Early Childhood Education Program

Course Requirements

Course requirements for the Early Childhood Education degree are subject to change. Visit our catalog for up-to-date information.

Course Highlights

• ECE: Health, Safety and Nutrition
• ECE: Guiding Children’s Behavior
• ECE: Children With Differing Abilities
• More

Scholarships

Scholarships may be available for students who are employed in a licensed child care center or a licensed or certified family child care program. Applicants must have the support of their employer and possess a high school diploma or GED. Scholarships for the Early Childhood Administrative Credential Certificate are available through the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association T.E.A.C.H. program.

State Licensure Disclosure:
Moraine Park’s Early Childhood Education program prepares students to obtain the educational requirements for licensure to be employed/practice in the state of Wisconsin. No determination has been made if the curriculum matches the educational requirements for preparation, examinations, or licensure for other states. Visit the Accreditation page for more details about accreditation.

The Early Childhood Education program includes required field experience training at off-site locations such as child care centers and schools. These hands-on experiences are an essential part of your education and help prepare you for working in the field. All students must meet specific health and safety requirements before they can participate in field experiences which require working with children.

Pre-Requirements for Field Experience

Before you begin your off-site field training, perspective students must complete the following:

1. Caregiver Background Check – Must Be Approved

This background check is required by state law and must be completed and approved before starting any field placement. It includes:

• Fingerprinting
• FBI and Wisconsin Department of Justice criminal history
• Child abuse and neglect history
• State and federal sex offender registries
• Wisconsin CCAP (Consolidated Court Automation Program)
• Out-of-state criminal and child abuse history (if applicable)
• Local court and police records

Cost: Students are responsible for the background check and fingerprinting fee, which is approximately $40.

Note: Some criminal offenses automatically prevent someone from working with children. The list of barred offenses is available here:
Barred Offenses List – WI Department of Children and Families

2. Health and Safety Training Certificates

These certificates may be completed in the course 307-167 Health, Safety & Nutrition or through an approved training provider: (Note: CPR is not provided in the HSN course; however, may be taken from MPTC non-credit courses or community agency).

• Infant & Child CPR with AED (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) (in-person class only). For assistance contact your Academic Advisor or Student Services.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Prevention Training
• Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Training
• Mandated Reporter Training (Child Abuse and Neglect)

3. Medical Physical Examination Report – Form DCF-F-CFS0054 Staff Health Form

Students must submit a signed and dated report of a physical examination that was completed within 12 months prior to the start of class. The report may be:

• A printout of an electronic health record from a medical provider, or
• Preferably, completed on the Staff Health form

The physical exam must be conducted by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or another qualified EPSDT provider. The report must indicate that the student is:

• Free from illnesses that may be harmful to children (including tuberculosis)
• Required by DCF Licensing Physically and mentally able to work with young children

4. After your enrollment in a Field Experience course students will receive an email invitation sent to your school email for you to submit required documentation to a shared file folder.  

Additional Information

• Off-site programs may have additional requirements, such as site orientations/training, school district background check, dress codes, or additional documentation.
• A full list of field experience requirements for this program is available by contacting the Student Health Record Representative at drhoads1@morainepark.edu.

Important:
This program does not require a Criminal Background Check at the point of admission, but a Criminal Background Check will be required. Students will need to successfully pass a Criminal Background Check to progress in and complete the program. Students will receive information regarding completing this requirement before being placed working/observing in a child care facility.

Please Note:
Moraine Park Technical College does not guarantee…

1. Placement to practicum sites;
2. Potential or future employment eligibility beyond graduation;
3. Ability to sit for licensure or certification exams or achievement of credentials related to licensure or certification.

Taking a course within the Early Childhood Education curriculum prior to completing and passing a criminal background check does not guarantee enrollment in any one of the four practicum courses required for program completion.

More information regarding barred offenses that may impact a person’s ability to work at a child care center can be found in the “Barred Offenses – Regulated Child Care” guide.