The youngest minds teach us the most
This Program is Perfect For
- Aspiring infant-toddler and preschool teachers aiming to qualify for entry-level roles in licensed early learning settings
- Individuals seeking the Child Development Assistant or Associate Teacher permit and Transitional Kindergarten qualifying units
- Learners looking for a foundational, flexible, and accessible credential to build early childhood expertise
Courses
Program Requirements
Take 5 courses (20 quarter units)
- End with certificate of completion review.
1. Required Course(s):
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 01-24-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 01-31-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 02-07-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 02-14-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 02-21-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 02-28-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 03-07-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 03-14-2026 | 9:30am | 3:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 04-25-2026 | 9:00am | 5:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-02-2026 | 9:00am | 5:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-09-2026 | 9:00am | 5:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-16-2026 | 9:00am | 5:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 05-30-2026 | 9:00am | 5:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
No meeting on May 23, 2026. To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
Beginnings & Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood Education, Ann Miles Gordon and Kathryn Williams Browne,engage Learning, 2013. ISBN: 9781133936961
- Online Traditional Complete online with instructor-set deadlines.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 01-07-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Sat, 02-07-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
Online Traditional courses have a structured learning environment and fixed deadlines. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on January 7, but you may still enroll until January 21. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on February 7, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
Child, Family, and Community, 7th ed., Janet Gonzalez-Mena, Pearson, 2016. ISBN: 9780134042275
- Online Traditional Complete online with instructor-set deadlines.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 02-11-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Tue, 03-31-2026 | 11:58am | 11:59am | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
Online Traditional courses have a structured learning environment and fixed deadlines. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on February 11, but you may still enroll until February 25. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on March 31, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child, 11th ed., Lynn R Marotz, Cengage Learning, 2023. ISBN: 978-0357765760
2. Completion Review:
Please enroll in the Early Childhood Education Certificate Completion Fee only once all of the certificate requirements have been met and your final grades are posted.
3. Related Course(s): Not part of the certificate
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 04-01-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 04-08-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 04-15-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 04-22-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 04-29-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 05-06-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 05-13-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 05-20-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 05-27-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 06-03-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
How to Reach and Teach Children and Teens with ADD/ADHD, 3rd ed., Sandra F. Rief, John Wiley & Sons, 2016. ISBN: 9781118937785
Available as a PDF and on Kindle.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, 04-06-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 04-13-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 04-20-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 04-27-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 05-04-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 05-11-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 05-18-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 06-01-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 06-08-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Mon, 06-15-2026 | 5:30pm | 8:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
No meeting May 25, 2026. To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
Enhancing Brain Development in Infants and Young Children, Doris Bergen, Lena Lee, Cynthia Dicarlo, and Gail Burnett, 2020. ISBN: 9780807764442
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 02-21-2026 | 9:00am | 4:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 02-28-2026 | 9:00am | 4:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 03-07-2026 | 9:00am | 4:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 03-14-2026 | 9:00am | 4:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 03-21-2026 | 9:00am | 4:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials:
Art and Creative Development for Young Children, J. Englebright Fox and Robert Schirrmacher, Cengage Learning, 2011. ISBN: 9780495913122.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 01-21-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 01-28-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 02-04-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 02-11-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 02-18-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 02-25-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 03-04-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 03-11-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 03-18-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Wed, 03-25-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials:
ISE Infants, Toddlers, & Caregivers: Curriculum Relationship, Janet Gonzalez-Mena and Dianne Widmeyer Eyer, 2019. ISBN: 9781260575743.
- Online Traditional Complete online with instructor-set deadlines.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 05-07-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Thu, 06-18-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
Online Traditional courses have a structured learning environment and fixed deadlines. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on May 7. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on June 18, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text:
The Young Child and Mathematics, Juanita V. Copley, 2010. ISBN: 9781928896685
Recommended Text:
California Preschool Curriculum Framework: Social-emotional development. Language and literacy. English-language development. Mathematics; California Child Development Division, California. Department of Education; 2010-01-01. ISBN: 9780801116827
Recommended course sequence
Flexible course sequence
Courses may be taken in any order provided the prerequisites are met.
Substitutions
To receive your certificate
Professional development
Child Development Permit
Here's what you need to apply for the Child Development Associate Teacher Permit:
- Completion of coursework.
- Complete 50 days of experience in an instructional capacity in a child care and development program, working at least three hours per day.
- Recent instructional experience (within the last two years).
Please visit the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for more information.
Licensure and Certification Policy
Professional licensure or certification is mandatory to practice in this field of instruction. Please see our Licensure and Certification Policy to learn more.
Requisite knowledge
There are no requirements to join the program.
Grade requirements
Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements.
See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.
Establish Candidacy
Instructors
Certificate Program Advisory Committee
NINET MORADI, BA, MA
Author | Advisor Industry Leader
Co-Chair and Instructor, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension ECE Certificate Programs
ROBYN STONE, M.A.
Educational Leader in Santa Clara County
Co-Chair and Instructor, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension ECE Certificate Programs