Definition: An Early Childhood Teacher is assigned responsibility for a single group of children and works under the supervision of a director, must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and must meet at least one of the qualifications listed here. Below, you will find a link to the Teacher Application Packet. It is not currently required, but does include a helpful chart for figuring out if you meet the requirements and can be printed out.
Colorado Shines Early Childhood Teacher Application Packet
Option 1 (A.1.h): A Preschool Early Childhood Teacher Certificate from Technical College of the Rockies plus 12 months of experience. This certificate requires 4 ECE classes - ECE 101, ECE 103, ECE 102 and ECE 220.
Option 2 (A.1.a): A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in one of the following areas: 1) Early childhood education; 2) Elementary education; 3) Special education; 4) Family and child development; or, 5) Child psychology.
Option 3 (A.1.b): A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an unrelated field, and two (2) additional three-semester hour early childhood education college courses with one course being either introduction to early childhood education (ECE 101) or guidance strategies (ECE 103).
Option 4 (A.1.c): Current early childhood professional Credential Level III Version 2.0 .
Option 5 (A.1.d): A 2-year college degree, sixty (60) semester hours, in Early Childhood Education from a regionally accredited college or university, with two (2) three-semester hour ECE courses, one of which must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education (ECE 101) or Guidance Strategies (ECE 103) and at least six (6) months (910 hours) of satisfactory experience.
Option 6 (A.1.e): Completion of twelve (12) semester hours (4 ECE three credit classes) from a regionally accredited college or university. One of the three (3) semester hour courses must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education (ECE 101) or Guidance Strategies (ECE 103), plus nine (9) months (1,395 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
Option 7 (A.1.f): Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
Option 8 (A.1.g): Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or other Department-approved credential.
Option 9 (A.1.h): Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes training and work experience with children in a child growth and development program plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
Approved trainings: 1) Montessori (MECR, MCI, AMI, AMS) 2) Technical College of the Rockies 3) Buell Early Childhood Leadership Institute, 4) Clayton Institute 5) UCD Stanley British Primary School.
Option 10 (A.1.i): Twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual, plus either: 1) A current Colorado Level I credential; or, 2) Two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with one course being either introduction to Early Childhood Education (ECE 101) or Guidance Strategies (ECE 103).
Experience Verification - Notes
Each letter must be on employer’s letterhead and include:
****All college course grades toward early childhood teacher qualifications must be “C” or better.****
Colorado Shines Early Childhood Teacher Application Packet
Option 1 (A.1.h): A Preschool Early Childhood Teacher Certificate from Technical College of the Rockies plus 12 months of experience. This certificate requires 4 ECE classes - ECE 101, ECE 103, ECE 102 and ECE 220.
Option 2 (A.1.a): A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in one of the following areas: 1) Early childhood education; 2) Elementary education; 3) Special education; 4) Family and child development; or, 5) Child psychology.
Option 3 (A.1.b): A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in an unrelated field, and two (2) additional three-semester hour early childhood education college courses with one course being either introduction to early childhood education (ECE 101) or guidance strategies (ECE 103).
Option 4 (A.1.c): Current early childhood professional Credential Level III Version 2.0 .
Option 5 (A.1.d): A 2-year college degree, sixty (60) semester hours, in Early Childhood Education from a regionally accredited college or university, with two (2) three-semester hour ECE courses, one of which must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education (ECE 101) or Guidance Strategies (ECE 103) and at least six (6) months (910 hours) of satisfactory experience.
Option 6 (A.1.e): Completion of twelve (12) semester hours (4 ECE three credit classes) from a regionally accredited college or university. One of the three (3) semester hour courses must be either Introduction to Early Childhood Education (ECE 101) or Guidance Strategies (ECE 103), plus nine (9) months (1,395 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
Option 7 (A.1.f): Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
Option 8 (A.1.g): Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or other Department-approved credential.
Option 9 (A.1.h): Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes training and work experience with children in a child growth and development program plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
Approved trainings: 1) Montessori (MECR, MCI, AMI, AMS) 2) Technical College of the Rockies 3) Buell Early Childhood Leadership Institute, 4) Clayton Institute 5) UCD Stanley British Primary School.
Option 10 (A.1.i): Twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual, plus either: 1) A current Colorado Level I credential; or, 2) Two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with one course being either introduction to Early Childhood Education (ECE 101) or Guidance Strategies (ECE 103).
Experience Verification - Notes
Each letter must be on employer’s letterhead and include:
- Ages of children worked with
- Total number of hours worked with each age group
- Only hours with children birth – 6 years old will be accepted
- Start date of employment
- Ending date of employment
- Position and/or duties related to the care of children birth – 6 years old
- Employer’s signature, name, title, and contact information
****All college course grades toward early childhood teacher qualifications must be “C” or better.****