Early Childhood Education

EFSC is approved by the Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF) to offer training courses for the Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC / Staff Credential) and the Director Credential. The FCCPC Staff Credential (formerly known as the CDA) training courses are the same four courses that are required for the Infant & Toddler College Credit Certificate (EEC 1942, EEC 1200, EEC 2710 and EEC 2251). These courses are only offered on-campus (face-to-face) and are not offered online.
For a person who does not have an AA, AS or BS/BA degree all four courses are required.

For a person who has an AA, AS or BS/BA degree check with DCF to determine the number of courses required for the FCCPC Staff Credential. In some cases it may only be two courses and it may be any courses with the EEC prefix (including online courses).  

Go to EFSC's Course Schedule to find out when courses are offered.

Students enrolled in EEC 1200, EEC 2710 and EEC 2251 must plan to spend at least 20 hours per course doing structured, planned activities with young children in addition to the scheduled course time. EEC 1942 requires approximately 40 hours per semester in addition to the scheduled course time. This may occur as a volunteer in a licensed center or as an employee of a center.

Helpful Forms:
Early Childhood Education students who are preparing for the FCCPC should view the FCCPC Requirements and Portfolio Checklist.  Requirements and documents for the credential are listed.
View the Tracking Sheet for the 480 Hours.
View the Tracking Sheet for the 80 Hours.
EFSC Early Childhood Education faculty will be able to assist enrolled students with these forms.

Background Security Screening is a DCF requirement for working and obtaining licensure in the career field. If you are interested in working in early childhood education you should view the background screening requirements. This is to include misdemeanor or felony charges or convictions.

EEC 1523 Overview of Child Care Center Management is approved as the training course for the Director Credential. This course is also part of the Child Care Center Management College Credit Certificate.

The Director's Renewal course is available at EFSC. An approved Renewal course is any 3 credit hour course with course code of EEC or EEX 2010 Introduction to Special Education. Students should not repeat a course for purposes of satisfying credential or renewal requirements. Visit the Florida Department of Children and Families web page to read the most current DCF requirements.

The "40 Hour Training" course is available online through the Department of Children & Families. The "40 Hour Training" is the entry level credential that is required by most licensed centers. EFSC does NOT provide this training as it is not a college level course.

Which degrees and certificates have the training for the FCCPC? The A.S. degree in Early Childhood, the Child Development and Early Intervention College Credit Certificate and the Infant and Toddler Specialization Certificate.

NO PLACEMENT TEST IS REQUIRED for students who are seeking a College Credit Certificate.

All courses in a certificate program apply to the A.S. degree.  Students may start with a certificate program and build these toward completion of the A.S. degree.

Students may start as non-degree seeking for purposes of professional development.

Course number equivalencies for Early Childhood Education courses from previous EFSC catalogs are as follows:
EEC 1001 is now EEC 1942
CHD 1200 is now EEC 2251
CHD 1800 is now EEC 1523
CHD 1220 is now EEC 1701
CHD 2336 is now EEC 2226

Which degrees and certificates qualify for Financial Aid? The A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and the Child Development & Early Intervention Certificate qualify for Financial Aid.

T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship information is found at www.teach-fl.org. Read how you may be eligible to receive scholarship funds for Early Childhood Education courses as well as the AS degree or Bachelor's degree! The TEACH Scholarship does not require a student to complete a Financial Aid application. This scholarship is independent of EFSC's Financial Aid process.

Find out how your experience or FCCPC, ECPC or National CDA credentials may make you eligible to receive college credit in EFSC's Early Childhood Education courses. Save time and money! Visit the Assessment of Prior Learning webpage.

EFSC Early Childhood A.S. current college catalog Requirements 

The A.S. degree includes the four training courses for the Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC), the one course for the Director's Credential and the one course for the Director's Renewal. The A.S. degree and the Child Development/Early Intervention college credit certificate are eligible for financial aid.

View a Transfer Plan for the A.S. degree to transfer to the Early Childhood Education B.S. at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Be sure to discuss this option with an advisor or the program manager as transfer requirements are subject to change. 

Course number equivalencies for Early Childhood Education courses from previous EFSC catalogs are as follows:
EEC 1001 is now EEC 1942
CHD 1200 is now EEC 2551
CHD 1800 is now EEC 1523
CHD 1220 is now EEC 1701
CHD 2336 is now EEC 2226

Students who have completed Early Childhood Education courses at EFSC should check with the program manager or advising to determine if their prior course work is applicable. The degree audit through myGPS should also identify equivalent courses.

Archived College Catalogs

EFSC current college catalog requirements

All 12 of the major courses in the A.S. degree for Early Childhood Education are needed for the Early Childhood Development CCC. This certificate is a total of 36 college credit hours.

Students are encouraged to begin with this certificate.

• It is Financial Aid eligible.
• All required training courses for the Florida Child Care Professional Credential, the Director's Credential and Director's Renewal are included in this certificate.
• No placement testing is required.
• All courses in this certificate will be applied to the A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Students enrolled in EEC 1200, EEC 2710 and EEC 2251 must plan to spend at least 20 hours per course doing structured, planned activities with young children in addition to the scheduled course time. EEC 1942 requires approximately 40 hours per semester in addition to the scheduled course time.

Course number equivalencies for Early Childhood Education courses from previous EFSC catalogs are as follows:
EEC 1001 is now EEC 1942
CHD 1200 is now EEC 2551
CHD 1800 is now EEC 1523
CHD 1220 is now EEC 1701
CHD 2336 is now EEC 2226

EFSC current college catalog requirements

• The Director's Credential course, EEC 1523 Overview of Child Care Center Management is part of this certificate.
• No placement testing is required.
• All courses in this certificate will be applied to the A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Students enrolled in EEC 1200, EEC 2710 and EEC 2251 must plan to spend at least 20 hours per course doing structured, planned activities with young children in addition to the scheduled course time. EEC 1942 requires approximately 40 hours per semester in addition to the scheduled course time.

View the A.S. Degree requirements to see how this certificate is part of the greater A.S. Degree.

EFSC is approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families to offer training courses. Training includes the Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC / Staff Credential) the Director Credential and the Director's Renewal.

In addition to the information below, read more about FCCPC training requirements and find additional FCCPC-related resources in the "Did You Know" section of this accordion.

Students may enroll as non-degree seeking for purposes of professional development. Courses can apply toward a degree or certificate if a student decides to also pursue the A.S. degree or one or more college credit certificates.

The FCCPC training courses are the same four courses that are required for the Infant & Toddler College Credit Certificate. The course that is approved for the Director Credential is EEC 1523 Overview of Child Care Center Management (formerly CHD 1800 Foundations of Child Care Administration). This course is also part of the Child Care Center Management College Credit Certificate.

The Director's Renewal course is available at EFSC. An approved renewal course is any 3 credit hour course with  a course code of EEC or EEX 2010.

Students should not repeat courses for purposes of satisfying credential or renewal requirements.

Visit the Florida Department of Children and Families website to read the most current DCF Requirements.

EFSC current catalog requirements for this certificate

• This certificate has all four required training courses for the Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC / Staff Credential).
• No placement testing is required.
• All courses in this certificate will be applied to the A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Students enrolled in EEC 1200, EEC 2710 and EEC 2251 must plan to spend at least 20 hours per course doing structured, planned activities with young children in addition to the scheduled course time. EEC 1942 requires approximately 40 hours per semester in addition to the scheduled course time.

View the A.S. Degree requirements to see how this certificate is part of the greater A.S. Degree.

EFSC current catalog requirements for this certificate.

• This certificate has three of the four courses required for the Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) and has a course applicable to the Director's Renewal certificate.
• No placement testing is required.
• All courses in this certificate will be applied to the A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Students enrolled in EEC 1200, EEC 2710 and EEC 2251 must plan to spend at least 20 hours per course doing structured, planned activities with young children in addition to the scheduled course time. EEC 1942 requires approximately 40 hours per semester in addition to the scheduled course time.

View the A.S. Degree requirements to see how this certificate is part of the greater A.S. Degree.

The A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education can transfer to the Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education (pre-K to 3^rd grade teacher certification) at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). This is an online program for bachelor's level courses with the final student teaching course to be done at an approved elementary or preschool.

FSCJ acceptance requirements:
1) A.S. Early Childhood completed with 2.5 GPA or better
2) Pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination – General Knowledge Test (all four sections)
3) Pass EDF 1005 with “C” or better
4) Apply to FSCJ (general application) and to the Education B.S. program

A.A. students may also transition to the FSCJ Early Childhood Education B.S. if they pass the following with “C” or better:
EEC 1701, EEC 1200, EEC 1601, EEC 2217, EEX 2010, EEC 1942, EEC 2223, EEC 2710

Learn more about A.S. to Bachelor's Pathways