Career Pathway
Are you ready to take charge of your career in the Early Childhood and Out of School Time Profession?
The 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 Career Pathway is a career model for you and all Early Childhood and School Age Professionals in Michigan. You are awarded a level on the Career Pathway based on the education and training that is verified by MiRegistry when you become a member. View your current Career Pathway level by logging in to your MiRegistry account.
Use the Career Pathway to identify ongoing education goals and possible career opportunities based on your verified qualifications.
About the Levels
The Career Pathway has 8 sequential career levels. Each level lists different education or training requirements. A MiRegistry member who meets one of the requirements listed in a specific level will be awarded that level based on the information submitted to and verified by MiRegistry. Meeting the requirements of prior levels is not required.
Please Note: MiRegistry will automatically award members the highest level possible, according to the listed requirements.
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 Drectory 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.
Level Qualification
- Complete 60 unduplicated training hours aligned to the Core Knowledge and Core Competencies (CKCC) - Birth to Five or School Age.
Find Training OpportunitiesFinding 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.
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 OpportunitiesFinding 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.
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 Infant Family Associate Credential awarded by Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health
Find Training OpportunitiesFinding 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.