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Technical Certificates

The following Technical Certificates are currently available:

Child Development Associate 1
Child Development Specialist
Early Childhood Program Administration
Family Childcare Provider
40-Hour Director Training

Child Development Associate I

Approved by Council for Professional Recognition

The CDA-1 technical certification program is designed to meet the training needs of persons already working in the field of early childhood care and education. This two quarter (full time) sequence of courses is designed to provide the minimum formal training in early childhood care and education competencies, knowledge, skills and techniques required to apply for a CDA credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition in Washington, DC. The CDA credential is not issued by Flint River Technical College and must be applied for and paid for separately from this training program. However, this program is approved to provide the needed training to obtain this credential. Once achieved this credential is recognized nationally by Head Start, and in Georgia for working in state Pre-K programs, childcare centers, and in numerous other early childhood care and education settings.

Program length is two quarters if full time and regular student status.

Curriculum Outline:

Courses	Credit Hours
ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education	5
ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development I	5
ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition	5
ECE 1025 Professionalism through CDA Certificate Preparation	2
ECE 1026 CDA Certificate Assessment Preparation	2
Total Credit Hours	19

Course Descriptions:

ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education
Introduces concepts relating the responsibilities and procedures involved in a variety of early childhood care situations. This course addresses key CDA competency goals and functional areas. Topics include: historical perspectives, career opportunities, work ethics, functioning in a team environment, guidance, transitional activities, program management, learning environment cultural diversity, licensing and accreditation, and professional development file (portfolio) guidelines.

ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development I
Introduces the student to the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of the young child (0 through 5 years of age). Provides for competency development in observing, recording, and interpreting growth and development stages in the young child, advancing physical and intellectual competence, supporting social and emotional development, and providing positive guidance. Topics include: developmental characteristics, observation and recording theory and practice, guidance techniques, developmentally appropriate practice, and introduction to children with special needs.

ECE 1050 Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Introduces the theory, practices, and requirements for establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment. Topics include: CPR and first aid, health issues, safety issues, child abuse and neglect, and nutritional needs of children.

ECE 1025 Professionalism through CDA Certificate Preparation
Provides training in professionalism through Child Development Associate Credentialing Certificate preparation in the following areas: applying for the Child Development Associate Credential through Direct Assessment; professional resource file development; and, strategies to establish positive and productive relationships with families.

ECE 1026 CDA Certificate Assessment Preparation
Provides opportunities to demonstrate and obtain documentation of student competency. Topics include: Professional resource file completion; parent opinion questionnaires; formal observation; oral interview; and written assessment.

Child Development Specialist

The purpose of this Technical Certificate is to provide the necessary skills for entry-level employment as a Child Development Specialist. Skill areas include: planning a safe and healthy learning environment, steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development, positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development; strategies to establish productive relationships with families, strategies to manage an effective program operation, professionalism; observing and recording children’s behavior, and principles of child growth and development.

Program length is two quarters if full time and regular student status.

Curriculum Outline:

Courses	Credit Hours
ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education	5
ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development I	5
ECE 1050 Health, Safety and Nutrition	5
ECE 1012 Curriculum Development	3
ECE 1021 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I	3
Total Credit Hours	21

Course Descriptions:

ECE 1012 Curriculum Development
Develops knowledge and skills that will enable the student to establish a learning environment appropriate for young children. Topics include: instructional media, learning environments, curriculum approaches, development of curriculum plans and materials, community resources, transitional activities, and approaches to teaching, learning, and assessing.

ECE 1021 Early Childhood Care and Education Practicum I
Provides the student with the opportunity to gain a supervised experience in an actual or simulated work setting allowing demonstration of techniques obtained from course work. Practicum training topics include: good work habits, supervised planning, interaction with children, parents, and co-workers, application of guidance techniques, classroom management, and documentation of child’s development.

Early Childhood Program Administration

The Early Childhood Program Administration Technical Certificate of Credit program is designed to provide students, who are already knowledgeable about child development and early childhood care and education programs, with additional skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to succeed as early childhood program administrators. This certificate is one of the first recognized training vehicles in the state of Georgia for persons who wish to develop their careers by meeting competencies agreed upon statewide for early childhood and school age program administrations. A sampling of topics include: laws, rules and regulations, managing interactions with staff and parents, administrative roles, money and program management, facility design and management, leadership and organizational structures.

Program length is one quarter if full time and regular student status.

Curriculum Outline:

Courses	Credit Hours
ECE 2170 Program Administration	5
ECE 2210 Facility Management	5
ECE 2220 Personnel Management	5
Total Credit Hours	15

Course Descriptions:

ECE 2170 Program Administration
Provides training in planning, implementation, and maintenance of an effective early childhood program. Topics include: organization, mission, philosophy, goals and history of a program; types of programs; laws, rules, regulations accreditation and program evaluation; needs assessment; administrative roles and board of directors; marketing, public and community relations, grouping, enrollment and retention; working with parents; professionalism and work ethics; and time and stress management.

ECE 2210 Facility Management
Provides training in early childhood facilities management. Topics include: space management, money management, and program, equipment and supplies management.

ECE 2220 Personnel Management
Provides training in personnel management in early childhood settings. Topics include: staff records; communication; personnel planning; personnel policies; managing payroll, recruitment, selection, interviewing, hiring, motivating, firing, and staff retention; staff scheduling; staff development; providing guidance and supervision; conflict resolution; and staff evaluation.

Family Childcare Provider

The purpose of Family Childcare Provider program is to provide a solid Early Child Care and Education foundation of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and techniques that will improve the quality of care for children who are cared for by family child care providers. The program will provide guidelines and responsibilities for professional business practices associated with the successful establishment and administration of a Family Childcare Home.

Program length is two quarters if full time.

Curriculum Outline:

Courses	Credit Hours
ECE 1010 Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education	5
ECE 1030 Human Growth and Development I	5
ECE 1050 Health, Safety and Nutrition	5
ECE 2142 Family Child Care Program Management	5
ECE 2144 Family Child Care Business Management	5
Total Credit Hours	25

Course Descriptions:

ECE 2142 Family Childcare Program Management
Provides the guidelines, responsibilities, and appropriate practices needed for successful management of a Family Child Care Home. Topics include: rules and regulations; professional practices; and program management.

ECE 2144 Family Childcare Business Management
Provides guidelines and responsibilities for professional business practices associated with the successful establishment and administration of a Family Child Care Home. Topics include: business plans; budgeting; taxes; marketing, record keeping and professional qualifications.

40-Hour Director Training

Bright from the Start -The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning requires that prior to the issuance of an initial license, the director responsible for the day to day operations of the early childhood center, must have completed a 40-hour Director’s Training Course that has been approved by the Department. Flint River Technical College is proud to have a totally on-line course approved by the Department. This 5 quarter credit hour college course is ECE 2170 NDT– Early Childhood Program Administration. Interested persons may apply for this course in one of two ways:

Option 1:

You may apply to the College by contacting the Admissions Department at 1-800-752-9681 and telling the admissions counselor that you wish to enroll in the 40 hour Director Training Course – ECE 2170 NDT. Tell them you wish to enroll as a special student. This status means you do not have to pass an admissions test to the college.

Costs include: Tuition: $40.00 per quarter credit hour x 5 credits = $200.00 plus Application and other College fees $81, text book $114.00, and shipping $6. Grand Total Last quarter was: $401.00 (Prices subject to change.) This course takes 10 weeks to complete. Check with the Admissions Office for the start date of the next quarter.

Option 2:

You may take the ECE 2170 NDT course as part of a 3 course program of study - The Early Childhood Program Administration Technical Certificate of Credit. The 3 courses include: ECE 2170 NDT - Program Administration, ECE 2210- Facility Management and ECE 2220 - Personnel Management.

Costs Include: Tuition, most fees and some of the book cost is covered by the HOPE GRANT for most applicants. Call the Office of Financial Aid for details.

Notes: This class articulates into the Early Childhood Program Administration Technical Certificate of Credit as stated under Option 2 or into the AAS Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from Flint River Technical College, and it is part of the qualifying training for the EXECS National Leadership Credential for Early Childhood Administrators (See www.naccp.org and click on the link for EXECS).