Early Childhood Education
Whether you are looking to enter the workforce quickly through a specialized certificate, earn while you learn in our apprenticeship program, or pursue a transfer-ready A.A.S. degree for B-K licensure, we provide the path to get you there.
Why Choose CFCC for Early Childhood Education?
CFCC’s Early Childhood Education program provides the expert training needed to support children’s healthy growth from infancy through middle childhood. Grounded in National Association for the Education of Young Children professional standards, our curriculum balances deep dives into child development theory with hands-on, real-world experiences in diverse learning environments.
- Holistic Development: Master strategies to support children’s social, emotional, cognitive, creative, and physical growth.
- Research Driven: 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).
- Credential Ready: Our coursework aligns directly with NC DCDEE Credentials, including the NC Early Childhood and School-Age credentials.
- Proven Quality: Join a program nationally accredited by the NAEYC Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs.
Find Your Path
Certificates
Apprenticeship Information
Apprenticeship Courses
Apprenticeship Partners
Apprenticeship Contact Information
Brittany Hewett
Program Director
(910) 362-7566
bshewett832@cfcc.edu
Program Mission
Program Learning Outcomes
- PLO 1: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of a wide range of types of assessments, their purposes, and their associated methods and tools.
- PLO 2: Students will demonstrate their ability to support and engage families and communities and reciprocal relationships.
- PLO 3: Students will demonstrate they understand and use teaching skills that are responsive to the learning trajectories of young children and to the needs of each child, recognizing that differentiating instruction, incorporating play as a core teaching practice, and supporting the development of executive function skills critical for young children.
NC DCDEE Credentials
-
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
1401 H. St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005
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
1401 H. St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005
Student Success
Number of Program Completers by Academic Year
| Program Name | Academic Year | Number of Completers | % Full-Time | % Part-Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A55220C – Early Childhood Career Track A.A.S. | 2025-2026 | 2 | 0% | 100% |
| 2024-2025 | 2 | 0% | 100% | |
| 2023-2024 | 2 | 0% | 100% | |
| A55220NL – Early Childhood Education Non-Licensure Transfer A.A.S. | 2025-2026 | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| 2024-2025 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| 2023-2024 | 1 | 0% | 100% | |
| A55220L – Early Childhood Education Licensure Transfer A.A.S. | 2025-2026 | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| 2024-2025 | 0 | 0% | 0% | |
| 2023-2024 | 3 | 0% | 100% |
Percentage of Full-Time Candidates Completing Program within 150% of Timeframe
| Program Name | Academic Year | Completion Rate (150%) |
|---|---|---|
| A55220C – Early Childhood Career Track A.A.S. | 2025-2026 | 0% |
| 2024-2025 | 0% | |
| 2023-2024 | 0% | |
| A55220NL – Non-Licensure Transfer A.A.S. | 2025-2026 | 0% |
| 2024-2025 | 0% | |
| 2023-2024 | 0% | |
| A55220L – Licensure Transfer A.A.S. | 2025-2026 | 0% |
| 2024-2025 | 0% | |
| 2023-2024 | 0% |
Fall-to-Fall Retention Rates by Program and Status
| Program Name | Academic Year | Part-Time % of Total | Part-Time Retention | Full-Time % of Total | Full-Time Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A55220C (Career Track) | 2025-2026 | 58% | 25 | 38% | 5 |
| 2024-2025 | 56% | 35 | 53% | 9 | |
| 2023-2024 | 50% | 10 | 80% | 4 | |
| A55220NL (Non-Licensure) | 2025-2026 | 0% | 0 | 50% | 1 |
| 2024-2025 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| 2023-2024 | 67% | 2 | 0% | 0 | |
| A55220L (Licensure) | 2025-2026 | 67% | 6 | 75% | 3 |
| 2024-2025 | 50% | 4 | 43% | 3 | |
| 2023-2024 | 69% | 9 | 50% | 1 |
Related Links
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
