Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ECTC)
The (ECTC) is a competency-based credential awarded by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) to individuals at the Associate and Bachelor degree level with concentrations in Infant/Toddler, Preschool or Infant/Toddler AND Preschool.
Consider getting your ECTC if your Qualified Staff Member (QSM) date is 2025 so you can fulfill the current legislative requirement for the teacher role in state-funded programs. (For information about the Legislative Requirements for Staff Qualifications in State-Funded Programs in General Policy A-01 https://www.ctoec.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GP-A-01-final-2019-09.pdf.)
For more information on the ECTC, please visit https://www.ctoec.org/early-childhood-teaching-credential-ectc/
ECTC IRR Awardees
The Individual Review Route to obtaining the Early Childhood Teaching Credential offered me a unique opportunity to reflect upon my practices as an early childhood educator in an engaging way. Throughout the entirety of the process, I felt confident in my understanding of the directions given to me and comfortable in knowing that I could reach out to Colleen with any questions I may have. When I did need some assistance, Colleen was able to thoroughly answer all of my questions in a timely manner.
Completing the ECTC IRR portfolio gives teachers the chance to examine themselves and their practices objectively through the lens of best practices in early childhood. Spending some time articulating why I do the things I do helped me realize the hard work I have put in to get where I am and increased my confidence in the classroom. The process was nothing short of a pleasure and I feel fortunate to have had the experience alongside the support of Colleen and everyone else at the CTAEYC. ~Mike Vassello
There are 2 ways to earn your ECTC:
1. Approved college route:
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Graduate from one of CT’s ECTC approved colleges with a degree in an ECTC path that includes student teaching.
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Before you can be considered for review, you must be a member in the Connecticut Early Childhood Registry and submit all of your documentation through the Registry.
Contact Deb Adams, Workforce Specialist, CT Office of Early Childhood at
2. Individual review route:
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Apply for the ECTC Individual Review Route (IRR) to see if you are eligible for the credential based on a combination of your non-early childhood education degree and your work experience.
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To qualify for getting the ECTC through the individual review process, you must:
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Currently be working in the early childhood education field or have at least one year of experience;
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Have a degree from a regionally accredited college in a concentration that’s not related to early childhood, child development, or child studies;
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Have completed 12 credits in early childhood or child development,
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Before you can be considered for review, you need to be a member in the Connecticut Early Childhood Registry and submit all of your documentation through the Registry.
Contact Colleen Brower at the CT Association for the Education of Young Children (CTAEYC) at cbrower@ctaeyc.org for information about applying for the ECTC IRR.
CTAEYC coordinates the ECTC IRR process on behalf of the OEC. OEC is funding the work of CTAEYC in this area.
