Your Guide to Early Childhood Education Career Options

Your passion for shaping young minds and inspiring their little hearts has led you to either exploring or completing your early childhood education diploma / early childhood educator certification. So, what’s next? There are diverse, rewarding, challenging and thrilling opportunities that lie ahead.

To make an informed decision, either about whether an ECE course/ ECE program is for you or to map out where you may apply your interests and talents in the future, you need to know your options. There is no doubt the impact you will make in this profession is profound; you just need to determine where you’ll gain your experience and where you’ll apply all you’ve learned.

Your Guide to ECE Career Options for Your Future

From directly connecting with children and their families, to influencing government policy and community decisions for the future, childhood education certification opens a variety of doors so that you can adapt your profession to your career goals.

It is important to note that only registered members of the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE) can legally practise the profession of early childhood education and use the protected titles “registered early childhood educator” (RECE), “early childhood educator” (ECE). As such, you want to select a program that is aligned with the highest standards for ECE and the CECE.

Once you’ve got that designation …
these are some of the extraordinary careers available to you!

1. Direct Connection with Children and Their Families

If you love the play, support and mentor elements of a career in ECE, you can work directly with children day-to-day.
Some of the positions that empower you to take your career this route, are:

• Nanny – Homebased Childcare – If you’re looking to apply your skills and learn on the job, starting out as a nanny can help you get comfortable with your new career and determine if this may be for you in the short or long-run.
• Childcare Centres, Pre-schools, Before and After School Programs – You can take that amazing training direct to a childcare setting, supporting kids and their families when parents go to work, instructing, playing, guiding and mentoring little ones as they grow and develop key skills.
• Teaching Support Role – You can also work alongside full-time classroom teachers supporting their educational and administrative efforts. This will give you experience organizing details and materials, but also with teaching lessons to small groups and managing student behaviour.

2. Administration

As a RECE, at this level you work in leadership, guiding the development of effective teams. Your focus would be on hiring quality staff and creating essential and innovative programming, curriculum, systems and initiatives. With a little experience under your belt, you can easily set your sights on this ever-expanding career path.

3. Advocacy

Beyond working directly with children and families, you can make a pivotal difference as an advocate for parents, employees, colleagues, in the public sector and in the government sector. This field is ever-changing and in need of leaders to help promote the interests of the ECE profession. You can also get directly involved with the associations that support.

4. Regulation and Governance

You can apply your skills to shaping public policy and planning and development in municipalities, advancing professional standards, conducting professional learning workshops, dealing with complaints and following up with disciplinary actions required to ensure change.

5. Community Support for Families

Outside of working directly with children, you can also work with families and community organizations, by directing them to services and resources, conducting workshops on parenting and engaging parents in effective strategies and encouraging them to get directly involved by volunteering and making a difference themselves.

As you can see, there are myriad opportunities outside the realm of traditional childcare. In all cases, by applying your passion and service to this professional you are quite literally shaping the future, impacting the lives of tomorrow’s leaders and community members. Whether you’re starting out and looking to embrace a new career in childcare or are intent on leveraging the title of RECE to your current profession, we can help you navigate the way.

If you’re still exploring your options in this field, take the “Anderson College Early Childhood Educator Career Training Readiness Quiz”.

But when you’re ready to leap into Early Childhood Education, we’ve got a team available to help you soar. Book a virtual appointment with our admissions team today and let’s get you started!

Quick Links to Fuel Your Success!

• Early Childhood Education – Anderson College diploma program
• Media Release – “Anderson College Launches Early Childhood Educator Program – Addressing a Dire Need for Qualified Professionals”
• 7 Powerful Reason to Become an Early Childhood Educator, Now!