Is a Certificate in Early Childhood Education Really Worth Doing?

You may need to ask the administration of the district that you are seeking employment from. My assistant only has a GED and then had to take the Para-Pro test.

It depends on what you want to do. If you just want to be an aid then it isn't really necessary. However if you would ever want to move up to a better position then it is a good idea. Since you said that you think the certificate could be the key to your future I would guess that you don't really see yoursef being an aid long term. If you would want to teach then you would want to get a bachelors in early childhood because you can teach up to third grade. Personally I currently have an associates in early childhood and I am going to go back and get my bachelors so that when my daughter starts school I can teach and have the same schedule as her. Hope this helps.

Well, I have worked in a public school setting for 9 years and do not have an Early childhood certificate. You can work as an aide or maybe in a Head Start classroom and not need a degree. The actual EC certification is if you want to teach the children, but there are other ways as well just to be in the classroom and have the same hours. You might even try a CDA (Child Development Associate)or CCP (Certified childcare Provider) certificate if it would help and it would take far less time.

It is depending on what you are really wanting to do. As far as being a teacher's aid or "paraprofessional" it is not a necessity to have that. I am a teacher and teach 6th grade now, but have taught elementary before. Have you taken classes, and if so how many hours do you have accumulated? I know where I have worked, you do not have to have a certificate to be a para. I completely understand why you would want to be on the same schedule when you daughter starts kindergarten. What school will your daughter be going to for kindergarten? Something to keep in mind is that paras are paid hourly and some schools do not pay them very well. I do know that as a teacher I am always fortunate to have the "great" ones that work with the kids and are there for the right reasons. I hope this helps you out.

You do not need a certificate to be a teacher's aide. All you need is a high school diploma. An aide has different qualifications than a substitute, a paraprofessional, and an attendant care. I will tell you that special education paraprofessionals typically make a little more than a classroom aide, so you might check with your local special education coop to see if they are hiring. However, that does require a degree or that you pass a test or that you have a certain number of college hours. Also, if you happen to have your CNA, attendant care workers make more than aides and paras. Good luck to you.

If you get your Bachelors in Early Childhood Education you can teach up to 3rd grade.

If you ever wanted to become a lead teacher, it would come in handy, more and more places are requesting a certificate. Also, if there's a great place you want to work as an aid, and you're the only one to have that certificate out of 10, it might put you at the top of the list. Being a lead teacher will also give you a better chance of getting off work when your daughter gets out of school. Most places I've worked, the aids worked until 5 or 6 in the evening. I say go for it!

I don't know about teachers aids but I do know about Paras. A para follows a student around that is learning disabled all day and helps them with their classwork. You don't need a degree of any kind in the shawnee mission schools but I would ask the school district or ask a teacher in the school district (the school district almost always wants the degree and M. tell you that you need it, when in reality you will not need it and will not be paid as if you got it.)

If you are wanting to be a actual teacher then you are going to have become certified. If you already have a college degree then usually you can teach on a provisional but you are still going to have to get your degree in ECE. If you are just wanting to have the same hours by being a teacher aid then no you don't have to have a degree but some places require 60 college credit hours. It all just depends on the school district you plan on working in. Good luck!!!

F.,

The daycare I worked at it was worth it to have the certification so that you could have higher pay and become a lead teacher in a classroom. You can work at a daycare without one, but if you want to be the head teacher, then usually its required.

Hope this helps!

J.

Hi F., the answer to your question is yes you do need to have or get a certificate to be a paraeducator.I have been one off and on for 20 years and the rules have changed a lot since i first started,but i just recently went back to work after being home for quite some time to be with my kids and they do require you to get one.Whether it's on the job or having it before you start it is required.It also ups the pay once you receive it.I hope that this helps you! Good luck and God Bless!!! L. S

If you solely want to work in a daycare, you do not need one (I was the Director of a daycare years ago, and I was still in college at the time). To work in the school system (which will pay you better), I believe you do need one. It all depends on what you want to do.

A. L

I am looking into a new career as well since I had my daughter. If you are looking for just school hours, you might consider a OTA (Occupationaly Therapy Assistant) or PTA (Physical Therapy Assistant). Both of these jobs do hire in the school systems so you only work the days schools are open. It requires an associate degree (only 2 years). Dental Hygienist make around $30 per hour and dental offices usually employ part time. It only requires an associates degree as well.

The private schools have the ability to hire pre-k teachers without a degree. Check around and see what their policy is at their location.

Good luck!