Best Online Associate Degrees in Early Childhood Education

Teachers are always needed, and many families have both parents working, creating a need for teachers and caregivers for children not yet in elementary school. If, as a student, you're looking to eventually advance into a higher childcare position like a daycare or preschool administrator or counselor, this is also a good place to start. Naturally, most career options that the degree is best suited for are related to teaching and childcare.

When considering this degree, students also may want to consider whether your personality and drive will work with the rigors of teaching with small children. For example, do you have the patience to decipher the babbling speech of a toddler? Can you quickly switch between teaching numbers and soothing a child throwing a tantrum?

A benefit of obtaining an associate is being able to be working in a teaching position faster than with a bachelor's degree, as an associate is often enough for most early childhood educator jobs. If you're looking to work with children, and want to start working as soon as possible or work while continuing on to your degree, an associate may be the best path to take. Many programs do allow for full-time or part-time study.

Application, Admissions, and Enrollment for Online Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Programs

Admissions requirements for online early childhood education associate degree programs are often not particularly strict, with many programs merely requiring decent fluency in English and a high school diploma or GED. However, some programs will require at least a 2.0 GPA level or higher. As the associate program will be online, many programs will also have certain technology and internet speed requirements in order for the program to run smoothly. Many programs will also accept transfer credits, especially for general education courses that are non-major specific, but if a student has previous credits they want to make sure transfer, it's important to check this before applying.

Students will want to have transcript copies and diploma copies ready to include with the application, as well as a payment method for any application fees. Online programs may have very different semesters and deadlines than traditional on-campus schools, so it's important to make note of these when researching colleges. For instance, some schools may have on-demand classes, and therefore do not have set admissions deadlines. Others may have deadlines that align with their on-campus version of the same program. Several online programs have shorter semesters than on-campus programs and so may have a three or four semester per year system, with separate application deadlines for each semester.

Many online associate programs for early childhood education are at your own pace and can be completed at whatever speed matches your learning needs. There's often no set schedule, and the time it takes for completion of a course depends on the speed at which coursework is submitted rather than the number of hours you spend in a classroom. However, this is not true for all programs, as some will require all work to be completed by the end of the program's semester. The courses will typically follow a semester style program with each term including 8-10 week courses, for a total of around 60-90 credit hours by the end of the program. Those hours may not include the time needed for the completion of state required credentials and certification.

Depending on the program, the tuition rate and cost of an online associate degree in early childhood education can vary quite a bit. When comparing the costs between programs, you'll want to be careful of the unit of comparison, as some schools might quote the average rate for a semester while others provide the cost per credit unit.

Cost per credit hour can range as much as about $70 per unit to almost $500 per unit. On top of tuition costs, there's also the cost for any student fees and technology fees. Students should also consider the cost of any technology or supplies you need to purchase in order to succeed in the online only course environment.

Most early childhood degree program should include some lessons on literacy, numeracy, emotional development, cognitive development, and motor skills. You'll also be learning teaching theories and how to develop lesson plans. Some degrees can help place you in or partner with schools where you can gain work experience while completing the program, but others may not offer this and may require you to obtain certification outside the program's assistance.

Besides general education requirements, typical courses and classes in early childhood education include variations of:

• Health, Safety, and Nutrition of Young Children
• Curriculum Planning
• Child Development
• Classroom Management
• Creative Play for Young Children
• Young Children with Special Needs

There are a few jobs in early childhood education that one can do with an associate degree. Most commonly you can become a preschool teacher, but you can also become a childcare worker or teacher's assistant. Being a teacher's assistant or childcare worker doesn't always require an associate degree, depending on the employer, but an associate would be helpful in earning a higher wage and progressing into a higher position. Typically, those earning this degree would be taking on entry-level positions and then working their way into tenure or to a higher position that may require a higher degree and experience.

Begin a Career as a Preschool Teacher

The typical entry-level education requirement for a preschool teacher is to have at least an associate degree, though some may require as much as a bachelor's degree. Sometimes more than the requirements of the school, your educational and experience requirements may be determined by the state or region you are working in and what regulations they have. For instance, your state of work may require you to have a teaching license and/or have credentials such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Something to keep in mind with this career is that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most states require preschool teachers to complete continuing education credits in order to keep their teaching license.

The BLS also states that as of 2020, the median pay for preschool teachers is $31,930 and with a projection of jobs continuing to grow, but only by 2%. Positions as a preschool teacher would be available in public and private schools or in childcare centers. Important qualities for preschool teachers include having the stamina and patience to keep up with small children, the creativity to be resourceful and engaging while providing an education, and the social skills to relate as well with both parents and children.

Begin a Career as a Teacher Assistant

A position of as a teacher's assistant doesn't always require a degree but will often require at least 2 years of college experience. A teaching assistant doesn't usually have to have a teaching license or credentials int he same way a preschool teacher does, but they may be required to be CPR certified and have first aid knowledge. The BLS states that as of 2020, the median pay for teacher assistants was $28,900 per year and is a position that is projected to grow a bit faster than preschool teacher jobs at a 4% rate.

Communication is essential in order to coordinate with the lead teacher and to develop relationships with the children, teacher, parents, and administration. As a teacher assistant, you would be expected to assist the lead teacher with the care of the children, with the preparation of lesson plans, and with the lessons themselves.

Accreditation for early childhood education programs is essential in order to be confident that what you're learning is meeting your state's teaching regulations and that you are earning the best education possible for having a positive impact on the lives of small children. Many colleges will be accredited as a college but have a separate accreditation for certain programs, including teaching and education programs.

Some external accreditation groups common among early childhood educations programs include: the Higher Learning Commission, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and (for online programs specifically) the Distance Education Accrediting Commission.

After completing an online early childhood education associate degree, there are several transfer options that would directly utilize what you've already learned. A bachelor's degree in early childhood education, for instance, would be the most direct path, and students could potentially already have covered several required courses for the degree when they earned their associate, especially if the bachelor's program is through the same school. Other programs that are closely linked to early childhood education that one could transfer to after obtaining the associate include: early childhood program administration, early childhood and family studies, and special education or early childhood special education. If transferring to a new online school or an on-campus school, it would be wise to check if any credits from the associate degree won't transfer, though typically most will.

There are many degrees and certifications within early childhood education besides an associate degree. Students can continue to earn degrees ranging up to a doctorate, or you can diversify your degree by adding a minor or another degree in special education to work with special needs children. There are also many certifications you can get in order to become a more desirable hire and to show your continued growth in the field. Higher degrees also open a wider variety of available jobs including more specialized or administrative roles.

Online Bachelor's Programs in Early Childhood Education

An associate can be a steppingstone to gaining work experience while earning a bachelor's in early childhood education or in early childhood administration. Earning an online bachelor will allow you to work as a preschool teacher or in another childcare or education position while earning your degree. The combination of the degree and work experience can make it easier to move up into a new career. One job available for those with a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education is as preschool or childcare center director, and per the BLS had a median pay of $49,160 per year.

Online Master's Programs in Early Childhood Education

Just as with an online bachelor's, an online master's allows you to work and earn your next degree at the same time. Continuing your degree in education is especially lucrative, as teachers earn more for having higher degrees of education, even if the job doesn't change. For instance, the BLS states that as of 2013 preschool and kindergarten teachers with a bachelor's degree had an annual salary of $30,000 whereas those with a master's degree had an annual salary of $43,000. Over time that will only have increased. Or, if interested in tackling a job with a greater degree of specialization, one might consider early childhood counseling, which requires a master's degree, though it may need to be a degree in counseling instead.

Online Doctoral Programs in Early Childhood Education

Just as with a master's degree, a doctoral degree in early childhood education would increase pay. It also opens the opportunity to act in a capacity to take higher level administration jobs or to work with the research and creation of educational theories. An online doctorate in early childhood education is best for those interested in sharing or making changes in educational theory, as it allows you to take positions to educate new teachers or research the best practices for early childhood education.

Online Certificate Programs in Early Childhood Education

There are many online certification programs in early childhood education including an early childhood education assistance certificate, early childhood education administration certificate, and leveled certification such as a certification III in early childhood education. For those already working and wanting to improve their skills as educators of young children, there's also the option for online graduate certification programs. Educators are often required to continue learning and to maintain their teaching credentials, so certificates can also help with maintaining the credits needed for the position.

The first step to financial aid for an online associate degree in early childhood education is to make sure to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and check for any available state-based aid for educators. Students will also want to check eligibility for any scholarships provided by the school you're applying to. Even if the school doesn't have a scholarship or tuition waiver specific to a degree in education, many will have financial aid related to academic excellence or need.

Students should also check with local non-profits and businesses to see if any offer scholarships for students pursuing a degree in education, as well as with professional teaching organizations. When searching for scholarships, don't limit the search to only early childhood education, as many education scholarships don't specify student age group of future educators and simply seek to support anyone looking to become a teacher.

For instance, one might be able to obtain federal grants, such as the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant for those who'd be willing to agree to serve in high-need, low-income areas. Or students can look for scholarships directed towards future educators like the $500 "Inspire Our Future" Scholarship provided through Teacher.org.