About the Program

The online Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Teacher prepares classroom teachers to work with young children and their families across a range of early childhood settings. Teachers will learn about early child development – both in the classroom and through hands-on learning experiences – and use this knowledge to design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences for young children. Teachers recognize that learning in early childhood environments lays a critical foundation for the young child’s later success in school, work, citizenship, and personal fulfillment.  

This certificate is appropriate for K-8 certified teachers interested in teaching Pre-K. Individuals can apply for the four required courses in this certificate to fulfill the State of Maine’s requirements for the (081 – Early Childhood Teacher) endorsement. This program does not lead to initial teaching certification.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of elementary teachers is projected to grow 7% from 2020 to 2030 with about 124,300 openings per year. The median annual wage for elementary teachers was $57,860 in May 2020, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $41,950.

This certificate allows teachers to complete the requirements for state certification to teach early elementary grades (Pre-K-3) in public schools and/or to work at the preschool level. It also partially fulfills the Maine DOE Endorsement 081: Early Childhood Teacher.

This program will prepare students to be eligible for an endorsement within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.

This program will prepare students to be eligible for licensure within the State of Maine. Visit the UMS State Authorization & Licensure page to learn more about the licensure requirements in other states and territories, in addition to the contact information needed to inquire further into the licensure requirements associated with this program.