Step 2: Washington State ECE Stackable Certificate (Initial certificate plus the following requirements)
This certificate builds on the Initial Certificate (for a total of 37 credits). At this point, professionals can choose one of five specializations: ECE general, infant-toddler care, school-age care, family child care, and ECE administration. For each specialization, students must take a 5-credit Child Development course, plus a course aligned with the specific specialization.
Employability Requirements: To become a licensed child care provider in Washington, you must participate in a Department of Early Learning (DEL) licensing orientation and apply for and receive licensure. State law requires DEL to run background checks on anyone who is authorized to care for or has unsupervised access to children in licensed child care facilities.
Prerequisite(s): ECED& 100: Child Care Basics (STARS) or equivalent. Proficiency in reading, writing, and understanding the English language is required. Students are required to take the Accuplacer assessment or equivalent before entry into the program. Students must have a minimum Accuplacer reading/writing combined score of 245 or equivalent, or they must successfully complete ENG 091.
Note: All courses must be completed with a minimum of a “C” grade to graduate.
| Course Number | Class Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECED& 105 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| ECED& 107 | Health, Nutrition and Safety | 5 |
| ECED& 120 | Practicum: Nurturing Relationships | 2 |
| EDUC& 115 | Child Development | 5 |
| ECE Specialization Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Credits | 20 |
Explore the foundations of early childhood education. Examine theories defining the field, issues and trends, best practices and program models. Observe children, professionals and programs in action.
Develop knowledge and skills to ensure good health, nutrition and safety of children in group care and education programs. Recognize the signs of abuse and neglect, responsibilities for mandated reporting, and available community resources.
Students will apply theories of best practice in an early learning setting. Focus will be on developing supportive relationships while keeping children healthy and safe.
Build a functional understanding of the foundation of child development, from prenatal to early adolescence. Observe and document physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of children, reflective of cross-cultural and global perspectives.
| ECED& 132 | Infants & Toddlers — Nurturing Care | 3 |
| ECED& 139 | Administration of Early Learning Programs | 3 |
| EDUC& 130 | Guiding Behavior | 3 |
| EDUC& 134 | Family Child Care Management | 3 |
| EDUC& 136 | School Age Care Management | 3 |