Children are the future
Washington State Stackable Certificates
Throughout your course of study at CBC, students can earn a variety of Early Childhood Education certificates and the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education degree. These valuable credentials can be earned alongside one another or independently, allowing students to gain specialized skills and knowledge in focused areas of study. The stackable nature of the certificates and degree means students can build upon their existing credentials, gradually advancing their expertise and qualifications in the field of early learning.
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1. State Initial ECE Certificate
12 Credits Total
Students can earn this certificate as the starting point of their careers or to continue their professional development. The certificate focuses on competencies comparable to those of the Child Development Associate (CDA). This provides the foundation for the ECE State Certificate and associate degree. Courses include a 5-credit Introduction to Early Childhood Education; a 5-credit Health, Safety and Nutrition course, and a 2-credit practicum to apply learning.
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2. State Short ECE Certificate of Specialization
20 Credits Total
This certificate builds on the Initial Certificate (for a total of 20 credits). At this point, professionals can choose one of five specializations: ECE general, infant-toddler care, school-age care, family child care, and ECE administration. For each specialization, students must take a 5-credit Child Development course, plus a course aligned with the specific specialization.
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3. State ECE Certificate
47 Credits Total
This final “stackable certificate” requires college-level math and English as a foundation for the next step: an associate degree in ECE. In addition to these general education requirements, the courses that students must take include Language and Literacy Development; Observation and Assessment; Child, Family and Community; Guiding Behavior; Environments for Young Children; and Curriculum Development. With all three certificates, the total number of credits earned by the student is 47-52.
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AAS in Early Childhood Education
96-98 Credits Total
Advance to the Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education to prepare for lead roles in early learning settings. The AAS builds on your certificates with additional ECE coursework and general education. It also positions you to continue at CBC into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAS-TE) for the Early Childhood (P–3) endorsement.Planning for elementary K–8? Complete the AA/DTA transfer degree at CBC, then transfer to a four-year university for a K–8 teacher preparation program and endorsement.
How Do I Obtain My Certificate(s)?
Once you have completed all the required courses for a certificate, contact Counseling & Advising at (509) 542-5505 or counselingFREECOLUMBIA_BASIN to schedule an appointment with an Education Completion Coach.
During your appointment, you will complete a graduation application.
After the quarter ends, it typically takes 8–10 weeks to receive your official certificate
by mail.
If you need proof of completion before your certificate arrives, you can request official transcripts through CBC’s Request Records & Transcripts.
