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This certificate meets the requirements for teaching in a publicly funded early care and education program. It requires an additional 6 units of specialized study beyond the teacher level certificate, allowing the student to select a particular focus of study (i.e., infant/toddler; culture and diversity; health and nutrition; children’s literature; and art or music for young children). Applicants must verify required experience teaching children and supervising staff to be recommended to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for issuance of the Master Teacher Child Development Permit.
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) – Master Teacher Certificate prepares individuals for advanced teaching and leadership roles in early learning environments. This certificate, combined with the required work experience, fulfills the California Child Development Permit requirements for the Master Teacher Permit, qualifying graduates for expanded career opportunities in the field of early childhood education.
Students interested in gaining work experience as a lead preschool teacher and considering further education at a California State University (CSU) for a teaching credential can apply these ECE units toward the PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Teaching Credential. This credential is designed for individuals seeking to teach in preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, and early elementary grades (1st–3rd grade) in public or private elementary schools.
Additionally, students enrolled in ECE 320 (Curriculum and Interactions in Early Childhood Education) and ECE 321 (Advanced Practicum in Early Childhood Education) can earn up to 200 field experience hours, which can be applied toward the 600 total field experience hours required for the preschool portion of the PK-3 ECE Specialist Credentialing program.
This certificate provides a strong foundation for leadership in early childhood education while also offering a pathway to further academic and professional advancement in teaching young children.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates of this certificate program can pursue roles such as:
Master Teacher – Lead a classroom, develop curriculum, and mentor assistant teachers and student interns.
Preschool Lead Teacher – Guide curriculum planning and instruction in preschool programs.
Infant/Toddler Specialist – Provide specialized care and education for infants and toddlers.
Head Start or Early Head Start Teacher – Teach in federally funded programs supporting children from diverse backgrounds.
Mentor Teacher – Support and train new educators in early childhood settings.
Early Childhood Curriculum Specialist – Design and implement specialized learning programs.
73,380
15% growth
$58,750/yr
Please meet with a counselor for specific transfer course evaluation or transferring to a specific 4-year institution.
Non-specified GE courses identified by CRC Area, CSU Area or IGETC Area without pre- or co-requisite can be taken at any semester.
The CRC Honors Program is designed specifically for academically accomplished students and for students with the potential for high achievement. Students who complete 15 units or more in honors-designated courses will earn special recognition as an Honors Scholar, a distinction that may entitle the student to guaranteed transfer and scholarship opportunities at select transfer colleges and universities.
To be eligible for the Child Development Permit (Master Teacher Level) through California Commission on Teacher Credentialing students must complete, "sixteen diversified semester units in general education (i.e., at least one course in each of the following areas: Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Social Sciences, Math and/or Science, and English/Language Arts)."[5 CCR § 80113, 5 CA ADC § 80113] General education units must be transferable.
Students will select a Master Teacher "Specialization" consisting of six (6) units of focused content (see below). Contact ECE Instructional Faculty for information on experience and supervised experience requirements all Child Development Permits.
Please note that ECE 320 and ECE 321 has a 102-108 supervised field experience lab requirement per course. These are approved program/curriculum courses required by the California Code of Regulations Title 22 and Title 5. Under the supervision of a qualified Mentor Teacher, students will complete 3.5 in-person scheduled lab hours twice a week at the CRC Child Development Center or an instructor-approved early learning and care setting. Up to 50 days of experience can be applied to California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Child Development Permits for students completing ECE 320 & 321. Up to 100 hours of supervised clinical practice equivalency (in-person lab hours) may be applied to a PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential Program (CCTC). The college requires all lab students to complete a lab waiver within the learning management system. Students must show current proof of tuberculosis clearance, pertussis immunization, and measles immunization. Additionally, students enrolled in the fall semester must be immunized against influenza, or submit an influenza waiver.
This program map represents one possible pathway to complete the program. Please see a counselor to create an education plan customized to meet your needs. This map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.
The Zero Textbook Costs designation and logo are added to any course that provides free access to all required instructional materials. These are typically shared with students through Canvas. Courses that are designated as ZTC may still require students to purchase supplemental materials such as lab coats, a calculator, art supplies, etc. See full definitions and searching tips on the Zero Textbook Costs page of the college website.
Catalog Year: 2025-2026
Published May 17, 2025