EIU Child Care Resource and Referral

Obtaining Credentials & Degrees in ECE

Ways the Higher Education & Workforce Development Navigator can help:

Gateways Registry Navigation:

• Accessing Professional Development Records
• Application support
• Updating credentials & work experience
• Adding self-reported trainings
• Downloading reports (ECACE, etc)

Credential Support:

• Child Development Associate (CDA)
  
• Certified Childcare Professional (CCP)
• Help accessing trainings
• Support & technical assistance with the process, portfolio, and exam
• Approved Field Counselor for the observation
• Access to Individual Professional Development Funds (IPDF)

Chart comparison of Credentials for Teacher Qualification

Access funding & financial aid opportunities:

• Child Development Associate (CDA)
• Great START wage supplement program
• Gateways Scholarship
• Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equality (ECACE) scholarship
• Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Other scholarship opportunities
• Individual Professional Development Funds (IPDF)

Continuing Education:

• Connect staff to Gateways Professional Development Advisors
• Help reviewing transcripts and locating courses for licensing to be teacher or director qualified.
• Guiding staff to local higher education early childhood programs

Lake Land College

AAS.ECE Early Childhood Care and Education

AA.ECHED Early Childhood Education (transfer program)

Eastern Illinois University

B.S. Ed in Early Childhood Education

B.S. in Human Services-Early Childhood Administration Online Pathway

Early Childhood Program Administration Minor

B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies

Contact Melissa Coleman, the Navigator who can help the professional reach their goals of credentials and degrees in the Early Childhood field!