Early Childhood Education

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program

The Teacher Certification Program (TCP) in Early Childhood Education (Birth – Age 8) is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree. The program is a fully accredited certification program that prepares students to teach preschool to grade 2.

Students complete between 50 and 66 credits depending on their undergraduate degree. This program leads to teacher certification and does not lead to a master’s degree.

How To Apply

• Meet with an advisor to discuss program requirements, application process, and TCP course sequence. See TCP Curriculum Sheet.
• Complete the graduate school application. On the application select Early Childhood Education TCP under Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Early Childhood Education.
• Complete the School of Education TCP graduate admissions process.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements for Academic Year 2023-2024 (PDF)

In accordance with the 2019 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, URI hereby discloses only that the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure as an Early Childhood Educator in the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and Maryland. The applicable licensing board in these states may impose additional requirements on candidates prior to granting a license (e.g., passing of an exam; obtaining a certificate; performing additional clinical/practicum hours; etc.), and we encourage you to investigate those requirements with your licensing board. URI has not determined whether the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure in any other states or territories and we encourage you to investigate the requirements in your state or territory.