EEC is About You

Early Educator Certification provides…

• You with a certificate to demonstrate your certification level.
• You with an EEC card to access discounts on goods and services for certified Early Educators.
• Our field with professional recognition like other professions.
• Employers with point of hire documentation, reducing their costs and increasing the time they can spend operating their business and working with families, teachers and children.
• Families with a tool to tell them about the education of who is working with their child.
• Programs with a marketing strategy for for advertising that their program is staffed with with certified teachers.

May I apply even if a law doesn’t require me to? Will I still get access to discounts?

Yes, EEC is about YOU as a professional and is available to ALL members of our field.

EEC is a professional certification for individuals and provides access to discounts on purchases.

EEC is available to all those  in the field, regardless of where you work, what your title is or where you live.

Child care regulations or laws apply to Early Educators who work  in regulated child care programs. These regulations are the minimum standards a facility and the individuals working in that facility are required to meet by law.

How do I apply?

The simple, fee-based EEC Application process includes the submission of an application and official transcripts. EEC does not require a test or specific college course.

Step 1: Choose which scale you want to be certified (or apply for both)

Step 2: Order your official transcripts or tell us where you graduated from high school if you currently have not earned any college course credits.

Step 3: Complete the application. Doublecheck your email address as this is where you will receive application information and updates.

Step 4: Attach the $50 fee to your application and send to the Institute.

Step 5: Watch for an email with your EEC number so you can begin using EEC Rewards.

Education earned is the basis for EEC. To be counted for EEC, coursework must have been taken at a regionally accredited college or university. All public community colleges and universities in North Carolina are regionally accredited. For a list of regionally accredited college and university programs go to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

How do I renew my certification?

• Renewal is required every three to five years, based on an individual’s education, is required.
• Continuing education is required to both continue employment in a regulated child care program and to remain certified.
• Continuing education must be earned in the form of college credits or CEUs offered by an approved body to meet EEC renewal requirements.
• Scholarships are available to support EEC renewal via college courses.

Be Part of a Certified Profession – Apply Today!

Total Certified By County

Early Educator Certification Forms

*Certification levels may be provided to the Division of Child Development with your permission for facility licensure purposes.

EEC Scales

• Early Care and Education Professional Certification Scale (Spanish)
• School Age Professional Certification Scale (Spanish)

Application & Forms

• EEC Application
• EEC Request Form
• EEC Update Form
• EEC Internet Transcript Permission Form- The EEC Internet Permission Form (IPF) allows EEC staff to download your transcript using your login from a college or university website, if available. The IPF does not give us permission to request an official transcript from your college or university for you. Download the form and complete it with your login information and attach it to your EEC application.

EEC Renewal

• EEC renewal requirements overview – brochure
• EEC renewal requirements

EEC Renewal Scholarship

• Early Educator Certification Renewal (T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood)
• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood EEC Renewal Scholarship flyer

Why are 5 hour CEUs required per topic?

CEUs of 5 hours or more with content approved by an EEC recognized body may be used to meet EEC renewal requirements. CEUs are used by many professions as a source of ongoing training. Public school teachers who have a bachelor’s degree may take 1 hour CEU sessions that build up on their 4-year college education. The vast majoirty of the child care field does not yet hold a college degree, requiring that more in-depth training be provided.

School Age Professionals

Research indicates that the school age workforce is largely has an exceptionally high turnover rate – with 75% -100% of the workforce annually leaving a program. To address these realities and support this segment of our field in being part of a certified profession, the Institute has modified EEC renewal requirements.Those certified on the School Age Professional Scale must complete two semester hours or three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or a combination of the two within their certification validity period.

Questions

For more information about EEC contact staff at info@ncicdp.org or call 919-942-7442.