Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate
Next Class begins in late spring - Enrolling now
The Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate is a professional credential issued by the Louisiana Department of Education for teachers currently working in early learning centers.
All new lead teachers working in Type III licensed child care centers are required to have the Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate (ECAC) as a minimum credential beginning July 2019. Lead teachers in Type III child care centers will be required to have the certificate within 24 months of their start date as a lead teacher.
Administrators of the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP) will serve as program instructors.The ECELP is a Reggio Emilia - inspired research facility within the School of Education and is aligned with undergraduate and graduate programs in Early Childhood Education. The ECELP is NAEYC accredited.
The ECELP serves as a laboratory for cutting-edge research in the areas of child development and education. It also serves as a training site for undergraduate and graduate students as a model demonstration site within the community. Through its support of research and teaching, the ECELP will generate and disseminate knowledge about best practices in early childhood education to support children’s development and learning.
Instructions
- Verify you meet all eligibility requirements (see "Program Costs & Eligibility" below)
- Gather required documentation:
- Completed Scholarship Application Form
Required for all applicants - Copy of High School diploma/GED
Required for all applicants - Assistant teacher letter stating you are eligible for hire as a lead upon completion
of the program
Required for assistant teacher applicants - Pathways Enrollment Information: Enrollment Documents (Enrollment Form, Employment Verification Form, Education Documentation)
Required for Pathways non-members only
- Completed Scholarship Application Form
- Click "Get Started" below to provide contact information and to upload your documents.
What can I expect from the ECAC program? |
Program Schedule |
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| 120 clock hours across 6 months (10 hours in each CDA subject area) | In-person classes will be held on the LSU campus, following all CDC and state guidelines for health and safety. Should in-person classes need to be canceled, virtual classes will be held. |
| Both online and face-to-face instruction | Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Two observations using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) | |
| Development of a CDA portfolio | |
| CDA Assessment (online test and 3-hour CDA Council PD Specialist observation) |
| Program Costs & Eligibility |
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| The ECAC is provided at no cost through the ECAC Program Scholarship. You will be required to submit a completed Scholarship Application Form to complete your application. |
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A teacher must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
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| What if I am not already a member of Pathways? |
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You can collect the required documents and LSU will submit to Pathways on your behalf along with your Scholarship Application. Required documentation includes:
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| You will have the opportunity to upload these documents at the time of application. |
| Did you know the Louisiana Transfer Degree can be easily transferable to a four-year institution? |
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ECAC to Associate Degree: transfer in to a Care and Development of Young Children (CDYC), Associate in Applied
Science (AAS) as they will accept our ECAC for 3 course credits at Delgado. |
| ECAC to Bachelor's Degree: transfer in to a Louisiana Transfer Degree program at any Louisiana Community or
Technical College. We are working on an articulation with the whole Louisiana Community and Technical College System to accept our ECAC for 3 course credits |