Child Care Management

The Associate in Applied Science Child Care Management program at Central Penn College focuses on progressive childcare as well as effective business management. Through classroom instruction and hands-on experience, students learn how to develop programs that effectively stimulate the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth of children. The program also educates students on the management of childcare services and prepares individuals to plan, design, and manage childcare facilities and programs that meet children’s developmental needs and interests and that provide safe and healthy environments. This degree will prepare students to apply for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential through the Council for Professional Recognition and is valid for three years from the award date.

Students with an early childhood education can apply for a range of positions that contribute to the support and development of young students. Typically, early childhood educators work with infants and young children up to age four or five. Additionally, it's possible to enter a role in early childhood education and have the opportunity for advancement as more experience in the field is gained. With this degree, graduates can work at a daycare, preschool, or even a kindergarten classroom. They can also choose to work with young minds outside of an academic setting, such as a camp counselor.

Students are required to complete 25 hours per week of employment or volunteer hours at a childcare facility throughout this program. Please note that students may be required to complete a PA state police and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, provide proof of current required immunizations, and be certified in pediatric CPR and pediatric first aid to begin. This is also required to apply for the CDA credential.

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.

It is the responsibility of the student to complete the application, create the required portfolio, arrange for the PD Specialist observation visit, schedule the examination, and pay any and all fees associated with obtaining this credential. The CDA credential can benefit students in early childhood education in many ways:

1. Career advancement: CDA-credentialed educators are more likely to be hired and promoted. 2. Job requirements: A CDA can meet the requirements for many early childhood education jobs, such as daycare center director, lead teacher, and teacher's assistant. 3. Professional recognition: The CDA is a widely recognized credential that demonstrates students’ skills and abilities in early childhood education.

4. Professional development: A CDA can be renewed by completing professional development activities, such as workshops, college courses, or conferences.

The credentialing process consists of six steps: 1. Before you apply – candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, and have a minimum of 120 hours of education covering the 8 required subject areas 2. Candidates must complete a minimum of 480 hours of experience. Experience must be within three years before you apply. The embedded work/volunteer hours will fulfill this requirement. 3. Candidates must complete the professional portfolio and family questionnaires within 6 months prior to application. During internship, you will develop your portfolio. 4. Identify a CDA Professional Development specialist to schedule the verification visit; complete and send the application to the council, pay the application fee. Candidates will receive approval to move forward if the application is complete and the fee is paid. 5. Within 6 months of receiving approval from the Council – Candidates must have a verification visit completed and take the CDA Exam (scheduled through Pearson VUE testing). 6. The PD specialist will send the verification visit scores to the council, the Exam scores are sent to the council. The council will then either award or deny the credential.

Although attaining this credential is not a requirement to graduate, students are strongly encouraged to seek this credential after completing the certificate.

Candidates who have achieved the CDA credential will receive transfer credits for those courses in the CCM certificate. These students may complete the AAS in a little as 4 terms.

Students who complete this degree may be eligible to apply for the Childcare Director Credential though the Pennsylvania Key.

Program learning objectives.

• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and oral, in a manner reflective of the profession.
• Identify appropriate resources and apply analytical reasoning/critical thinking skills to make informed business decisions relating to childcare businesses.
• Examine and evaluate the various issues required of childcare providers such as inclusivity, diversity, and policies and procedures surrounding childcare.
• Relate knowledge of specific terminology, procedures, and principles of ethics in the childcare field.
• Demonstrate the knowledge required to assess developmental needs of the child.
• Plan an appropriate curriculum geared to the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual readiness of the individual child.
• Create an interactive learning environment where the children learn by doing through sequential learning experiences based on a child centered philosophy.
• Complete the Child Development Associate (CDA) competencies and requirements to successfully attain the CDA credential.
• Complete a minimum of 25 hours of employment or volunteer hours in a childcare facility per week for the duration of the program.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

Courses are offered at a variety of times Monday through Friday. Online classes are also available. Typical courses run for an 11-week term. The College operates on a year-round schedule of quarterly, 11-week terms enabling students to complete their degrees faster, if they choose to go full-time each term.

This program has Fall start. Upcoming start dates: October 11, 2027.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300. Uniforms (where required) are estimated at $100–$150.

Housing and meals. Campus housing per term: individual private bedroom $2,205, standard apartment bedroom $1,505, super suite bedroom $1,595, utilities $330. Meal plans per term range from $550 (Block 75) to $1,125 (14 Meal Plan); a $250 housing security deposit is required.

Financial aid. Central Penn College processes grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study through federal, state, private, and institutional sources to help eligible students meet some of those costs, including the Federal Pell Grant, PA State Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. To apply for all federal and state financial aid programs, students must complete the FAFSA; Central Penn’s Federal School Code for FAFSA is 004890. To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits).

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Day care worker, Home-based nanny, Camp counselor, Preschool or kindergarten assistant, Teacher.

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).