How Long Does It Take to Become a Preschool Teacher?

Posted On June 28,2021

Children’s first years are an extremely formative period in their lives. What they learn during this time lays the foundation for growth into adulthood. Preschool teachers play a big role in this. They lay the foundation for a child’s educational future. This is why careers in early childhood education are so crucial.

The employment outlook for preschool teachers is projected to increase by as much as 17% over the next decade according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth is much faster than many other careers. 

So, how long does it take to get a teaching certificate?

Early Childhood Education Associate Degree

A degree in Early Childhood Education will set the stage for you to shape young lives as a preschool teacher. At Athena Career Academy it takes two years for an Associate Degree in Applied Science (AAS) – Majoring in Early Childhood Education.

Through the Early Childhood Education program at Athena Career Academy, you will study the developmental levels of birth through age 8. This comprehensive program will teach you how to educate, encourage, use positive guidance, and inspire young children.

Learn More about Our ECE Program

Coursework includes, but is not limited to:

  • Foundations of Education – This course introduces the world of early childhood and includes an overview of what you can do with your degree.
  • Child Development – This course concentrates on social, cognitive, emotional, and physical developmental methods.
  • Creative Art, Music, and Play for Early Childhood – This focuses on many types of art and music lesson plans, bulletin boards, and projects to introduce and nurture creativity to children.
  • Early Childhood Literacy – This course focuses on the many different ways to promote literacy to children like books, posters, bulletin boards, poems etc.
  • Behavioral Management – Positive discipline and behavior methods will be addressed in this course. The difference between punishment (negative) and discipline (positive) will be a major focus. 
  • Organization and Administration of Early Childhood – The class will examine all of the steps required to open a childcare center. Licensing will be covered, and the student will have a clear understanding of how the process works.

Well-Rounded Education

As a student pursues an Associate Degree in Applied Science (AAS) – Majoring in Early Childhood Education, coursework will include additional classes to expose students to a wide range of educational knowledge and methods. You can be confident you will have a well-rounded education from Athena Career academy with courses such as:

  • Introduction to Accounting – This course will explore the accounting system for a small business including financial statements, payroll processing, receivables, payables, reconciliations, and debt collection.
  • Fundamentals of Biology – This class will introduce basic biology, how the cell is developed and how it divides and multiplies. 
  • Composition I – This course is designed to introduce writing. Developing ideas through observing, remembering, summarizing, and persuading will be a key focus. 
  • Oral Communication – The focus of this course is how to write and present a speech. 
  • Introduction to the Arts – Students will gain an understanding and appreciation for the arts including painting, architecture, theater, music, dance, and poetry.

Get Job-ready with Athena

Graduates of our early childhood education degree program will be highly qualified to work as preschool teachers and daycare providers. In addition, they will be totally prepared to own and operate a childcare center, as well as be able to work in Early Childhood centers as an Administrator, Lead, or Head teacher, work as a Play Specialist, work on cruise ships as a Children’s Director, Type A Center, Type B Center, Head Start, Nationally Accredited Centers, and Step Up to Quality centers. 

Start Your ECE Process Now

You can start working toward your degree any time of the year. Our flexible program has four quarter start dates a year: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Plus, Athena offers convenient day and evening classes to accommodate your work schedule. Contact Athena Career Academy today to find out more about our Early Childhood Education program options.