Hillsborough Community College provides training for the non-credit Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC), a DCF and DOE approved pre-school staff credential*. Eligibility/Training requirements include:

1. Foundational course work (45 hours):
• State and Local Rules and Regulations (6 hours)
• Health, Safety, & Nutrition (8 hours)
• Identifying & Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect (4 hours)
• Child Growth & Development (6 hours)
• Behavioral Observation & Screening (6 hours)
• Preschool Appropriate Practices (10 hours)

After completion of the required courses, Florida Administrative Code 65C-22.003(2)(a) requires “successful completion of the 40 hour training (above) as evidenced by passage of competency examinations with a score of seventy (70) or better.”
• 5-clock hours of DCF approved literacy training (completed online)

Note: To be eligible as a VPK (Voluntary Pre-kindergarten) instructor, students must take the DOE VPK Literacy course.
 
2. Child care curriculum course work
• HEV0152 (10 hours) Early Childhood Professional
• HEV0163 (10 hours) Leadership
• HEV0181 (10 hours) Observing and Recording Behaviors
• HEV0137 (15 hours) Learning Environments I
• HEV0130 (10 hours) Child Growth and Development
• HEV0132 (15 hours) Developmentally Appropriate Activities
• HEV0141 (10 hours) Guidance
• HEV0142 (10 hours) Learning Environments II

3. 480 hours of direct work with children 5 years of age or younger and Completion of a Professional Resource File/Portfolio (HEV0183, HEV0184, HEV0185)

4. Documentation of High School diploma or GED; Documentation of age (must be 18 years or above)

*The ECPC is not a national staff credential (‘National CDA’). The ECPC is often referred to as a ‘CDA-E’ but does not provide national credentialing. The national credential is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC. The Council may be contacted at 800-424-4310 or at http://www.cdacouncil.org

Please contact the Early Childhood department at (813) 253-7956 for further information about the ECPC.