Core Competencies

For Early Care and Education Professionals. Core content areas include:

Child Growth and Development

Understand how children acquire language and creative expression and develop physically, cognitively, and socially.

• Child Growth and Development 

Learning Environment and Curriculum

Establish an environment that provides learning experiences that meet each child's needs, capabilities, and interests.

• Creating the Learning Environment and General Curriculum
• Promoting Physical Development
• Promoting Cognitive Development
• Promoting Language/Communication Development
• Promoting Social Development
• Promoting Creative Expression

Child Observation and Assessment

Observe and assess what children know and can do in order to provide curriculum that meets their developmental and learning needs.

• Observation and Assessment

Families and Communities

Work collaboratively with families and agencies/organizations to meet children's needs and to encourage the community's involvement with early care and education.

• Relationships with Families
• Use of Community Resources 

Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Establish and maintain an environment that ensures children's healthy development, safety, and nourishment.

• Knowledge of Regulations
• Environmental Safety
• Responding to Health Needs of Children
• Nutrition 

Interactions with Children

Establish supportive relationships with children and guide them as individuals and as a part of a group.

• Providing Individual Guidance
• Enhancing Group Experiences

Program Planning and Development

Establish, implement, and evaluate an early care and education program.

• Program Planning and Evaluation
• Personnel Management
• Financial Management

Professional Development and Leadership

Serve children and families in a professional manner and participate in the community as a representative of early childhood care and education.

• Displaying Professionalism in Practice
• Ongoing Professional Growth
• Leadership and Advocacy