Eligibility
1. Who is eligible to apply for certification?
Anyone that meets the qualifications for the certification type they are seeking (teacher, lead teacher, or director) can apply for certification. Check out the specific requirements for each certification type.
2. Can I apply for more than one certification?
Yes. You can apply online for multiple certification levels. The Teacher Qualifications unit will certify you for the levels you qualify for.
Apply for a professional certification online now
3. What if I apply for Director certification, but only qualify for Lead Teacher or Teacher?
If you apply for a Director I or II certification, your details and documents must prove that you qualify in order for us to approve a certification.
If your details and documents don’t prove that you meet the requirements for a Direction I or II certification, we won’t approve you for that level.
- If your details and documents meet the requirements for another level (like Teacher or Lead Teacher), we’ll approve you for the level that you qualify for.
- If we can’t approve you, you’ll receive an email with our decision and more details about how to review notes on your application.
4. How do I know if I meet the Director certification requirements if I haven’t been EEC certified for Lead Teacher?
Specific requirements for Director certification can be found on the certification website.
5. Can I apply if I only meet the Minimum Hiring Requirements for Director, Lead Teacher, or Teacher?
No. You need to meet the certification requirements for the certification type (beyond the minimum hiring requirements) to apply.
However, the coursework that you take to meet the Minimum Hiring Requirements may meet some of the requirements for certification. You can learn more about our eligibility requirements for certifications on our website.
6. Am I required to apply for certification?
No. Certification is currently optional.
7. I am applying to a program that only hires people with an EEC Certificate. What can I do if I’m not certified but meet the Minimum Hiring Requirements?
Although EEC sets the minimum hiring requirements for programs, individual programs (employers) may have their own additional hiring requirements.
8. Who is eligible for optional director certification?
Educators who meet the eligibility requirements for a director certification will qualify for this certificate.
First, the educator needs to meet the eligibility requirements for lead teacher certification. Then they’ll need to meet additional requirements for a director I or II certification.
You can learn more about the requirements on our website.
Learn more about the director certification requirements
Learn more about the lead teacher certification requirements
Course and Work Requirements
1. What courses and work experience do I need to have to qualify for certification?
The courses and amount of work experience you need depends on the certification you’re applying for.
You can learn more about the specific requirements on our website.
Learn more about our professional certification eligibility requirements
2. If I don’t meet the requirements for certification, can I work in that position in a program?
What educators should know
Yes. If you meet the Minimum Hiring Requirements for the position, you can apply for the role. If you receive the job, you can begin work in that position in the program, but you’ll also need to complete additional training or coursework after you’re hired.
You can review more details on the “additional 6 months requirement” section (page 8) of our Minimum Hiring Requirements Policy for Educators PDF.
Minimum Hiring Requirements Policy for Educators (PDF)
Learn more about the Minimum Hiring Requirements on our website
What providers should know
Program providers should review and make sure they understand the minimum hiring requirements. Providers should also know that educators may be working toward meeting the certification requirements for their position in the future.
Learn more about our professional certification eligibility requirements
3. What CEU courses does EEC accept for professional certifications?
We only accept CEUs from 3 organizations for our professional certifications:
- Child Care Education Institute (CCEI)
- Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAEYC)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
If you have a training from CCEI, we only accept the infant-toddler certificate and the Director’s certificate.
The amount of CEUs you need depends on the certification you’re applying for.
Learn more about our professional certification eligibility requirements
4. What are examples of related and unrelated fields of study?
To meet our certification eligibility requirements, your college or university-level courses must teach specific topics important for educators.
When you apply for a certification, we’ll review your transcript for relevant course credits.
Related fields of study
We may accept fields of study that focus on caregiving, child development, education, health care, or psychology of children (birth to 8 years old).
These are some examples of related fields of study:
- Elementary Education or Child Development
- Child-or family-related degrees
- Human Development or Human Services
- Nursing or Psychology
- Sociology or Social Work
Unrelated fields of study
We may also accept other unrelated fields.
These are examples of unrelated fields of study:
- Business or Communications
- Criminal Justice
- Fine Arts (like Music or Drama)
- Information Systems, Computer, or Technology
- Liberal Arts or Visual Arts
- Physical Therapy
- Sciences (like Biology or Life Science)
5. Will my Child Growth and Development course taken through “Cares Course” count towards director certification?
No, that course meets the Minimum Hiring Requirements, but does not meet the regulatory requirements for director certification. Specific requirements for Director certification can be found online.
6. If I do not work somewhere currently, can I get certified before I get the job?
Although it is not a requirement to be employed in a program to be certified, you must meet the experiential requirements as well as the educational requirements to become certified. Specific requirements for certification can be found on the certification website.
7. If I worked at another job, how do I get those hours over to my new job for certification?
When you apply for a certification, you’ll need to provide details in our online form about your work experience. This includes your position title, average weekly hours, age groups you worked with, and your supervisor details.
Then your supervisor will need to verify your work experience online.
Application Process
1. How do I apply for a professional certification?
You can apply online for a professional certification.
You’ll also need to upload supporting documents with your application. We recommend having these documents ready before you start your application.
Learn more about the documents you’ll need
Apply online for a professional certification
2. Can I mail my application?
No. We don’t accept applications by mail.
You’ll need to apply online for a professional certification.
Learn more about applying online for an EEC professional certification
3. How do I know that EEC received my application?
You can log in to our new portal to check the status of your application.
Learn more about the updates to the professional certification application
4. When will I receive a decision about my application?
We review applications as we receive them.
If we approve your application, we’ll send you an email with our decision. Then you’ll need to log in to our new portal to download a copy of your certification.
If we don’t approve your application, we’ll send you an email with our decision. Then you’ll need to log in to our new portal to review more details about our decision and notes on your application.
Guidance and Technical Assistance
1. How can I get more help with questions about EEC professional certifications?
You can review more information about our certification requirements and how to apply on our website.
Learn more about EEC certifications
You can contact us online, by phone, by fax, or by email:
- Online: Contact the EEC professional certifications unit
- By phone: (617) 988-6600
- By fax: (617) 988-2451
- By email: eecprofdev@mass.gov
You can also visit us in person at this address:
EEC Professional Qualifications Certification Unit
50 Milk Street, 14th Floor
Boston, MA 02109-5002
| Last updated: | December 5, 2023 |
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