Education FAQs

WHAT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?

Work sites include child-family oriented settings such as childcare agencies, preschools, Head Start programs, daycare homes, recreation centers, and elementary schools.  These programs may serve infants, toddlers, preschool and school age children and families.  Positions available to graduates of MCC’s Education Certificate programs include:

  • Program Director or Assistant
  • Preschool Lead Teacher
  • Infant-Toddler Supervisor
  • Family Daycare Provider
  • Home Daycare Provider
  • Head Start Teacher*
  • Michigan School-Age Credential
  • Instructional Assistant–Special Education

*Washington has established a new requirement of an ASA Degree

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WHY TRAIN IN MCC’S EDUCATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS?

Education Certificate programs are short-term training programs which prepare people to work with children and families.  Professionals in this field provide experiences and interactions that promote safe, healthy learning environments for children, and assistance for families.  In an age when an increasing number of parents are working outside the home, finding an environment in which children will receive more than basic maintenance has grown in importance.  Families, too, need assistance as they struggle to cope with jobs and home responsibilities.  Thus the need for professional childcare and paraprofessional workers has become essential.

WHY IS AN MCC EDUCATION CERTIFICATE FOR ME?

MCC’s Education Certificate Programs provide:

  • Courses that meet the requirements for MCC’s ASA degree in Early Childhood Education or may transfer to a four-year college to meet bachelor’s requirements*
  • Competency-based professional preparation for students interested in positions involving caring for children and families
  • Individualized guidance throughout the learning process with advisors who care about your success
  • The opportunity to work at your own pace to complete training
  • Consideration of prior work experience and completed academic coursework when programs are planned

*Those intending to transfer should check with the four-year college or university requirements.

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WHAT ARE MY CAREER OPTIONS?

  • Train for one of the Nationally Certified CDA’s as a Center-Based Preschool Teacher, Infant-Toddler Caregiver, or Family Daycare Provider.
  • Train for an Elementary School Classroom Aide or Special Education Assistant
  • Complete an ASA Degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education
  • Use your training as a stepping-stone to a four-year degree (check with the transferring institution for requirements)

WHAT WOULD I EXPECT TO LEARN?

You will gain knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:

  • Physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional development of children and adolescents
  • The importance of play, and the role of play in development
  • Role of family, society and culture in development
  • Family dynamics and interactions
  • Special needs of children and families
  • Children’s literature
  • Quality standards of programs for children
  • Professional obligations, responsibilities, and ethical standards
  • Business aspects of early childhood programs
  • Developmentally appropriate practices
  • Positive communication and relationships in adult-child orientations
  • Observation, record keeping and assessment of self, children and families
  • Management of safe, healthy, learning environments
  • Problem solving, teamwork

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WHAT ARE THE CERTIFICATES OFFERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT?

  • Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
  • Associate in Science and Arts Degree (A.S.A.)
  • Child Development Associate Preschool Certificate
  • CDA Family Day Care Certificate
  • CDA Infant-Toddler Certificate
  • MCC Teacher Aide / Paraprofessional Credential
  • MCC Instructional Assistant – Special Education Certificate

WHAT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WILL I RECEIVE?

You will gain experience in:

  • Working with children and families
  • Working with diverse populations
  • Working in a relevant worksite
  • Planning, organizing and participating in age-appropriate activities
  • Leading and managing children
  • Guiding and assisting families
  • Helping and supporting teachers

ARE THERE JOBS AVAILABLE?

In a word — YES!!  Society is relying more and more not just on childcare, but parents are demanding quality childcare. This means trained professional providers with knowledge of developmentally, age-appropriate practices, and quality standards.

The following information was taken from the 2008-09 Edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Child Care Workers Job Outlook

Child care workers are expected to experience job growth that is faster than the average for all occupations.  Job prospects will be excellent because of the many workers who leave and need to be replaced.

Employment change.  Employment of child care workers is projected to increase by 18 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the average for all occupations.  Child care workers will have a very large number of new jobs arise, almost 248,000 over the projections decade.

Job prospects.  High replacement needs should create good job opportunities for child care workers.  Qualified persons who are interested in this work should have little trouble finding and keeping a job.  Many child care workers must be replaced each year as they leave the occupation to fulfill family responsibilities, to study, or for other reasons.  Others leave because they are interested in pursuing other occupations.

Teacher Aides and Assistants Job Outlook

Many job openings are expected for teacher aides and assistants due to turnover employment growth in this large occupation, resulting in favorable job prospects.

Employment change.  Employment of teacher aides and assistants are expected to grow by 10 percent between 2006 and 2016 per the projections data from the National Employment Matrix.

Job prospects.  Favorable job prospects are expected.  Opportunities for teacher aides and assistant jobs should be best for those with at least 2 years of formal postsecondary education, those with experience in helping special education students, or those who can speak a foreign language.  Demand is expected to vary by region of the country.  Regions in which the population and school enrollments are expected to grow faster, such as many communities in the South and West, should have rapid growth in the demand for teacher aides and assistants.

Teachers – Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle and Secondary Job Outlook

Employment of preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers is projected to grow about as fast as average.  Job prospects are expected to be favorable, with particularly good prospects for teachers in high-demand fields like math, science, and bilingual education, or in less desirable urban or rural school districts.

Employment change.  Employment of school teachers is expected to grow by 12 percent between 2006 and 2016.

Job prospects.  Job opportunities for teachers over the next 10 years will vary from good to excellent, depending on the locality, grade level, and subject taught.  Most job openings will result from the need to replace the large number of teachers who are expected to retire over the 2006-2016 period.  Also, many beginning teachers decide to leave teaching for other careers after a year or two.

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