Pathway lookup
Early Childhood Education in North Carolina
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
North Carolina students can earn the state Early Childhood Credential through FE11 Honors and college credit for FE11 and FE12; staff under 18 need a credentialed supervisor 21 or older.
State program: EACH pathway, Human Services cluster: FE11, FE12 (CIP 19.0709 per inventory: Confirm with the agency)
What a high school can deliver
The NC Early Childhood Credential through FE11 Honors with an A or B and performance proficiency, plus community college credit.
Credentials students can earn
NC Early Childhood Credential via FE11 Honors (no cost, lifetime; time limit: Confirm with the agency); First Aid, CPR and AED
Age and hour requirements
Staff counted in ratio 16+; under 18 directly supervised by a credentialed person 21+ (G.S. 110-91(8)); no one under 18 in charge of a group (10A NCAC 09 .0703).
Other agencies involved
NCDHHS DCDEE: child care licensing, staff qualifications and background checks; whether a CTE lab preschool needs a full license: Confirm with the agency.
Who can teach it
Family and Consumer Sciences license per the state inventory ().
Child labor rules for work placements
Youth employment certificate for all employment under 18. County, state and FBI fingerprint checks before employment and every 5 years for child care workers of any age (G.S. 110-90.2).
College credit after high school
HS-to-CC Articulation Agreement (May 16, 2025; rev. Mar 9, 2026): FE11 to EDU-119, FE12 to EDU-151 (conditions: Confirm with the agency); CCP dual enrollment.
Where to go next
- The full Early Childhood Education guide, showing North Carolina
- The North Carolina state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Early Childhood Education in other states
Other pathways in North Carolina
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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