The Advanced Early Educator Pathway certificate prepares students to enter the field of Early Care and Education and serves as an intermediate step toward the Associate in Applied Science degree. The 31-34 credit-hour certificate builds upon the 18 credit-hour certificate and satisfies Level 3 requirements in the Alabama Pathways Professional Development Lattice. Completion of the certificate also meets the Alabama First Class Pre-K lead teacher qualifications for individuals who already hold bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education or Special Education.
Admission is conditional and depends on the student's ability to perform the essential functions identified for this program. Reasonable accommodations are considered.
Note: Wallace Community College has articulation agreements with Troy University's College of Education, The University of Alabama’s College of Human Environmental Sciences and Athens State University’s College of Education. Through these agreements, Wallace Community College Child Development graduates may maximize transfer of course credits and complete most of their four-year degree requirements through distance education opportunities.
Area I: Written Composition
Area II: Humanities and Fine Arts
Area III: Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Area V: Career and Technical Courses
Child Development Field Experience Requirements
As a Child Development student, you will be expected to complete field experience observation and participation in childcare programs throughout your CHD courses. According to the Child Care Licensing and Performance Standards for Day Care and Nighttime Centers Regulations and Procedures from the Alabama Department of
Human Resources, staff including substitutes and volunteers must meet the following minimum qualifications for records (page 42-43).
Required records include:
- DHR staff application (DH-CDC-1947)
- Three references (DHR-CDC-1948)
- Request for Clearance of State Central Registry on Child Abuse/Neglect (DHR-DFC-1598)
- Criminal History Background Check including Alabama Bureau of Investigations Fingerprint Clearance (Code of Alabama 1975, Title 38, Chapter 13, effective November 1, 2000)
- Medical examination including TB Test (DHR-CDC-737)
- CPR certification (Students can take the course through the College by registering for EMS 100 concurrently with the initial registration in Child Development (CHD) courses.)
Students cannot begin field experience observation and participation in childcare programs until CHD instructor has verified records. Students will keep records in their Student Learning Opportunities (SLO) Portfolio and make available to CHD instructors each semester.