How Fast Can I Become an Early Childhood Teacher?

Early childhood teachers help mold the minds of young children. These educators typically work with students in the preschool age to help build their cognitive and social development. Early childhood educators include:

• preschool teachers
• kindergarten and elementary school teachers
• daycare or childcare center workers and directors
• nannies
• school counselors

A person who wants to become an early childhood teacher might find a job with a high school diploma or associate degree. Some roles require a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and may also accept a bachelor's in education.

If you enroll in an accelerated bachelor's degree program and take advantage of transfer and CLEP credits, you could start working as an early childhood teacher in less than two years. Below, we'll look at accelerated early childhood teacher degree programs and tips for quickly entering the field.

Tips for Quickly Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher

It's important to determine how long it takes to get an early childhood teaching degree before enrolling in a program. This way, you can ensure you graduate in a timeframe that helps you quickly begin your early childhood teacher career. Learning about transfer credits, CLEP exams, certifications, and licensure can also speed up the process.

1. Find an Online Accelerated Degree Program

An accelerated degree program can help you complete your early childhood teaching studies in fewer years than a traditional program. Here are some accelerated early childhood education degrees to consider.

University of North Dakota � Accelerated Online BS in Early Childhood Education

The University of North Dakota offers a BS in early childhood education with a special education minor combined with a Master of Science (MS) in early childhood education.

The university also offers a combined BSEd in early childhood education with a special education minor and a Master of Education (MEd) in special education with a specialization in early childhood special education. Both bachelor's+master's degree programs are available online and accelerated enabling students to earn two degrees in five years.

Mid America Nazarene University � Accelerated Online BS in Elementary Education

Mid America Nazarene University offers the BS in elementary education unified program, an accelerated degree for students to earn a degree or licensure endorsement in elementary education and special education.

The program prepares students to teach in an elementary or special education classroom for kindergarteners to 6th graders. Students can complete the program in as few as 21 months.

Rasmussen University � Online Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education

Rasmussen University's bachelor's degree in early childhood education is an accelerated online non-licensure program students can complete in as few as 18 months. This degree teaches leadership and administration skills to professionals interested in advancing their careers in childcare centers or becoming program directors.

Coursework explores child development, digital fluency, anti-bias practices, and more.

2. Utilize Transfer Credits

Transfer credits are great for accelerating your early childhood teaching career. If you attended a college or university and earned credits, you could transfer them to your early childhood teacher program. This prevents you from retaking courses and helps you graduate with your degree sooner.

3. Test Out of Courses With CLEP Exams

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) helps students earn credits through exams testing their knowledge of various introductory-level college topics. Each exam provides three or more credits for students to use at one of 2,900 U.S. colleges and universities. Exam topics include English literature, calculus, chemistry, information systems, and American government.

4. Get Online Early Childhood Certifications

Early childhood certifications can strengthen your qualifications for education teacher jobs. Here are some great teacher certifications to consider.

Coursera's Intro to Early Childhood Certificate

Coursera offers the Intro to Early Childhood course, which provides professional development for individuals who want to operate family daycare centers. Students learn about the importance of play and developmentally appropriate practice.

Family engagement, inclusion, and diversity are also covered. Individuals who complete this program receive a shareable career certificate. The course is free to try for seven days and costs $39 per month after the trial ends.

Udemy's Educational Psychology & Special Education Certificate

The Educational Psychology & Special Education course discusses the importance of understanding and teaching exceptional children. Students learn about educational psychology principles and how to pinpoint differences regarding intelligence, creativity, and learning styles. The course is typically priced at $89.99. Individuals who finish will receive a certificate of completion.

HarvardX's Early Childhood Development Certificate

HarvardX's Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies for Implementation course through edX discusses early child development interventions, reasons some programs succeed and others fail globally, and how educators can improve their programs.

Students who pass the course with a 60% or higher can receive a verified certificate. To take this course, students must register for an edX account.

5. Obtain State Teaching Licensure

You might be required to secure licensure depending on the area of early childhood education you pursue. For example, some states require preschool teachers to earn the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Childcare workers might also need a CDA credential; however, requirements vary by state. Kindergarten and elementary school teachers who plan to teach in public schools must earn a bachelor's degree, complete a student teaching program, and pass a teaching certification exam.

6. Network With Teaching Professionals

Connecting with teaching professionals is a great way to expedite an early childhood teacher career. Teachers can guide you to great degree programs, certification options, and professional development courses.

They can also offer tips for creating quality lesson plans and engaging students in the classroom. You can find networking opportunities at teacher conferences, professional online forums, and social media sites like Linkedin.

7. Seek Internship Opportunities

Teaching internships help students bring the lessons learned in the classroom to life. If you intern in classrooms, you can watch how teachers engage their students, manage classroom behavior, and deliver materials in real-time. You might also have opportunities to interact with students and build skills you can use to teach your classes.

FAQs About Quickly Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher

The job outlook for the early childhood teacher career path is promising. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), preschool teachers expect more than 61,000 openings annually from 2022 to 2032. About 162,500 annual openings are projected for childcare workers over the same period. Want to learn more about quickly becoming an early childhood teacher? Explore these FAQs below.

Is It Hard To Be an Early Childhood Educator?

Working as an early childhood educator can bring rewards and challenges. While you can help young students develop important skills, you might struggle with behavioral issues and other classroom challenges. Long days with active children can also be very tiring.

Depending on your school, you might receive a two-month break during the summer. Or, you could work in childcare settings that are open year-round.

How Long Does It Take To Become an Early Childhood Teacher?

The time needed to become an early childhood teacher depends on your role. Childcare workers can sometimes secure jobs with a high school diploma while other teacher jobs might require an associate or bachelor's degree. This means you might be able to become a teacher immediately � or you could wait a couple of years to complete an accelerated degree program and secure a higher-paying role.

What Skills Are Necessary for Early Childhood Teachers?

Creativity in lesson planning, patience to respond calmly to small children, and physical stamina for active youngsters are just a few skills early childhood teachers need. Educators should also communicate clearly with parents and students and have the interpersonal skills to understand students' emotional needs.