Virginia Community Colleges
Early Childhood Education Programs
Early childhood education programs at community colleges in this state. Coursework for child-care, preschool, and elementary-track teachers.
23 colleges · 399 sections · 26 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Virginia community colleges train the people who staff licensed daycare centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and pre-K classrooms across the state. The 399 sections at 23 VCCS institutions this term cover child development, early-literacy methods, classroom management for ages 0–5, family engagement, and the supervised practicum hours required for the state's child-care or T-K teaching credentials.
Most Virginia ECE associate programs are designed for working students — evening and weekend sections are standard — because the typical student is already employed at a child-care center and using the degree to move into a lead-teacher or assistant-director role. Pay is modest but the work is stable and the credentialing pathway is clearer than almost any other field.
Earnings & outcomes for Early Childhood Education graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 1312 — Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Early Childhood Education
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | 94 | 23 | 26 | — | — |
| Tidewater Community College | 38 | 19 | 33 | — | — |
| Brightpoint Community College | 31 | 19 | 26 | 58 | — |
| Reynolds Community College | 22 | 17 | 19 | — | — |
| Germanna Community College | 19 | 13 | 19 | — | — |
| Virginia Western Community College | 19 | 14 | 15 | — | — |
| Camp Community College | 18 | 12 | 9 | — | — |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | 16 | 11 | 16 | — | — |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | 16 | 11 | 4 | — | — |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 14 | 11 | 12 | — | — |
| Danville Community College | 13 | 13 | 6 | — | — |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | 13 | 10 | 5 | — | — |
| Central Virginia Community College | 12 | 9 | 4 | — | — |
| New River Community College | 12 | 10 | 3 | — | — |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | 11 | 10 | 6 | — | — |
| Southside Virginia Community College | 10 | 7 | 6 | — | — |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | 10 | 10 | 9 | — | — |
| Eastern Shore Community College | 9 | 7 | 6 | — | — |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | — |
| Mountain Empire Community College | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | — |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | 5 | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Rappahannock Community College | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Wytheville Community College | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
Early Childhood Education Availability Snapshot
How early childhood education sections are being offered across 23 colleges in Virginia this term (399 sections total).
Delivery format
- online240 (60%)
- hybrid120 (30%)
- in person38 (10%)
- zoom1 (0%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)39
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)37
- Evening (5 PM and after)79
- Asynchronous / TBA244
Start dates
Sections begin on 20 distinct dates. 142 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Blue Ridge Community College3 programs
Brightpoint Community College3 programs
Camp Community College4 programs
Central Virginia Community College3 programs
Danville Community College3 programs
Eastern Shore Community College3 programs
Germanna Community College3 programs
Laurel Ridge Community College2 programs
Mountain Empire Community College2 programs
Mountain Gateway Community College1 program
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Summer Semester
- EDU 235Health, Safety, and Nutrition Educationnot offered
Source: College catalog
New River Community College4 programs
Northern Virginia Community College4 programs
Patrick & Henry Community College3 programs
Reynolds Community College4 programs
Southside Virginia Community College1 program
Required Courses
- SDV 101Orientation Tonot offered
- CHD 120Introduction to Early Childhood Education1 section
- CHD 205Guiding the Behavior of Children1 section
- EDU 235Health, Safety and Nutrition Education1 section
- CHD 145Teaching Art, Music, and Movement to Childrennot offered
- CHD 165Observation and Participation in Early Childhood/Primary Settingsnot offered
Source: College catalog
Southwest Virginia Community College3 programs
Tidewater Community College3 programs
Virginia Highlands Community College2 programs
Virginia Peninsula Community College3 programs
Virginia Western Community College4 programs
Common Early Childhood Education courses
- EDU 200Foundations of Education(50 sections)
- CHD 145Teaching Art, Music, and Movement to Children(34 sections)
- CHD 120Introduction to Early Childhood Education(33 sections)
- CHD 165Observation and Participation in Early Childhood/Primary Settings(32 sections)
- CHD 205Guiding the Behavior of Children(25 sections)
- EDU 250Foundations of Exceptional Education(23 sections)
- EDU 235Health, Safety, and Nutrition Education(22 sections)
- EDU 204Teaching in a Diverse Society(21 sections)
- CHD 118Language Arts for Young Children(19 sections)
- CHD 265Advanced Observation and Participation in Early Childhood/Primary Settings(18 sections)
- CHD 166Infant and Toddler Programs(17 sections)
- CHD 270Administration of Childcare Programs(16 sections)
Career outlook for Early Childhood Education graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Virginia’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Virginia's typical pay is about 4% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a degree to work at a daycare in Virginia?
- Requirements vary by role and facility type. Assistant teacher roles at licensed centers typically need a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential — a one-year certificate. Lead teacher in a public pre-K classroom usually requires an associate or bachelor's. Family child-care homes have lower minimums but the higher-paying jobs all require the AAS in early childhood.
- Can I transfer this credit to a teaching bachelor's?
- Usually yes for the general-education portion (English, math, US history) and the foundational child-development courses. Methods-and-practicum credits often need to be re-taken at the four-year level because state teacher-certification programs require specific supervised hours at their own partner schools. Compare colleges' transfer agreements below.
- What's the typical salary for an early-childhood teacher in Virginia?
- Preschool teachers in Virginia earn roughly the state's living wage — lower than public-school K–12 teachers but higher than minimum-wage daycare assistant roles. Head Start lead teachers earn more than private-center teachers thanks to federal funding. Many graduates stack on the CDA, AAS, and eventually a B.A. to keep climbing the pay scale.
- How long does the ECE associate take?
- Two years full-time, including the supervised practicum semester. Many programs are offered fully part-time and online (except for the practicum hours), letting working assistants complete it in 3–4 years while continuing to work.
Compare Early Childhood Education programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Virginia’s early childhood education programs stack up.
Other programs in Virginia
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.