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Early Childhood Education

Educating young children is meaningful work. It matters who does it—and that they do it well. The Early Childhood Education Program connects passion with purposeful preparation, developing professionals grounded in best practices and committed to high-quality early learning.

The mission of the CFCC Early Childhood Education Program is to prepare thoughtful, skilled professionals for meaningful careers in early childhood education. Research has shown that educated, well-prepared, early childhood educators are a key driver of high-quality learning environments and positive child outcomes, including gains in literacy, math, and social-emotional development. Formal preparation in early childhood strengthens educators’ ability to support children’s healthy growth across all areas of development (Von Suchodoletz et al., 2023; Yang et al., 2025). Grounded in research, best practices, and professional standards, the program supports students in developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to build strong relationships with young children and families from infancy through middle childhood.

Through face-to-face, blended, and hybrid courses, the program integrates students’ understanding of child development theory with hands-on, real-world experiences in diverse early learning settings. Coursework emphasizes children’s social, emotional, cognitive, creative, language, and physical development; authentic assessment; and developmentally appropriate practice. By intentionally connecting theory, content knowledge, and field experiences, students are prepared to provide high-quality early care and education and grow as confident, competent early childhood professionals.

Curriculum Information

Apprenticeship Information

Early childhood education apprenticeships combine hands-on experience with classroom learning to train individuals in working with young children. These programs typically involve working under the guidance of experienced educators in various settings, such as preschools and childcare centers. Apprentices gain practical skills in child development, learning strategies, and classroom management while also studying foundational theories and best practices in early education. The benefit of this approach is twofold as it 1) helps build a skilled workforce and 2) supports the professional growth of aspiring educators by providing real-world insights and mentorship.

Apprenticeship Courses
Apprenticeship Contact Information

Brittany Hewett
Program Director
(910) 362-7566
bshewett832@cfcc.edu

NC DCDEE Credentials

Eligible to apply for the NCDCDEE Credentials listed below through the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education Workforce Education Unit after successfully completing the following community college coursework

  • NC Early Childhood Credential

    NCECC = Intro to Early Childhood Education (EDU 119)

  • NC School-Age Child Care Credential

    NCSACCC = Child Development II (EDU 145 ) and School-Age Development and Program (EDU 235 )
    or Child Development II (EDU 145) and School-Age Program Administration (EDU 263)

  • NC Child Early Childhood Administrator Credential

    NCECAC = Early Childhood Administration I (EDU 261) and Early Childhood Administration II ( EDU 262)

Accreditation

The Career Track A.A.S., B-K Licensure Transfer, and the Non-Licensure Transfer Associate Degrees, at Cape Fear Community College are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children .

The current accreditation term runs from 7/2019 through 7/2026.

National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association for the Education of Young Children
1401 H. St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005

Student Success

Program Completers
Academic Year Number of program completers % of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion) % of program completers who were attending part-time (at the time of completion)
2021/2022 6 67% 33%
2020/2021 3 33% 67%
2019/2020 8 0 100%
Program Completion Rate
Academic Year Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframe Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 100%, 200% (twice) or 300% (three times) of the published time frame (Please circle, underline or bold the indicator above on which the program will report.)
2021-2022 100% 100%
2020-2021 100% 100%
2018-2019 NA NA
Institutional Selected Data
Academic Year % of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment) Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates % of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment) Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates
2021-2022 78% (78) 39% 22% (22) 38%
2020-2021 66% (29) 28% 34% (15) 33%
2019-2020 72% (42) 40% 28% (16) 31%

Related Links

NAEYC
naeyc.org

NC Association for the Education of Young Children
 NCaeyc.org

NC Division of Child Development and Early Learning
ncchildcare.dhhs.state.nc.us

Child Care Services Association info on T.E.A.C.H., Wages, Child care, etc
childcareservices.org

Frank Porter Graham
fpg.unc.edu

Smart Start of New Hanover County
newhanoverkids.org

NC Institute for Child Development Professionals
ncicdp.org

Career and Job Information


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