What is Early Childhood Education?
Early childhood education is key to a child’s growth and learning journey, focusing on kids from birth to age eight. It’s about creating the right materials and environments to teach basic skills like reading, writing, and math, along with social and communication skills. Studying this field can lead to fulfilling careers like preschool or kindergarten teacher, childcare director, special education teacher, or school counselor.
Alabama has made great progress in expanding its pre-K and early childhood education systems, earning national recognition and improving access for families. The state continues to invest heavily in early education, with programs like First Class and Head Start creating opportunities for children and paving the way for careers in the field. For aspiring educators, a degree in early childhood education and a state teaching license are essential. Those aiming to teach pre-K through 4th grade should consider elementary education, a popular online degree program in the state of Alabama, while those interested in working with children who have special needs may want to major in special education. Both areas offer rewarding career paths and plenty of job opportunities across Alabama.
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How to Become a Preschool Teacher in Alabama
A degree in early childhood education is a great starting point, but students should consider their specific interests. In Alabama and many other states, roles like preschool or kindergarten teachers to obtain additional licensing, training, or experience. Specialized positions, such as school administration or special education, may have even stricter requirements to ensure educators are fully qualified to support children and families effectively.
To become a licensed preschool or kindergarten teacher in Alabama, candidates must first complete a State-approved Educator Preparation Program at an Alabama college or university. Admission requires passing scores on the ACT WorkKeys (for those applying before September 2017) or the Core PRAXIS tests in reading, writing, and math (for those applying after September 2021). This is the foundational step before pursuing any additional certifications.
Once students have completed a teacher prep program, they may apply for certification through the institution itself. There are various other ways to get into preschool teaching if you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field (by completing a master’s in education), if you have a degree from another state (must already have certification from another state), and in other situations.
While a master’s degree might help you move into administration or another related field, Alabama only requires early childhood educators to obtain a bachelor’s degree. These degrees usually include around 120 credit hours of courses that will cover childhood development, pedagogy, student teaching, and other important factors. After you have completed this, you must pass the PRAXIS exams focused on early childhood education. This will include #’s 5204 and 5022 (Early Childhood Education and 5622 (Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6).
Below is a quick overview of the different employment options that are available for each of the major early childhood education areas:
- Preschool or Elementary School Teacher:
To become a preschool or elementary school teacher in Alabama, all individuals must obtain a valid professional educator certificate before they can apply for jobs in these fields. Most bachelor’s programs focusing on elementary education will prepare students to pass the requisite examinations to obtain these types of licenses upon graduation. ALSDE has also made it clear that teachers who have received training and certification in another state can easily apply for Certificate Reciprocity so that their teaching license is recognized as valid in Alabama. - Special Education Teacher:
To become a special education teacher, students must have completed an educator preparation program focused on special education at an accredited college or university. A broad degree in early childhood education is usually not enough - the educator must have undertaken a course of study specific to special education. If not originally certified by the state of Alabama, special educators can also apply for Certificate Reciprocity so that they are allowed to teach within the state. - Administration:
Studying early childhood education allows individuals to be well-versed in the different educational resources and teaching methods out there that can help younger children learn effectively. This makes them ideal candidates for jobs in school administration or educational administration at licensing or state education departments. Typically, educational administrators will also complete a certification in the field while they are still in school and many will have completed a master’s degree and have worked in the education field before they are hired. - Professor of Early Childhood Education:
To become a professor of early childhood education, most candidates will look to apply for positions with an Alabama college or university. While candidates will not necessarily need to have completed their doctorate at an Alabama university, they will likely need to show a strong track record of research and teaching in the field before they are considered for a professorship.
Online Early Childhood Education in Alabama
Online Associates (AS)
Pursuing an associate degree in early childhood education opens doors to various entry-level positions, such as preschool teacher assistants and childcare workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for preschool teachers was $37,130 in May 2023. The job outlook for preschool teachers is positive, with employment projected to grow by 4% from 2023 to 2033, aligning with the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in about 61,400 job openings annually, primarily due to the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire.
While an associate degree provides a solid foundation, pursuing a bachelor's degree can enhance career prospects and earning potential. Additionally, obtaining certifications such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential can further improve job opportunities and professional development.
National Rankings - Top 25 Online Associate ProgramsOnline Bachelors (BS)
Earning a bachelor's degree in early childhood education opens doors to various rewarding careers, such as preschool teacher, childcare center director, special education teacher, and kindergarten teacher. This degree not only enhances your qualifications but also positions you for higher-paying roles.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for preschool teachers was $37,130 in May 2023. While this figure provides a general overview, actual salaries can vary based on factors like location, experience, and specific job responsibilities.
For instance, the BLS reports that childcare workers earned a median hourly wage of $14.60 in May 2023. However, those with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education may command higher wages due to their advanced qualifications. Additionally, the BLS projects employment of preschool teachers to grow by 4% from 2023 to 2033, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth indicates a steady demand for qualified early childhood educators, enhancing job stability and opportunities in the field.
Obtaining a bachelor's degree in early childhood education not only prepares you for a fulfilling career working with young children but also offers competitive salary prospects and a positive job outlook.
National Rankings - top 25 online bachelors programsOnline Masters (MS)
A master’s degree in early childhood education is rarely listed as a requirement for individuals seeking to build careers in the classroom, particularly for those looking to become pre-K or kindergarten teachers. However, individuals working in the field who have attained a master’s degree will often see many advantages in terms of early promotion, further demand and advantages during the hiring process, and more opportunities to receive on-the-job training compared to other candidates without a master’s degree.
In fact, there are certain jobs in early childhood education, like those in administration (such as a principal or vice principal position) or who wish to teach soon-to-be teachers in college courses, that may specifically require candidates to hold a master’s degree because they are holding much more responsibility and are required to have more training. Those with a master’s in early childhood education can expect to see a modest boost in average salary and can earn around $50,333 a year according to Payscale.
National Rankings - top 25 online masters programsOnline PhD (PhD)
For those who are looking to work at the frontline of early childhood education, teaching in classrooms, or working directly with children and families as childcare or social workers, completing a doctorate is rarely a prerequisite. Those who look to pursue a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education will most likely be interested in forwarding the academic literature and research in the field, coming up with theories about how teaching styles can affect children’s academic results in the long-term, and leading education departments at the university level. For instance, in recent years, many thought leaders in the early childhood education field have been researching issues like whether providing the resources to allow children from underprivileged families to attend preschool can have a significant positive impact in closing the education divide over their lifetimes. Individuals with doctorate degrees in the field also often become professors who continue to educate future students in the field or become policymakers who are in charge of crafting legislation affecting the future of many important early childhood education programs.
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Top College Programs in Alabama for Early Childhood Education
Students looking to pursue early childhood education programs in Alabama can consider attending these top-ranked programs in the state:
- The University of Alabama:
The University of Alabama is the top-ranked school in the state, offering many education-specific degrees and two early childhood education programs. Located in Tuscaloosa, this large public university has more than 100 students studying elementary education and teaching and more than 50 students studying special education and teaching every year. - Auburn University:
Auburn University is the second-ranked school in Alabama offering an early childhood education program. In 2015, the large public university graduated 41 students studying for their bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and teaching, providing a good network of peers for students to tap into throughout their careers. Besides programs specific to early childhood education, Auburn University also offers degrees in special education, elementary education, English/language arts teacher education, and more. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham:
This third-ranked early childhood education university in the state of Alabama offers four programs specific to the field and many other education-related majors for students interested in mixing and matching a few different educator specializations. In 2015, more than 100 students graduated with degrees in early childhood education and many others pursued specialties in areas like counselor education, special education, speech communication, and teaching English as a second language. - Alabama State University:
This medium-sized public school is the fourth-ranked early education program in the state and offers two degrees specific to early childhood education. In 2015, 17 students graduated with a specialty in early childhood education. Students looking to attain additional educational specialty training can also major in areas like counselor education, instructional technology, elementary education, and speech communication. - The University of Montevallo:
As the fifth-ranked education studies program in the state of Alabama, the University of Montevallo offers many education-related majors for students interested in building careers in this field. Popular specialties include counselor education, elementary education, English language and literature, and speech-language pathology.
Careers for Early Childhood Education Graduates
- Preschool Teacher:
Preschool teachers have the important job of educating groups of extremely young children under their care. Preschool programs can be available for children as young as a few months old all the way up until school age, with the majority of young students in preschool programs being around 3-5 years old. Preschool teachers are responsible for crafting the age-friendly curriculum for their students, keeping their classrooms safe, and interacting with parents. - Elementary School Teacher:
Elementary school teachers will work with students generally between the ages of 5-12, teaching them important academic skills ranging from reading, writing, mathematics, science, and spoken communication skills. Classrooms will typically include between 15-35 students and elementary school teachers will often work with other teachers in their grade level to establish an effective curriculum and maintain a healthy classroom environment. - Preschool/Elementary School Administrator:
Preschool and elementary school administrators are in charge of ensuring that institutional policies and curriculums have been established according to existing laws. They are also in charge of hiring new teachers, ensuring current teachers are compliant with all certification requirements, and connecting the school with important teacher development resources. Other responsibilities include conflict resolution within the school and maintaining budgets. - Childcare Facility Director:
Childcare facility directors are in charge of maintaining the regular functions of a childcare or daycare facility. This includes ensuring that the learning environment is safe and may include many administrative tasks like helping curriculum development, overseeing staff management and hiring, managing facilities, creating a budget, meeting with parents and teachers, and marketing the facility to new families with children who might be interested in their services. - Preschool/Elementary School Principal:
The preschool or elementary school principal is the person who is seen as the main leader of the school community during their tenure. The principal is in charge of making most large management decisions and supervising major administrative tasks, as well as communicating between teachers of all grade levels. They are in charge of creating important school rules, like establishing a dress code and communicating with parents in the community about major issues like curriculum changes, safety policies, introduction of new educational programs, or school district policy changes. - Special Education Teacher:
Special education teachers are educators who have acquired specialized training and can support students with additional needs that may make it difficult for them to learn in a traditional classroom environment. Special education teachers will often work with students with physical or mental disabilities, and some are trained to work specifically with autistic students, those with emotional disturbances, or those with learning disabilities. They are specially trained for these types of classrooms and provide the support necessary for these children to do their best. - Teacher for the Physically/Visually/Hearing Impaired:
This type of teaching position is a subset of the special education field. Students who are physically, visually, or hearing impaired will often require additional assistance in the classroom. This may include specialized curriculums designed to help them cope with and overcome their physical disabilities, as well as slower-paced lessons, extra patience, and teachers who can easily communicate with them through American Sign Language (ASL). - Nanny/Childcare Center Worker:
Nannies or childcare center workers are mostly in charge of supporting children’s needs in ways that help foster early childhood development. This includes preparing and organizing meals or snacks for children, keeping track of their physical health including medications, and ensuring that children maintain a sound nap schedule between their lessons. - School Counselor or Psychologist/Guidance Counselor:
Guidance counselors and school psychologists will help monitor students’ emotional health to ensure that they can succeed academically. This may include working with students on any learning obstacles or anger management, as well as working closely with families and parents to ensure that students can thrive at school.
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