Career Ladder

Level IV

Professionals enter Level IV when they begin coursework for the Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, or a closely related field. Some professionals have passed through previous stages of this career ladder to arrive in Level IV. Some will do so as career changers perhaps with degrees and experience in unrelated fields. Others may be applying their experiences and training in related fields in new ways to early childhood education. Still others will begin their coursework immediately after graduating from high school.

There are a variety of options for study for the Bachelor's degree in Vermont, including traditional 4-year degrees at institutions of higher education, programs designed around periods of intensive study, as well as on-line and distance learning. Level IV A instruction culminates with the Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, or a closely related field, without licensure from the Vermont Department of Education.

Professionals with the Bachelor's degree are encouraged to seek licensure from the Vermont Department of Education. This is Level IV B. Avenues for obtaining licensure include recommendation for licensure by the faculty of the higher education institution granting the degree, peer licensing through the Vermont Early Childhood Educator Licensing program, as well as post-baccalaureate licensing programs. With this degree and a year of practice in the field, professionals complete Level IV and may proceed to Level V or VI.

For more information, see the Career Ladder