EEC Career Pathways Grant Program

Bristol Community College, utilizing the Early Education and Care Pathways grant, has developed a free program to assist the current early childhood education workforce. This pathway offers numerous opportunities to:

• Take courses to obtain educational requirements needed for Teacher, Lead Teacher, and Director certifications.
• Textbook loan options for required course materials.
• Guidance from our Academic Mentor who works with all Career Pathways students.
• Assist students in matriculating into Bristol Community College Early Childhood Education Degree or Certificate programs.

Program Overview

Bristol Community College develops support and connections with those in the Early Childhood Education field in the south coast community. Courses offered bolster teacher, lead teacher, and director certification.

Read more about the EEC Professional Certification requirements.

Free college is here! Bristol is free for Massachusetts residents. Click here to learn how eligible Massachusetts residents can attend Bristol at no cost, regardless of age or income.

Advantage of following this pathway

Early Education and Care is a rewarding field supporting the development of ages birth through five years of age and helping to provide quality early childhood education for children and families in our communities. Currently, there is a high demand for workers due to a shortage of qualified teachers and lead teachers in Massachusetts. 

Upon completion, there is an opportunity to matriculate into Bristol’s ECE Associate Degree program and continue a higher education degree through the Massachusetts EEC Scholarship program. 

Learn more about Bristol's Early Childhood Education degrees and certificates.

Apply for the Early Childhood Educators (ECE) Scholarship.

Course Information

All courses are stackable and matriculation into the ECE Associate Degree Program is a goal of this pathway. Courses include...

• ECE 110 - Early Childhood Growth and Development (3 credits).
• ECE 113 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition in Early Childhood Environments (3 credits).

• ECE 221 – Guiding Young Children (3 credits).

• ECE 222 – Special Needs in Early Childhood Education (3 credits).
• ECE 224 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum Development (3 credits).
• ECE 234 - Preschool Curriculum Planning (3 credits).
• ECE 291 - Childcare Administration (3 credits).

Courses offered through the Career Pathways Grant are fully online, with no set class times, meaning you can complete course work on your schedule, within assignment due dates. Assignment due dates will be posted within your course space, by your instructor.

Courses are offered in a combination of full-semester and half-semester options, depending on the course. Half semester courses are accelerated and condensed, with the full semester’s worth of work still being required. Please be sure to allow enough time in your schedule for successful course completion.

Courses must be taken in the order of certification requirements, e.g. Early Childhood Growth and Development must be completed first, prior to completing any other courses. Typically followed by Health, Safety, and Nutrition in Early Childhood Environments, a curriculum course, and then either Guidance or Special Needs to obtain Lead Teacher. Lastly, Childcare Administration is only available to current Lead Teachers, who have at least six months of Lead Teacher experience. 

For more information

Please complete the Interest Form so we can better understand how to support you in acquiring your EEC Professional Certification(s).

Heidi Campbell, Senior Special Programs Coordinator
774.357.2505 | Heidi.Campbell@BristolCC.edu

Additional Resources: 

Massachusetts Early Educator Career Pathways Programs