The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Basics technical certificate of credit program includes three basic Early Childhood and Care Education courses that are needed for entry level workers. The program provides an introductory course to the ECCE field, a child growth and development course, and a health, safety, and nutrition course. Graduates have qualifications to be employed in early care and education settings including child care centers, Head Start, and Georgia Pre-K programs. Bright from the Start (BFTS), the regulatory agency in Georgia, requires the basic knowledge included in this TCC for a person to be employed in a child care center or family day care center.
Students are accepted into the Early Childhood Care and Education Basics certificate program any semester. A full-time student can complete this program in 1 semester. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 9 semester credit hours.
Employment Outlook
Career Traits/Requirements
Individuals wanting to enroll in the Early Childhood Care and Education Basics program must be fond of children, dependable, reliable, flexible, patient, positive.
Employment Opportunities
Employment potential exists in the child care center classroom (must be 18 years old to be the lead teacher), or to open and operate a family child care home (must be 21 years old).
Program Costs
Tuition & Fees: $1,231.00
Books & Supplies: $450.00
HOPE Career Grant: The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with one of 12 industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them. To qualify, an OFTC student must be fully admitted to the college, enrolled in one of the approved programs and receiving the HOPE Grant for the same term. The amount of the HOPE Career Grant award is a fixed amount for each term of enrollment:
- 9 or more credit hours – $500/semester
- 3-8 credit hours – $250/semester
- 1-2 credit hours – $125/semester
- Commercial Truck Driving – $1,000 one time award
High School students in dual enrollment and joint enrollment are NOT eligible.
Additional Fees
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED: $22.00
(Costs are estimated and are subject to change.)
Admission Requirements
OFTC may accept a student’s official entrance score on the following validated assessment instruments if the scores meet the required minimums:
- COMPASS/ASSET,
- SAT,
- ACT,
- PSAT,
- PACT,
- Accuplacer/Accuplacer Next Generation/Companion,
- HOPE GPA after completion of 10th grade of 2.6 or higher, or High School GPA of 2.6 (for occupational programs), or 2.0 for Workforce Entry Level programs, or GED.
The College may accept transfer credit for other courses according to the College’s transfer policy.
Curriculum
Occupational Courses
| ECCE 1101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education | 3 | 45 |
| ECCE 1103 | Child Growth and Development | 3 | 45 |
| ECCE 1105 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | 60 |
Program Pathway
Year 1
Semester 1
| ECCE 1101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Care and Education | 3 | 45 |
| ECCE 1103 | Child Growth and Development | 3 | 45 |
| ECCE 1105 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 | 60 |