Standards for Professional Preparation

NAEYC's standards of professional preparation for early childhood programs at colleges and universities across the country represent a comprehensive vision for what early childhood professionals should know and be able to do at various points along the path of professional development. The standards require skills and depth of knowledge commensurate with each level of development, yet across levels they promote common values and themes, such an emphasis on outcomes, professionalism, and balanced attention to knowledge, skills and dispositions.

• Standards at the Associate Degree Level
• Standards at the Initial Licensure Level
• Standards at the Advanced Level

The complete collection of NAEYC professional preparation standards and other resources can be found in Preparing Early Childhood Professionals: NAEYC's Standards for Programs.

Standards at the Associate Degree Level

The NAEYC associate degree standards are based on recent research in early childhood development and learning. They are performance based and describe what well-prepared graduates of associate degree programs should know and be able to do. These standars are also the core standards for the Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation which opened to public application in April 2006.

Download the Associates Degree Level Standards

Learn more about Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation

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Standards at the Initial Licensure Level

To promote program quality and support the education of qualified teachers of children from birth through age eight, NAEYC has standards for the four- and five-year, college and university programs that prepare early childhood teachers.

High-quality early education programs give young children a foundation for success in school and beyond, but unfortunately there are not enough high-quality programs available. A crucial step in raising the quality of programs for all young children is improving the preparation of early childhood teachers.

• NAEYC's Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation at the Initial Licensure level are based on recent research in early childhood development and learning, and were reviewed by dozens of early education experts and organizations.

As one of the specialty professional associations working with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), NAEYC prepared these standards as a guide for higher education institutions with baccalaurate and five-year programs that prepare future early childhood teachers. Institutions must document compliance with the Initial Standards in order to earn approval from NAEYC - and move toward accreditation from NCATE.

The focus on teacher preparation is also an essential part of NAEYC's comprehensive approach to improving the quality of early childhood education. The other parts include raising standards for early childhood programs (through NAEYC accreditation), improving the practices of teachers, and enhancing approaches to early childhood curriculum content and assessment.

Download the Initial Licensure Level Standards

Additional Resources:

Initial Program Report Template

New NCATE/NAEYC report template for initial licensure programs. Includes the required cover sheet and general directions. Download as a Microsoft Word Document or in Rich Text Format.

Rubrics

Serves as a guide for programs in devising systems to collect and summarize evidence about candidate performance.

Is Yours a "Blended" Program, Or Are You Developing One?

Explains how to have a "unified" or "blended" general/special education early childhood program reviewed for joint approval by NAEYC/CEC and NCATE. Includes questions to ask yourself to determine whether your program is "blended" or not.

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Standards at the Advanced Level

To promote program quality and support the education of qualified teachers of children from birth through age eight, NAEYC has standards for the college and university programs that prepare early childhood professionals at the advanced master's and doctoral levels.

The Advanced Standards:

• Build on and align with NAEYC's Initial Licensure Standards and Associate Degree Standards.
• Invite programs to identify areas of focus or specialization.
• Describe "essential professional tools," and "additional competencies" for some specializations.

As one of the specialty professional associations working with the NCATE, NAEYC prepared these standards as a guide for higher education institutions that prepare early childhood professionals at the advanced level. Institutions with advanced master's and doctoral programs must document compliance with the Advanced Standards in order to earn approval from NAEYC - and move toward accreditation from NCATE.

The focus on professional preparation is also an essential part of NAEYC's comprehensive approach to improving the quality of early childhood education. The other parts include raising standards for early childhood programs (through NAEYC accreditation), improving the practices of teachers, and enhancing approaches to early childhood curriculum content and assessment.

Download the Advanced Level Standards

Additional Resources:

Advanced Program Report Template

New NCATE/NAEYC report template for advanced level programs. Includes the required cover sheet and general directions. Download as a Microsoft Word Document, or in Rich Text Format.

Expectations for Evidence

Serves as a guide for programs in devising systems to collect and summarize evidence about candidate performance.

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