Program Details
Certificate in Early Childhood Development
CertificateBrightpoint Community College
This one-year program prepares students for jobs working with young children (birth to age eight) in preschools, elementary schools, child-care centers, and before- and after-school programs. Jobs include director, assistant director, lead teacher, and assistant teacher.
Outcomes
By the completion of this program, students will be expected to demonstrate an introductory level of competency in the following skills:
- Apply developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children.
- Use systematic observation and documentation to assess the development of all children.
- Implement a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools appropriate for individual children.
- Design, implement, and evaluate developmentally appropriate and meaningful curriculum for each child.
Program Overview & Guidance

Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
---|---|
Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
Program Requirement Notes | Program Requirement Notes BCC allows open admission for this program. More information on how to get started at BCC can be found at: https://www.brightpoint.edu/admissions/get-started/. BCC allows open admission for this program. More information on how to get started at BCC can be found at: https://www.brightpoint.edu/admissions/get-started/. This program includes a practicum class that requires students to observe young children and participate in an approved early childhood setting for 40 hours throughout the semester. Prior to starting this practicum clas, students need to complete a TB screening, a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. Students are expected to cover all costs for these procedures.This program is offered at the Chester Campus. |
Considerations When Selecting Courses |
|
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
Doing More With Your Degree | |
Program Successes & Highlights |
Program Credit Requirements

The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
---|---|
Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
Credit for Prior Learning | Brightpoint accepts multiple forms of credit for prior learning, including scores on standardized tests such as AP/IB/CLEP/DANTES as well as courses and training completed in the military, criminal justice academies, technology certification programs, and health services certification programs. See https://www.brightpoint.edu/paying-for-brightpoint/pay-tuition/military-veterans-educational-benefits/credit-for-prior-experience/ |
Did You Know That... |
|
College Level Information

College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
---|---|
Is This College Right For Me? | At Brightpoint, our vision is "A success story for every student." With our small classes, our large number of courses and in-demand programs (including many online!), partnerships with area employers, and our award-winning faculty, Brightpoint Community College can help you begin your journey to a Bachelor's degree, a job, or both! |
Transfer Student Catalog Year | A student's catalog year determined by their first semester of attendance. |
First Year Student Catalog Year | A student's catalog year determined by their first semester of attendance. |
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Not required. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Ridge Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
Central Virginia Community College | AAS in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Danville Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Eastern Shore Community College | Early Childhood Education, AAS | Associate | Associate in Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Germanna Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Develop | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
Northern Virginia Community College | Early Childhood Development, A.A.S. | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Paul D. Camp Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online |
Southwest Virginia Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Develop | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
Virginia Peninsula Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Development | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies

O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
---|---|---|---|
39-9011.00 | Childcare Workers | Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play. | Personal Care and Service Occupations |
39-9011.01 | Nannies | Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation. | Personal Care and Service Occupations |
Cost To Complete
