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Early Childhood Education Certificate Online 

Pursue a Variety of Early Childhood Education Careers

Widen Your Expertise

Enter or Advance in the Field

Whether you’re new to the field or a current early childhood education employee, the non-licensure Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education helps you build skills that enhance a position as an assistant teacher, daycare employee, childcare professional, and more.

  • Build your resume with an impressive credential from our CAEP-accredited program.
  • Direct your career toward early childhood education with industry-leading knowledge.
  • Pursue CSP Global’s M.A. in Early Childhood Education online, if desired.*

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Explore Rewarding Early Childhood Education Careers

Childcare Director $46,822 average base salary1

Childcare / Daycare Worker $32,057 average base salary2

Daycare Teacher $32,041 average base salary3

Teaching Assistant $35,550 median annual wage4

Highlight New Skills in Your Early Childhood Education Career

Our Early Childhood Education Certificate online program gives you skills in professional decision-making, reflection, adaptation, and advocacy, along with leading communication strategies and best practices. You can add to your salary potential while experiencing a fulfilling career.

  • Skills in activities for children, childhood education, and curriculum planning are correlated to pay that is above average for childcare and daycare workers.2
  • Over 20% of childcare and daycare workers become daycare teachers.2
  • Daycare teachers with child advocacy skills can earn a 19% higher salary.3

Explore Careers in Early Childhood Education

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You’ll Learn

When you complete the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education online, you’ll be able to:

  • Exhibit strong communication (written, oral, and listening) and critical thinking skills.
  • Evaluate educational research for professional decision-making, leading to school improvement and better student learning.
  • Demonstrate awareness of professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities and rights of teachers, knowledge of school/program organizational structure, and the relationship with the social and philosophical foundations of education.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of critical issues, including current and future trends in early childhood education.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the teacher’s role in creating supportive family relationships.
  • Understand the place of authentic assessment and developmentally appropriate practices in decisions about curriculum and instruction.

Skills You’ll Gain

  • Anti-bias curriculum
  • Classroom practices and learning environments
  • Communication with parents and guardians
  • Early childhood curriculum and instruction
  • Early childhood program evaluation
  • Ethical decision making
  • Observation and assessment
  • Play-based applications
  • Reflective education practices
  • Whole language strategies

Support Beyond Your Graduation Date

In addition to the high-quality education you’ll receive at CSP Global, you’ll benefit from a wide range of support during your time as a student that will extend throughout your professional journey as an alumnus.

Job & Internship Board

Handshake is CSP Global’s job and internship board and it offers more than 20,000 opportunities to students and alumni. You’ll have an online login to easily stay on top of ways to enhance your career.

Job Fairs

More than 600 students and alumni attended various job fairs throughout the year. Get in front of top employers that are eager to connect with CSP Global’s current and former students.

Personalized Career Development

Need help with resumes and cover letters, networking, social media, and job searching? From mock interviews to 1:1 phone appointments with a career advisor, you’ll receive the expert assistance you need to achieve your goals.

Even More Forms of Support

The Office of Career Development staff is dedicated to supporting students and alumni on their path to find meaningful work. Including expert services from the office to partnerships with faculty and more, you’ll have several ways to get help and boost your career.

Sources and Disclaimer

  1. Payscale. “Director, Child Care Salary.” September 13, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Director%2C_Child_Care/Salary.
  2. Payscale. “Childcare / Daycare Worker Hourly Pay.” January 27, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Child_Care_%2F_Day_Care_Worker/Hourly_Rate.
  3. Payscale. “Daycare Teacher Hourly Pay.” January 18, 2025. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Daycare_Teacher/Hourly_Rate.
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Teacher Assistants.” U.S. Department of Labor. August 29, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/teacher-assistants.htm.

*Students may earn a certificate or a master’s degree, but not both.