Becoming Entitled for the ECE Credential

ECE Credential Levels 2-6 are for early care and education professionals who have formal education, training and experience with children (ages 0-8). The ECE Credential lays the groundwork for a highly qualified childcare professional and is built on the following seven core Content Areas:

• Human Growth and Development (HGD) 
• Health, Safety, and Well-Being (HSW) 
• Observation and Assessment (OA) 
• Curriculum or Program Design (CPD) 
• Interactions, Relationships, and Environments (IRE) 
• Family and Community Relationships (FCR)
• Personal and Professional Development (PPD)

ECE Credential

• pdf ECE Entitlement Application (636 KB)
• pdf ECE Competencies by Credential level and suggested role (394 KB)
• pdf ECE Competencies within Content Areas inclusive of Benchmarks (617 KB)
• pdf ECE Content Areas (39 KB)
• ECE Toolbox
• pdf ECE Competency Framework (770 KB)

Student/Workforce Potential

The Illinois Gateways to Opportunity Registry contains administrative data on a total of 38,657 individuals working in 3,280 licensed childcare centers. According to the January 2014 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2012 – 2022, careers in early childhood are expected to increase by 14%. Higher Education Institutions are critical partners to build a well-qualified workforce the demand for which is growing. The Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Youth: Early Childhood Education Workforce reports that 1,233 vacant early childhood educator positions – twice as many as there were five years ago. 
Whitehead, J. (2016). Characteristics of the Infant/Toddler Workforce in Illinois. Data Brief #2016-01, Bloomington, IL: INCCRRA