Career Pathway

Are you ready to take charge of your career in the early childhood and school age profession?

The MiRegistry Career Pathway can help you identify goals and possible employment opportunities as you continue on your professional journey. Whether you are new to the field or experienced, MiRegistry is your partner to help you track your growth and reach your potential.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

-Nelson Mandela

Using the Career Pathway

The MiRegistry Career Pathway supports Michigan’s early childhood and school age
professionals in advancing their education and training. As a member of MiRegistry,
you are awarded a Career Pathway Level based on the education and training that is
verified in the MiRegistry system.

Log in to your MiRegistry account to view your Career Pathway Level. After reviewing
your level, explore career opportunities that align with your Career Pathway Level.

Background

Each level below lists possible career opportunities. The positions listed are based on preliminary educational qualifications and are possible opportunities that relate to the requirements of each level of the Career Pathway. This is not an exhaustive list of all career opportunities for early childhood and school age professionals. Refer to the licensing rules or program specific (Head Start, GSRP, etc.) guidelines for additional employment qualifications.

For more information, please download the Michigan Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Recommended Resources

Career Pathway Intro Video

Career Pathway (pdf)

Directory on Careers in Early Childhood

Foundational Levels

Level Qualification

Obtain membership in MiRegistry

Learn More about MiRegistry Membership

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Foundational Level One:

Assistant Teacher in Child Care Center or School Age Program
Family / Group Child Care Home Owner or Assistant

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification

Complete 60 unduplicated training hours aligned to the Core Knowledge and Core Competencies (CKCC) - Birth to Five or School Age.

Find Training Opportunities Finding Training Resources

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Foundational Level Two:

Assistant Teacher
Family / Group Child Care Home Owner or Assistant

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete one of the following:

6 semester (9 term) credit hours in Early Childhood Education / Child Development or child related-field.
90 unduplicated training hours aligned to the Core Knowledge and Core Competencies (CKCC) - Birth to Five or School Age.

Find Training Opportunities Finding Training Resources

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Foundational Level Three:

School Age Program Director

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Training Hours must be approved and obtained within three years. Approved training hours include those offered through miregistry.org and/or those bearing State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECH), or Continuing Education Units (CEU).

Professional Levels

Level Qualification
Complete one of the following:

12 semester (18 term) credit hours in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD) or child-related field
Valid Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. A CDA Credential consists of 120 clock hours of professional education, awarded by the Council of Professional Recognition
Valid Michigan Youth Development Associate (MI-YDA) Credential. The MI-YDA Credential is awarded by the Michigan After-School Partnership (MASP)
Valid Montessori Credential. This credential is awarded by a program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) or issued by the American Montessori Society (AMS) or the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
Valid Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health endorsement credential: Infant Family Associate or Early Childhood Family Associate

Find Training Opportunities Finding Training Resources

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level One:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Associate Teacher
Head Start Assistant Teacher
Early Head Start Lead Teacher
Lead Teacher in Child Care Center
Trainer

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete the following:

Registered Apprenticeship Completion Certificate with Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) or Michigan Youth Development Associate Credential (MI-YDA)

NOTE: Registered Apprenticeship refers to an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with related instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages.

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level One:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Associate Teacher
Head Start Assistant Teacher
Early Head Start Lead Teacher
Lead Teacher in Child Care Center
Trainer

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

PATHWAY A

Level Qualification
Complete one of the following:

Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD)
60 semester (90 term) credit hours with at least 18 semester (27 term) credit hours in ECE / CD

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Two:

Child Care Center Program Director / Administrator
Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist
Head Start Lead Teacher
Validator / Assessor, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

PATHWAY B

Level Qualification
Complete one of the following:

Associate Degree in a child-related field
60 semester (90 term) credit hours with at least 18 semester (27 term) credit hours in a child-related field OR with a Montessori Teaching Credential

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Two:

Child Care Center Program Director / Administrator
Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist
Head Start Lead Teacher
Validator / Assessor, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete the following:

Registered Apprenticeship Completion Certificate with Associate in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD) or child-related field

NOTE: Registered Apprenticeship refers to an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with related instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages.

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Two:

Child Care Center Program Director / Administrator
Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Development Specialist
Head Start Lead Teacher
Validator / Assessor, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete one of the following:

Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD) or Teacher Certification (with ZA, ZS, ZN, or ZO)
Bachelor Degree or higher in a related / unrelated field with 30 semester (45 term) credit hours in ECE / CD

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Three:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Lead Teacher
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Counselor
Quality Improvement Specialist, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)
Validation Manager / Assessment Manger, GSQ
School Age Multi-Site Director

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete one of the following:

Bachelor Degree in a child-related field
Bachelor Degree or higher in an unrelated field with 30 semester (45 term) credit hours in a child-related field OR with a Montessori Teaching Credential

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Three:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Lead Teacher
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Counselor
Quality Improvement Specialist, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)
Validation Manager / Assessment Manger, GSQ
School Age Multi-Site Director

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete the following:

Registered Apprenticeship Completion Certificate with Bachelor's Degree in Early Child Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD) or Education

NOTE: Registered Apprenticeship refers to an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with related instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages.

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Three:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Lead Teacher
Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Counselor
Quality Improvement Specialist, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)
Validation Manager / Assessment Manger, GSQ
School Age Multi-Site Director

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification

Complete Master Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD)

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Four:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Early Childhood Specialist
Community College Faculty / University Adjunct Faculty
Child Care Licensing Consultant
Quality Improvement Coach, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)
Agency or Program Director, Michigan AEYC, T.E.A.C.H., Michigan Afterschool Association
Research and Policy

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification

Complete Master Degree in a child-related field

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Four:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Early Childhood Specialist
Community College Faculty / University Adjunct Faculty
Child Care Licensing Consultant
Quality Improvement Coach, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)
Agency or Program Director, Michigan AEYC, T.E.A.C.H., Michigan Afterschool Association
Research and Policy

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification
Complete the following:

Registered Apprenticeship Completion Certificate with Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE)/ Child Development (CD) or Education

NOTE: Registered Apprenticeship refers to an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with related instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages.

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Four:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Early Childhood Specialist
Community College Faculty / University Adjunct Faculty
Child Care Licensing Consultant
Quality Improvement Coach, Great Start to Quality (GSQ)
Agency or Program Director, Michigan AEYC, T.E.A.C.H., Michigan Afterschool Association
Research and Policy

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification

Complete Ed.D or Ph.D. in one of the following areas:
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD)
- Teaching and learning
- Educational leadership
- Educational administration with a minimum of 36 semester (54 term) credit hours in Early Childhood Education (ECE) / Child Development (CD)

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Five:

University Faculty

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

Level Qualification

Complete Ed.D or Ph.D. in a child-related field

Credit Based Education Opportunities

Possible Career Opportunities
The following positions are based on preliminary educational qualifications that relate to Professional Level Five:

University Faculty

For more information, download the Directory on Careers in Early Childhood.

Find Early Childhood Jobs Find Out-of-School-Time Jobs

NOTE: "Child-related field" is defined by child care licensing.

Career Pathway

Use this information to guide and plan your career development.

Job Boards for Job Seekers and Recruiters

MAISA, MIAEYC, Great Start to Quality, and Early On, host free job boards to support workforce development.

Financial Supports

Learn about financial supports available to support your career development goals.

Use Self-Assessments for Career Guidance

Use self-assessments to understand how your skills and interests might align with career opportunities.

Explore Career Opportunities

Learn more about careers in the early childhood and school age care and education field.

Explore Career Development Opportunities

Learn about expanding your career opportunities through training, credentials, and higher education.

Provide Feedback on the Career Exploration Tool

Provide constructive feedback on the Career Exploration Tool.

Career Pathway

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