1. Provide an opportunity to increase the number of highly qualified early childhood educators in the workforce.
2. Apprenticeship training is distinguished from other types of workplace training by several factors, including paid work experience, classroom instruction, mentorship, and a portable, nationally recognized credential. Apprentices participate in on the job learning (OJL) and related technical instruction (RTI).
3. Create opportunities to upskill early childhood workers.
4. Provide for seamless articulation of coursework between the community college and four-year university.
5. Allows apprentices to participate with no out-of-pocket costs while earning progressive wages.

Why Should Employers Participate in Apprenticeship Programs?

1. Apprenticeships allow employers to “grow their own” through an earn and learn model.
2. Registered apprenticeships provide employers with a consistently high quality of workers.
3. Participating employers are eligible to apply for incentive funding.

Employers interested in participating in the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship program may contact the ADECE Workforce Development Director or the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship (AOA) for more information.

Click here to learn more about the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and registered apprenticeships.

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What is a Child Development Associate?

The Child Development Associate® Credential or CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education. It is a key stepping-stone on the path to career advancement in early childhood education. To be awarded the credential, candidates must complete an assessment process and demonstrate that they’re able to put their knowledge of the CDA Competency Standards into practice in their daily work with children and families. Being awarded the CDA means a candidate is qualified to be a lead teacher in an infant or toddler classroom or an auxiliary teacher in an Alabama First Class Pre-K classroom. The CDA is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition.

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• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Alabama  
• Leadership in Childcare Scholarship
• Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA)

Lead Teacher Minimum Requirements:

1. Human Environmental Science degree with a concentration in Early Childhood Development or Child Development.
2. Early Childhood Education degree (B.S., B.A., or M.A./M.S.) or completion of a bachelor’s degree program leading to P-3 certification in Early Childhood Education with a minimum of 18 credit hours in early childhood/ child development coursework.
3. Special Education degree in Early Childhood with a minimum of 18 credit hours in early childhood/child development coursework, or a bachelor’s degree program leading to certification in Early Childhood Special Education with a minimum of 18 credit hours in early childhood/child development coursework.

Auxiliary Teacher Minimum Requirements:

1. Must possess a high school diploma or GED.
2. Must possess a Child Development Associate credential (CDA) or at least 9 credit hours of college coursework in Early Childhood Education or Child Development from a regionally accredited institution.

The following 2-year colleges and 4-year universities have signed articulation agreements in place to ensure that all ECE coursework is transferable. 

Wallace State Community College-Hanceville –> Athens State University

Wallace Community College-Dothan  –> Troy University-Dothan

Enterprise State Community College  –> Troy University- Main Campus

Coastal Alabama Community College –> University of West Alabama

Currently, scholarship funds are available through Auburn University’s School of Human Development and Family Studies to complete the fully online Early Child Development Degree. Click here for more information. All inquiries should be made to ecdonline@auburn.edu