Online Early Childhood Schools & Colleges

Early Childhood Online Colleges

Training requirements vary by state, although most often at least a high school diploma is needed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The field is one where regulations continue to change, evidenced by the fact that Head Start teachers will now be expected to have at least an associate degree by 2011, according to the BLS. One way to gain needed training for the Pre-K and under crowd is to look for online early childhood education degrees. While diploma and certificate-based programs can allow you assist in a classroom, a full teaching certificate and degree is often required for actual teaching positions. Programs that you can find available online include the Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education, the Bachelor's of Science degree in Child Studies, the Bachelor's of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education/Infant and Child Care, and the Master's of Science degree in Early Childhood Studies. Many of these programs, at the very fundamental level, should introduce you to age-appropriate approaches to curriculum as well as the emotional and psychological needs of children. If you have completed a four-year program at an online school, you will still need to meet the specific requirements in your state to be able to obtain a teaching license and work.

As of 2008, there were more than 450,000 people in the U.S. working as preschool teachers, not including those working in special educaiton with these youngsters. Opportunities in the preschool education field are predicted to grow by 19 percent during the 2008-2018 decade and this could result in the creation of more than 85,000 new jobs. While the mean earned wages for preschool teachers and teaching assistants--$29,200 and $24,800, respectively--were not high, the value in such a position is that there should continue to be a need for workers, according to the BLS--a potential positive aspect at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate remains high. As a result of expected high growth, people looking for a job in the field should not have any difficulty finding and keeping a position, the BLS indicated. There are other related positions, some which pay more, that could also be of interest to those who like early childhood education. These include positions for child care workers, kindergarten teachers, and special-education instructors. While care care workers earned mean annual wages just above $21,000, positions for kindergarten teachers and those working in special-education from the Pre-K through elementary-school level earned mean annual wages above $50,000. Of course, a minimum of a bachelor's degree plus advanced certificates, credentials or degrees could be required for these latter two occupations.

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