Pathway guide
Early Childhood Education Pathway Guide
At a glance
This guide covers a high school early childhood education pathway in Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Hawaii. It sets out the rules that differ by state. The how-to for staffing, partnerships, approvals, facilities, curriculum and scheduling sits in six implementation toolkits, linked in the launch steps at the end.
What the pathway leads to
Graduates enter work as child care workers and aides in licensed centers, Head Start and school preschool programs. No state among the seven licenses individual child care workers. The state licenses the program, and its rules set the youngest age at which a student can work as counted staff. The national credential students can earn in high school is the Child Development Associate (CDA), from the Council for Professional Recognition. North Carolina and Pennsylvania also give high school students a state route into licensed staffing. After high school, students go to work, to a community college early childhood program, or to a teacher preparation program.
The decisions you face
- Whether to run a lab preschool. A school-run preschool that enrolls community children is usually a child care program under state licensing law. Exemptions are narrow, and Michigan and Pennsylvania have none for public schools. Call the licensing agency before you enroll children.
- Whether students work as counted staff. Every state checked sets 16 as the youngest age to count in the staff-to-child ratio, and most attach conditions such as direct adult supervision. Paid student staff need a fingerprint background check before they start.
- How to time the CDA. The Council sets no minimum age. Juniors and seniors enrolled in an early childhood CTE program may apply before graduating, so the program must be a recognized CTE program and the 480 experience hours must fit inside grades 10 to 12.
- Which state route to build on. In North Carolina, an A or B in Early Childhood Education I Honors (FE11) leads to the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential. In Pennsylvania, a 600-hour approved curriculum lets enrolled 16- and 17-year-olds count as staff once they finish its 400 classroom hours, and qualifies graduates as assistant group supervisors.
- Who teaches it. The license area differs by state, and several states have not published it for early childhood courses.
Where the states differ most
| Topic | Range across the seven states |
|---|---|
| Youngest age to count in ratio | 16 in every state checked. Conditions range from none found (Michigan centers) to direct supervision by a credentialed person 21 or older (North Carolina) and completion of 400 classroom hours (Pennsylvania) |
| Licensing of a school lab preschool | No public school exemption in Michigan or Pennsylvania; narrow schedule-based exemptions in Virginia, Arizona and Missouri; possible exemption through HIDOE certification in Hawaii; not confirmed in North Carolina |
| State CTE program | State-approved programs in Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Missouri; only Education, General found in Michigan; none in Hawaii |
| Projected job growth, 2024 to 2034 | Child care workers: from a decline of 3.5% (Pennsylvania) to growth of 6.0% (Virginia). Preschool teachers: growth in every state, from 4.9% to 19.7% (Arizona) |
| State early childhood credential | North Carolina Early Childhood Credential through FE11 Honors; Pennsylvania 600-hour secondary route; none found in the other five |
Items are labeled Confirmed, Confirm with the agency, or Changing. Last checked October 5, 2026.
Jobs and pay
Child care worker jobs are projected to shrink nationally and in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Missouri, and to grow in Virginia, Arizona, North Carolina and Hawaii. Preschool teacher jobs are projected to grow in every state, from 4.9% in Michigan and Pennsylvania to 19.7% in Arizona (United States: 4.1%). Openings stay high in every state because many workers leave the field each year. Students usually start as child care workers or aides; preschool teacher roles in licensed programs carry the age and education requirements set in each state’s licensing rules (see Licensing and outside approvals).
Child care jobs grow most in Virginia and shrink most in Pennsylvania
Projected change in childcare worker jobs (SOC 39-9011), 2024 to 2034
Show the numbers
| State | Projected change, 2024 to 2034 |
|---|---|
| Virginia | +6.0% |
| Arizona | +4.8% |
| North Carolina | +1.3% |
| Hawaii | +1.0% |
| Missouri | −1.2% |
| Michigan | −3.2% |
| Pennsylvania | −3.5% |
| United States | −2.9% |
Childcare workers (SOC 39-9011)
| State | Median annual wage, May 2025 | Jobs in 2024 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $30,970 | 23,370 | 3,760 |
| Virginia | $34,330 | 22,250 | 3,930 |
| North Carolina | $29,140 | 18,240 | 3,090 |
| Arizona | $35,100 | 12,080 | 2,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,140 | 39,590 | 6,360 |
| Missouri | $30,790 | 14,720 | 2,430 |
| Hawaii | $37,030 | 2,480 | 420 |
| United States | 991,600 | 160,200 |
Preschool teachers, except special education (SOC 25-2011)
| State | Median annual wage, May 2025 | Jobs in 2024 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $37,110 | 11,930 | 1,420 |
| Virginia | $37,140 | 12,280 | 1,590 |
| North Carolina | $35,710 | 16,920 | 2,140 |
| Arizona | $36,300 | 10,160 | 1,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,050 | 19,700 | 2,350 |
| Missouri | $36,090 | 7,350 | 920 |
| Hawaii | $48,780 | 1,370 | 170 |
| United States | 555,100 | 65,500 |
Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state file, May 2025. Jobs in 2024, openings and projected change are from the state long-term projections published through Projections Central (2024 to 2034).
Credentials students can earn
The CDA is the one national credential built for this pathway. North Carolina and Pennsylvania add state routes that tie high school coursework to licensed staff qualifications.
| Credential | How it works | What a school needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Development Associate (CDA), Council for Professional Recognition | No minimum age. A candidate needs a diploma or GED, or must be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school CTE program in early childhood education. 120 clock hours of training, with at least 10 in each of 8 subject areas, earned any time before applying. 480 hours of experience in the chosen setting and age group (Preschool: center-based, ages 3 to 5) within 3 years before applying. A Professional Portfolio prepared within 6 months before applying, Family Questionnaires, a PD Specialist, and the CDA exam. A qualifying exam score brings a decision with no Verification Visit. $525 assessment fee; valid 3 years; $250 renewal with 45 clock hours, 4.5 CEUs or a 3-credit college course. | A recognized early childhood CTE program (grade 9 and 10 students cannot apply), training hours mapped to the 8 subject areas, and experience placements in the setting and age group the student will apply for. The Council’s High School Pathways page points to a High School Handbook; contact Partnerships@cdacouncil.org. | . : High School Handbook details, retake rules |
| North Carolina Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) | Earned through Early Childhood Education I Honors (FE11): the student earns an A or B and is proficient on the Performance-based Measurement, then opens a DCDEE WORKS account and submits paperwork to the DHHS Workforce Education Unit. No cost; lifetime validity; no age rule listed. Adults earn it through EDU 119 at a community college. | FE11 offered at the Honors level and the state Performance-based Measurement | . : any time limit on the high school equivalency |
| Pennsylvania 600-hour secondary training route | Not a credential card. Under 55 Pa. Code 3270.31(c), a 16- or 17-year-old enrolled in an approved curriculum of at least 600 hours (400 classroom, 200 supervised in a child care facility) may be used as staff after completing the classroom hours. A graduate with a diploma and the 600 hours qualifies as an assistant group supervisor (3270.36(b)(2)). | A curriculum run by an institution approved by PDE and accredited by a recognized accreditor, covering the training topics in 3270.31(e)(2) | for the rule text. : whether a district or CTC meets the accreditation condition |
| First Aid, CPR and AED | General safety certification; listed as an aligned credential for NC FE11 | An authorized instructor |
What each state counts
| State | Early childhood credentials and routes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | No state credential list for early childhood found. The CDA is open to juniors and seniors in an early childhood CTE program. TEACH Early Childhood Michigan covers most CDA training and credential costs; recipients stay in early childhood work for 6 months after completion. | : the CTEIS list and TEACH terms |
| Virginia | ECES I (8285) and II (8286) list the CDA Assessment, Early Childhood Education and Care (Basic and Advanced), the Early Childhood Education Assessment, ParaPro (moving to ParaPathways), Praxis Core, NCRC and Workplace Readiness Skills. | |
| North Carolina | NCECC through FE11 Honors with an A or B and Performance-based Measurement proficiency; First Aid, CPR and AED. | |
| Arizona | The CDA is on ADE’s 2026-27 credentials list for Early Childhood Education (13.1210), approved for both A-F and CTED reporting. | (ADE 2026-27 credentials list, updated Sept. 8, 2026) |
| Pennsylvania | The 19.0708 task grid includes investigating CDA and PA School-Age Credential requirements and completing the 6-hour DHS Health and Safety Basics course. The 600-hour route above applies to licensed staffing. | . : the 2026-27 end-of-program assessment |
| Missouri | The CDA is on DESE’s industry-recognized credential list for the Early Childhood Development program (New System, class of 2029 and later). University of Missouri RISE runs a CDA Credential Prep Program open to high school juniors and seniors in a qualified early childhood program: $350 for about 144 hours across 10 courses, meeting the 120-hour training requirement. It does not state that it covers the $525 Council fee. | for RISE and the CDA listing (DESE New System IRC guidance). : the Previous System list for the classes of 2026 to 2028 |
| Hawaii | No early childhood CTE program. Under the 2021 proposed child care rule, a CDA plus 6 months of experience is one route to assistant teacher (age 18 or older). | : check against the adopted 2024 rule |
Plan the CDA across grades 10 to 12. Training hours have no stated expiry, and experience hours earned in grade 10 still count for a senior-year application if they fall within 3 years and match the setting and age group.
Working with minors
For the full federal and state rules, a task-by-task decision path and a student-learner agreement template, see Working with Minors in CTE Pathways.
Federal rules
No federal hazardous occupations order covers child care work. Federal law limits hours only for 14- and 15-year-olds: outside school hours, no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). Federal law sets no hour limits for 16- and 17-year-olds. For this pathway, state child care licensing rules set the binding limits: the youngest age at which a student can work as staff, whether the student counts in the ratio, and the background check required before the first day. Those rules are in the next section.
State rules
| State | Work permit or certificate for 16- and 17-year-olds | Hours for 16- and 17-year-olds in the school year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Youth work permit through LEO’s Youth Employment Permit Portal from October 2, 2026; employers register before hiring a minor. Employment under a written school-employer agreement (MCL 409.118) is exempt from the Youth Employment Standards Act; a signed copy must be on file at the worksite. | 24 hours a school week, 10 hours a day, 6 days; not between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. (11:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and school vacations) | . : whether placements under a school-employer agreement still need a portal permit |
| Virginia | No employment certificate at 16 or older | No state limits | |
| North Carolina | Youth employment certificate for all employment under 18 | No work from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. before a school day without written parent and principal approval | |
| Arizona | No state work permit | No state limit found for 16- and 17-year-olds | |
| Pennsylvania | Work permit for every minor under 18, from the school district issuing officer | 8 hours a day and 28 hours a school week, 6 a.m. to midnight | |
| Missouri | Work certificate only under 16 | No state limits at 16 or older | |
| Hawaii | Certificate of Age (eCL-3), online through DLIR | No limits except during required school hours |
These permit and hour rules apply to paid work. Whether a student in an unpaid placement is treated as staff, a volunteer or a student under the licensing rules decides which background check applies. Settle that with each placement site in writing.
Licensing and outside approvals
Each state’s child care licensing agency is the second regulator for this pathway. Its rules govern the sites where students work and any preschool your school runs. In Virginia and Missouri the licensing office sits inside the education department; in the other five it is a separate agency.
Minimum staff ages and supervision
| State | Agency | What it approves | Ages and supervision | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | MiLEAP Child Care Licensing Bureau | Child care centers (R 400.8101 to 400.8840, updated May 7, 2025) and family and group homes | Centers: a teacher or substitute teacher may be 16 and counts in ratio; lead teacher 19; site administrator 19; program administrator 21. Supervised volunteers 16 or older do not count. No added supervision rule for teachers aged 16 or 17 found. Homes (rules effective April 27, 2026): staff 16 or older; a new child care assistant role for ages 14 and 15, directly supervised at all times, never left alone with children and never a substitute for staff. | . : the home rules are new |
| Virginia | VDOE child care licensing (8VAC20-780) | Child day centers | Aides at least 16; volunteers at least 13 and not listed as countable; staff count in ratio only when directly supervising children; program director 21. | . : whether aides aged 16 and 17 count in ratio |
| North Carolina | NC DHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) | Centers and homes; staff education qualifications (DCDEE WORKS); background checks | Staff counted in ratio must be at least 16, and those under 18 work under the direct supervision of a credentialed staff person at least 21 (G.S. 110-91(8)). No one under 18 may be in charge of a group (10A NCAC 09 .0703). Center administrators 21. | |
| Arizona | ADHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing (A.A.C. Title 9, Chapter 5) | Child care facilities | Assistant teacher-caregiver at 16; a 16- or 17-year-old qualifies through current, continuous high school enrollment and counts in ratio. Teacher-caregiver 18; director 21; volunteer 15. A student-aide (a student in a curriculum-based course of study) does not count in ratio. | for the ages. (ADHS): the student-aide ratio rule in R9-5-404 |
| Pennsylvania | DHS Office of Child Development and Early Learning (55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270) | Child care centers | Staff must be 18. A 16- or 17-year-old may be used as staff only after completing the 400 classroom hours of a 600-hour approved curriculum, while still enrolled, with written certification from the institution. Volunteers at least 16 and directly supervised at all times. Aides are supervised at all times by at least an assistant group supervisor. | for the rule text. : whether a district or CTC meets the accreditation condition |
| Missouri | DESE Office of Childhood (5 CSR 25-500) | Child care facilities | Caregivers 18 or older count in ratio. Junior aides aged 16 and 17 count only under the direct supervision of an adult caregiver, are never the sole caregiver on the premises, and never count in infant or toddler ratios. Staff and volunteers may not fall within the age range of the children on the license. | (DESE Office of Childhood): junior aide rule in 5 CSR 25-500.102. Last checked Oct. 4, 2026 |
| Hawaii | DHS Child Care Licensing (HAR 17-892.2 for group centers; 17-895.1 for infant and toddler centers) | Group child care centers and homes; infant and toddler centers | A child care aide must be at least 16 to count in ratio. Directors, teachers and assistant teachers are at least 18. Volunteers have no minimum age and count only if they meet staff requirements. | : from the 2021 proposed rule text; check against the rule adopted June 6, 2024 |
Background checks for students
The federal Child Care and Development Fund rule (45 CFR 98.43) requires an FBI fingerprint check, a national sex offender registry search, and state criminal, sex offender and child abuse registry checks in each state of residence over the past 5 years. It has no exception for staff under 18. A provisional hire may start after a qualifying result but must be supervised at all times.
| State | What a paid 16- or 17-year-old needs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Comprehensive background check before unsupervised contact, for staff 16 and older (R 400.8201). A person may work pending the result if always supervised. Supervised volunteers need only a sex offender registry clearance. | |
| Virginia | Sworn disclosure, fingerprints for state and national checks, the central registry, and checks in any state of residence over the past 5 years, for employees and volunteers alike; renewed every 5 years (Va. Code 22.1-289.035). No age exception. | |
| North Carolina | County, state and FBI fingerprint checks before employment and every 5 years, plus the Responsible Individuals List and Child Maltreatment Registry (G.S. 110-90.2). DCDEE applies checks to child care workers of any age. Provisional work only if supervised at all times. | |
| Arizona | A DPS fingerprint clearance card before starting, for employees and volunteers (A.R.S. 36-883.02). ADHS tells providers that staff must apply for a card before their 18th birthday, which implies minors do not hold cards. How ADHS screens staff under 18 is not published. | |
| Pennsylvania | All three clearances: PA Child Abuse, Pennsylvania State Police and DHS FBI fingerprints. The under-18 shortcut that skips the FBI check does not apply to child care centers or homes. | |
| Missouri | Fingerprints, sex offender registry search and Family Care Safety Registry screening (including the Central Registry) before the staff member starts work or is present at the facility; valid 5 years. Minors are fingerprinted with a parent present. | |
| Hawaii | Background check conditions in HAR 17-801-5 before starting, then annually. No age exemption stated. | : how minors are fingerprinted |
Licensing for a school lab preschool
| State | Exemption that might cover a school-run lab preschool | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | None. The child care center definition (MCL 722.111) has no exclusion for programs run by public schools or ISDs, so a lab preschool serving children under 13 without parents on site appears to need a center license. | : MiLEAP CCLB |
| Virginia | Va. Code 22.1-289.030(B)(7) exempts a school division program that runs no more than 4 hours a day on full instructional days, is staffed by division employees, and serves children at least 3 who are enrolled in public school or a division preschool. A lab preschool that enrolls community children may not fit. | : VDOE licensing |
| North Carolina | Not confirmed. DCDEE publishes staff education forms for public school preschool staff. | : DCDEE |
| Arizona | A.R.S. 36-884(8) exempts a program for ages 3 to 6 only if it teaches nothing but math, reading and science, takes no state-subsidized tuition, has each child present no more than 2.25 hours a day and 3 days a week, does not replace parental care, posts a not-licensed notice and holds fingerprint cards for all personnel. A lab preschool built around care and play will not fit. Otherwise you need an ADHS license. | : ADHS |
| Pennsylvania | None. The 55 Pa. Code 3270.3 exemptions cover nonpublic schools and private nursery schools during instruction, not public districts or CTCs. A DHS certificate appears to be needed. | : OCDEL Bureau of Certification |
| Missouri | RSMo 210.211 exempts a school system (education in at least grades 1 to 6) and a nursery school (no more than 4 hours a day per child). Any facility that receives state or federal funds for care loses the exemption (food program funds excepted). An area CTC alone may not be a school system. | : DESE Office of Childhood |
| Hawaii | HRS 346-152(3) exempts programs licensed or certified by the Department of Education. | : HIDOE and DHS |
No published lead time for a new center license was found. Contact the licensing agency before you design the space or enroll children.
Who can teach
Pennsylvania is the only state among the seven where this review found the accepted certificates published for the early childhood CTE program. Elsewhere, ask the state CTE office which license area covers the courses before you post the position. The Staffing toolkit covers recruiting, industry routes and pay.
| State | Teaching credential | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Annual Career Authorization for an industry hire (MCL 380.1233b), requested by the district; 4,000 hours of experience within the last 10 years. The early childhood endorsement code is not published. | for the route. : endorsement code (MDE Office of CTE) |
| Virginia | The ECES I and II course pages do not name a teacher endorsement and direct questions to the VDOE Office of CTE. | |
| North Carolina | Family and Consumer Sciences license, per the state inventory. | : NC DPI CTE licensure |
| Arizona | CTE certificates issued through work experience verification, in areas that include Education and Training and Family and Consumer Sciences. | |
| Pennsylvania | Family and Consumer Sciences (5600), Career and Technical certificate in Child Care Services (2216), or legacy Home Economics (5605). The CTE route accepts 4 years of wage-earning experience in the occupation, or 2 years plus a bachelor’s degree (added by Act 55 of 2024), plus the occupational competency assessment and 18 credits of CTE teacher education. The Experience-Based certificate (named by Act 47 of 2025) is valid 5 calendar years; Instructional I is valid 8 years of service. | |
| Missouri | DESE career education certification; the early childhood area is not published on the pages checked. | : DESE |
| Hawaii | CTE Permit in one of the 13 HTSB CTE fields. Whether early childhood falls within the Education field is not confirmed. | : HTSB |
Licensing qualifications for lab staff
If your school runs a licensed lab preschool, the licensing rules set qualifications for its staff on top of the teaching license. In Michigan, a lead teacher is at least 19 and a program administrator at least 21. In Arizona, a facility director is at least 21. In North Carolina, every student under 18 who counts in ratio works under the direct supervision of a credentialed staff person at least 21, so plan a qualified adult in each room where students count. Check the director and lead teacher education rules with your licensing agency.
Program, curriculum and lab
An early childhood program needs state CTE program approval like any other pathway, and any preschool you run needs clearance from the child care licensing agency. The Approvals toolkit lists each state’s CTE process and deadlines.
Program codes by state
| State | State program | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | The 2025-26 CTE Administrator Manual lists only Education, General (13.0000) in the Education and Training cluster; no early childhood CIP (19.0709 or 13.1210) was found. | : MDE Office of CTE, current CIP list |
| Virginia | Introduction to Early Childhood Education (18 weeks, grades 9 to 12); Early Childhood, Education, and Services I (8285: 280 hours, 2 credits, grades 10 to 12, no prerequisite); Early Childhood, Education, and Services II (8286: 280 hours, 2 credits, grades 11 and 12). High-quality work-based learning and FCCLA are built in. | |
| North Carolina | Early Childhood Education I (FE11) and II (FE12), in the Early Childhood Development and Services pathway, Human Services cluster (CIP 19.0709). | for course codes. : cluster and CIP |
| Arizona | Early Childhood Education, 13.1210.00, with 2024 Technical Standards and an equipment list | |
| Pennsylvania | Child Care and Support Services Management, 19.0708 (Human Services); 61 approved secondary programs as of May 2025; a task grid aligned to PA Core Standards | |
| Missouri | Early Childhood Development program of study, Education cluster | for the name. : CIP, courses and credentials (DESE) |
| Hawaii | No early childhood CTE program. The Education cluster has Learning Support Professionals and Teaching As a Profession. |
Michigan. No early-childhood-specific program code was found. Schools offer related education programs now; Kent Career Tech Center’s Teacher Academy, for example, places students in K-12 classrooms and has no preschool lab. To formalize, ask the MDE Office of CTE whether an early childhood CIP is open for new programs or whether early childhood content should be approved under 13.0000. CDA eligibility before graduation requires an early childhood CTE program, so confirm that the approved program qualifies.
Hawaii. Schools offer early childhood content within Teaching As a Profession or Learning Support Professionals, or through dual enrollment in University of Hawaii community college early childhood programs. To formalize, ask HIDOE CTE whether a CDA-aligned course sequence can sit within the Education cluster, and confirm with the Council that the sequence counts as an early childhood CTE program for CDA eligibility.
The lab
You have three ways to give students hands-on hours with young children:
- A licensed lab preschool on campus. Apply for the license your state requires (see Licensing for a school lab preschool). Ask the agency for its space, staffing and record rules before you design the room.
- A schedule that fits a state exemption. Virginia and Missouri have narrow exemptions tied to hours per day, staffing or enrollment. Arizona’s exemption also limits the program to math, reading and science instruction, so it rarely fits a lab preschool. Get the agency’s answer in writing before you rely on one.
- Placements in community programs. Licensed centers, Head Start and district preschools host students under a written placement agreement. Each site’s licensing rules decide whether the student counts in ratio and which background check applies.
CDA experience hours must be in the setting and age group the student applies for. For the Preschool setting, that is a center-based program serving ages 3 to 5. Plan placements so the 480 hours fit inside the student’s grade 10 to 12 schedule.
Curriculum
Map the course sequence to the 8 CDA subject areas, at least 10 training hours in each, and to the state program standards. In North Carolina, offer FE11 at the Honors level so students can earn the NCECC. In Pennsylvania, build to 600 hours (400 classroom and 200 supervised in a child care facility) and cover the training topics in 55 Pa. Code 3270.31(e)(2) if you want students to count as staff. The Curriculum toolkit has a review rubric.
Credit after high school
| State | College credit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | No statewide early childhood agreement found. Kent Career Tech Center’s Teacher Academy lists articulated credit with local colleges. | : MDE statewide articulation list |
| Virginia | No statewide agreement found. | Confirm locally |
| North Carolina | The High School to Community College Articulation Agreement (approved May 16, 2025; revised March 9, 2026) maps FE11 to EDU-119, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, and FE12 to EDU-151, Creative Activities. The FE11 row lists First Aid, CPR and AED and the North Carolina Early Childcare Credential Equivalency as aligned credentials. Career and College Promise dual enrollment is also available. | for the course mapping. : grade, score and enrollment-window conditions (NCCCS and NC DPI) |
| Arizona | No statewide agreement found; dual enrollment by college agreement. | Confirm locally |
| Pennsylvania | SOAR partner colleges award credit for Child Care and Support Services Management. Penn Highlands Community College maps it to ECE 101, ECE 110 and ECE 298 in its Education A.A. General SOAR terms are a 2.75 GPA in technical courses and credit used within 16 months of graduation. | for Penn Highlands. : statewide SOAR terms for 19.0708 |
| Missouri | No statewide agreement found. | Confirm locally |
| Hawaii | University of Hawaii community colleges offer early childhood programs; Early College and Running Start are statewide dual-credit routes. | Confirm with the college |
Academic credit
Early childhood courses usually count as electives. Keep each student’s core academic sequence intact. Where a district awards academic credit for early childhood coursework, confirm that the substitution still meets state university admission requirements:
- Missouri. The DESE graduation handbook names two local options: waive one academic unit after a three-unit program of study, or substitute an LEA-approved CTE course for one core unit. A waived or substituted core unit can leave a student short of a university’s required courses. Check the admission requirements of the universities your students apply to before you approve either option. (: DESE.)
- Michigan. No crosswalk of early childhood competencies to Michigan Merit Curriculum standards was found. Use the S4IS CTE Crosswalk prototype (Product A) as interim guidance for any integrated academic credit, and keep the courses Michigan public universities require for admission.
- Teacher preparation. Virginia’s credential list includes Praxis Core and ParaPro, which point students toward teacher preparation programs. Students headed there need the full college-preparatory sequence their target program requires.
The Curriculum toolkit covers credit decisions in more detail.
Launch steps
Work through these steps in order; several can run at the same time. The launch guide links all six toolkits.
| Step | What to do | Toolkit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Confirm regional demand | Check projected growth for child care workers and preschool teachers in your state, and talk with local centers, Head Start and district preschools about hiring. | Scheduling and student timing toolkit |
| 2. Call the licensing agency | Before planning a lab preschool or placements, ask how the agency treats a school-run preschool and a CTE student on site: staff, volunteer or student, and whether the student counts in ratio. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 3. Form the advisory committee | Include licensed center directors, Head Start, the district preschool, and a community college early childhood program. Ask which credentials and placement hours they value. | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 4. File CTE program approval | Use your state’s process and deadline. In Michigan and Hawaii, ask the state CTE office how to formalize an early childhood program so students qualify for the CDA before graduating. | Approvals and applications toolkit |
| 5. Plan the CDA sequence | Map 120 training hours across the 8 subject areas; schedule 480 experience hours in the chosen setting and age group within grades 10 to 12; have juniors or seniors apply while enrolled. Budget the $525 fee, or use TEACH Early Childhood Michigan or MU RISE in Missouri where they apply. In North Carolina, offer FE11 Honors for the NCECC; in Pennsylvania, build the 600-hour route. | Curriculum toolkit |
| 6. Hire the instructor | Confirm the license area with the state CTE office. In Pennsylvania, FCS 5600 or CTE Child Care Services 2216. | Staffing toolkit |
| 7. Set up the lab or placements | Licensed lab preschool, an exempt schedule confirmed in writing, or community placements under written agreements. | Facilities and equipment toolkit |
| 8. Clear students before the first day | Complete the background check each site requires before any student works with children, and the work permit or certificate where the state requires one (Michigan portal, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Hawaii). | Clinical and work-based learning partnerships toolkit |
| 9. Get credit agreements in writing | College articulation (FE11 and FE12 in North Carolina; SOAR in Pennsylvania) and local agreements elsewhere, before recruiting. | Curriculum toolkit |
Review status and sources
Last checked October 5, 2026. An independent check on October 5, 2026 tested 15 claims against official sources and corrected 3. These items are open for reviewers:
- CDA. Retake rules, the Birth to Five setting, and the current High School Handbook. Ask the Council for Professional Recognition (Partnerships@cdacouncil.org).
- Michigan. Whether an early childhood CIP is open for new programs, and the endorsement code for early childhood CTE teachers (MDE Office of CTE). Licensing of ISD and CTE lab preschools (MiLEAP Child Care Licensing Bureau). Whether placements under a school-employer agreement need a Youth Employment Permit Portal permit (LEO). TEACH Early Childhood Michigan terms.
- Virginia. Whether aides aged 16 and 17 count in ratio, and whether a lab preschool enrolling community children fits the school division exemption (VDOE child care licensing). The teacher endorsement for 8285 and 8286 (VDOE Office of CTE).
- North Carolina. Any time limit on the high school NCECC equivalency (DCDEE Workforce Education Unit, 919-814-6300). Grade, score and enrollment-window conditions for FE11 and FE12 articulation (NCCCS and NC DPI). Cluster, CIP and teacher license area (NC DPI CTE). Whether a CTE lab preschool needs a full license (DCDEE).
- Arizona. How ADHS screens staff under 18 in place of a fingerprint clearance card, and whether a student-aide in a placement counts as personnel (ADHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing). The teacher certificate area (ADE CTE).
- Pennsylvania. Whether a school district or CTC meets the 3270.31(c)(1) accreditation condition, and how OCDEL treats a CTC lab preschool (OCDEL Bureau of Certification). Statewide SOAR terms and the 2026-27 end-of-program assessment for 19.0708 (PDE Bureau of CTE).
- Missouri. CIP and courses in the Early Childhood Development program of study (DESE). Whether a high school or CTC lab preschool fits the school system or nursery school exemption (DESE Office of Childhood). The teacher certification area (DESE Educator Certification).
- Hawaii. Staff ages and aide ratio counting in the adopted HAR 17-892.2 (June 6, 2024), and how minors are fingerprinted (DHS Child Care Licensing). Whether Teaching As a Profession or Learning Support Professionals can carry CDA preparation, and whether early childhood falls within an HTSB CTE field (HIDOE CTE and HTSB).
- Articulation. Statewide early childhood agreements in Michigan, Virginia, Arizona, Missouri and Hawaii.
Sources
Jobs and pay
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state file), and Projections Central long-term projections, 2024 to 2034
Credentials
- CDA Council, Preschool pathway, CDA Council FAQs and CDA Council High School Pathways
- NCCTE credential database, North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and DCDEE, Early Childhood and Administration Credentials
- CTE Resource Center, ECES I and ECES II
- MiAEYC, CDA resources
- MU RISE, CDA Credential Prep Program
- ADE 2026-2027 Credentials List
- DESE New System IRC guidance
Working with minors
- 29 CFR 570.35 and WHD Fact Sheet 43
- LEO, New Youth Employment Permit Portal (October 1, 2026) and MCL 409.118
Licensing and background checks
- 45 CFR 98.43 (LII)
- MiLEAP 2025 Child Care Center Licensing Rule Set, MCL 722.111 and R 400.1901 to 400.1963
- Va. Code 22.1-289.030, Va. Code 22.1-289.035, 8VAC20-780-220 and 8VAC20-780-350
- G.S. 110-91, G.S. 110-90.2, 10A NCAC 09 .0703 (LII) and DCDEE Criminal Background Check basics
- A.R.S. 36-884, A.R.S. 36-883.02, R9-5-401 (LII), R9-5-404 (LII) and ADHS fingerprinting FAQ
- 55 Pa. Code 3270.3, 3270.31, 3270.36 and 3270.37 (LII), and DHS Keep Kids Safe employee FAQ (August 2024)
- RSMo 210.211, RSMo 210.201, 5 CSR 25-500.102 (LII) and DESE child care background check process
- HRS 346-152, Proposed HAR 17-892.2 (2021) and HAR 17-892.2 as adopted (June 6, 2024)
Instructors
- PDE CIP 19.0708 sheet, PDE Career and Technical Certification and CSPG 66 (December 2025)
- MDE Annual Career Authorization (MCL 380.1233b)
Program and credit
- MDE CTE Administrator Manual 2025-26 and Kent Career Tech Center, Teacher Academy
- ADE CTE, Early Childhood Education
- PDE 19.0708 approved programs (May 2025) and PDE 19.0708 task grid
- DESE Programs of Study
- HIDOE CTE Pathways and Program Standards
- NC High School to Community College Articulation Agreement (revised March 9, 2026)
- Penn Highlands Community College, transfer from career and technical centers
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