Teacher with StudentThe 13-credit Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood is for students with prior certification only. It leads to a 2nd Initial Certification in Early Childhood Education, preparing students to teach in pre-school, kindergarten, and primary classrooms through grade 2. Students without prior certification who are interested in early childhood education are advised to enroll in the M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education or the M.S.Ed. in Childhood/Early Childhood Education.

Education is an ever-growing field. As the population continues to grow, so will the need for quality teachers to work in schools that provide Early Childhood Education to our children. Learning the theory in classrooms and being involved in the practice of teaching through fieldwork and student teaching is the beginning of the journey — the end of the journey is you working in a day care center or an elementary school. The New York City Department of Education is the primary employer of teachers and there are high need areas such as: Early Childhood, Special Education and English as a Second Language. In addition, teachers are also employed in a range of educational settings, including pre-schools, private, independent and charter schools, private tutorial companies and after-school and literacy programs. Educators are also sought at non-profit organizations with a community service and/or educational focus, including those that are internationally-based. Having a degree in education opens up other career options including: positions in educational media, such as in publishing and television development, curriculum development, market research, and human resources, notably the training function.