CDA Credential Prep
16-module instructor-led program available face-to-face, online, TikTok Live, or mobile pop-up formats.
About EECI
Building a diverse, career-ready childcare workforce
For over 20 years, the Early Education Career Institute has helped working adults earn credentials, launch careers, and transform early childhood education — one educator at a time.
Our story
Inspired by a mother's work in early childhood education
EECI was founded by Shawntel Green with a clear mission: provide affordable, career-ready educator training so that cost is never the reason someone can't start — or finish — their pathway. What began as a local effort in South Carolina has grown into a multi-state operation serving hundreds of educators each year.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Ambassador, we combine flexible training formats with wraparound support — translation, transportation, meals, childcare, and individualized coaching — so every learner has a real shot at success.
What we offer
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
2,000 OJT hours, 270+ instructional hours, 21 college credits, and a DOL certificate upon completion.
Stackable Credentials
CDA → Apprenticeship → 21 college credits → AA/BA degree or advanced credentials (lead teacher, director, owner/operator).
Super Saturdays & Workshops
Regional, interactive professional development events with CEU credits and bilingual support.
Wraparound Support
Translation (5+ languages), transportation, meals, childcare, technology access, and emergency support.
Funding Navigation
We help learners access WIOA, SNAP E&T, TANF, employer sponsorships, scholarships, and payment plans.
Our impact
Numbers that tell the story
Every credential earned creates a ripple — better-trained educators, safer classrooms, stronger families, and thriving communities.
800+
Educators credentialed annually
88%
Program completion rate
100%
Job placement for completers
4,800
Childcare slots created each year
14,400
Children served annually
$280.7M
Annual economic impact
5+
Languages supported
20+
Years of service
Equity-focused
80% of our learners are educators of color. We've credentialed 12,000–16,000 immigrants and refugees, supporting upward mobility through culturally responsive training.
Wage progression
Our graduates move from $15K entry-level wages to as high as $88K as owner/operators — a career ladder that transforms lives and communities.
Proven ROI
$7–$13 returned for every $1 invested. Our 20-year projected impact: $35.8B in economic value, $3B in provider wage gains, and 90,000+ children served.
Stackable pathway
From first credential to career leader
Every step builds on the last. Our stackable model means nothing you earn is wasted — it all counts toward your next milestone.
1
CDA Credential
Child Development Associate — your entry into the profession.
2
DOL Registered Apprenticeship
2,000 OJT hours + 270 instructional hours + DOL certificate.
3
21 College Credits
Earned through the apprenticeship — transferable toward a degree.
4
AA / BA Degree
Continue your education with credits already banked.
5
Advanced Credentials
Lead teacher, director, or owner/operator pathways.
Where we serve
Multi-state reach, local impact
EECI is ETPL-approved and actively operating or expanding in states across the country. Our 2026 national tour includes 45 stops across 6 states.
South CarolinaIndianaMissouriMichiganNebraskaGeorgiaMontanaLouisianaIdahoOklahomaIllinois+ more expanding
Languages supported
English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Haitian Creole, French, and Portuguese — because language should never be a barrier to a career.
Ready to start your pathway?
Whether you're an educator looking to earn your CDA, an employer building a training pipeline, or a workforce partner exploring apprenticeship models — we're here to help.
sgreen@tipsforchildcare.com•(833) 467-9997
www.tipsforchildcare.com | www.eceapprentice.com | www.morethancdaprep.com