Graduate

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education

Addresses developmental milestones, inclusive practices, and family engagement strategies essential for early learners.

2026

Degree

Teacher Certification

Location

Online

Courses

12*

Credit

45 hrs.*

Full-time

Varies

Part-time

Varies

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College of Professional Studies

The online Post-baccalaureate Teacher Licensure (PBTL) programs at University of New Hampshire are especially for certified teachers. This online dual-certification program is tailored for individuals aiming to obtain licensure in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. The focus is on children from birth through age eight. The curriculum addresses developmental milestones, inclusive practices, and family engagement strategies essential for early learners. The flexible format supports working professionals in completing licensure requirements while maintaining full-time employment.

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure (PBTL) programs are designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree and are seeking New Hampshire Teaching Licensure. The online PBTL programs offer teacher licenses with concentrations in the critical shortage area for teachers.

*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.

College of Professional Studies

What is the Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education teacher certification?

This Post-Baccalaureate Program is for those interested in obtaining an initial NH teaching credential in early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth - Age 8). The program is designed for 21st Century Educators, providing an in-depth focus on the critical issues that are transforming the landscape of education - innovation, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration. The program aligns with the NH Department of Education’s standards for teacher credentialing and qualifies individuals to serve as Early Childhood educators in public schools from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3.

Why pursue a teacher certification at UNH College of Professional Studies?

This Post-Baccalaureate program is a flexible program that provides eligibility for an additional New Hampshire Department of Education teacher certification in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education. The key components of the program include mentorship of teacher candidates by highly skilled professionals in the field, hands-on experiences in educational settings, and the opportunity to build teaching capacity over time.

Potential Career Areas

PK- Grade 3 Teacher
PK - Grade 3 Special Education Teacher
PK - Grade 3 Special Education Case Manager

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

This Post-Baccalaureate Program is for candidates interested in pursuing teacher licensure. The Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure program is designed for 21st Century Educators, providing an in-depth focus on the critical issues that are transforming the landscape of education - innovation, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration.

Degree Plan

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first semester at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
EDC 800	Introduction to Clinical Experience ^{Nonclinical; Complete CHRC Process}	1
EDC 801	Special Education Law ^Nonclinical	4
EDC 802	Young Children with Exceptionalities, Birth to Age 8 ^Nonclinical	4
	Credits	9
Spring
EDC 803	The Dynamic Role of the Special Educator ^{Clinical A}	4
EDC 804	Assessment of Young Children in EC/ECSPED - Birth to Age 8 ^{Clinical B}	4
EDC 807	Behavior Interventions for Young Children ^{Clinical A}	4
	Credits	12
Second Year
Fall
EDC 805	Collaboration, Consultation and Teaming In Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education ^{Clinical B}	4
EDC 806	IFSP, IEP, and Transition Plans, Birth to Age 8 ^{Clinical B}	2
EDC 808	Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Early Childhood and Early Child Spec. Ed. 0-8 ^{Clinical A}	4
EDC 809	Teaching Language Arts and Literacy in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education ^{Clinical A}	6
	Credits	16
Spring
EDC 810	Curriculum, Assessment & Instruction in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Spec Educ. Birth-Age 8 ^{Clinical A}	4
EDC 885	Culminating Teaching Experience and Seminar ^{Clinical A}	4
	Credits	8
	Total Credits	45

Note: Only 1 Clinical A course allowed per term

Requirements for the Program

Minimum GPA requirement of 3.0

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Post Bac - ECE & ECSPED ¹
Introductory Level Education Courses
EDC 800	Introduction to Clinical Experience	1
EDC 801	Special Education Law	4
EDC 802	Young Children with Exceptionalities, Birth to Age 8	4
EDC 803	The Dynamic Role of the Special Educator	4
Intermediate Level Education Courses
EDC 804	Assessment of Young Children in EC/ECSPED - Birth to Age 8	4
EDC 805	Collaboration, Consultation and Teaming In Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education	4
EDC 806	IFSP, IEP, and Transition Plans, Birth to Age 8	2
EDC 807	Behavior Interventions for Young Children	4
Advanced Level Education Courses
EDC 808	Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in Early Childhood and Early Child Spec. Ed. 0-8	4
EDC 809	Teaching Language Arts and Literacy in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education	6
EDC 810	Curriculum, Assessment & Instruction in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Spec Educ. Birth-Age 8	4
EDC 885	Culminating Teaching Experience and Seminar	4
Total Credits		45

¹: A minimum grade of B- is required in all Major coursework.

State Licensure Requirements

The following requirements must be completed in order to be recommended to the state for Teacher Licensure:

Basic Academic Skills Assessment (BASA): Pearson Essential Academic Skills Series or Praxis Core Academic Skills Series For Educators Exam required. Passing BASA exam scores or current NH teaching certification must be submitted prior to completion of EDC 800 Introduction to Clinical Experience to continue with clinical courses.
Licensure Exams: Pearson Early Childhood, Pearson Early Childhood Special Education, and Pearson Foundations of Reading exams required. Students must attempt to pass these exams prior to taking the Culminating Teaching Experience & Seminar. Passing exam scores are required for state licensure.

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will:

Be reflective and knowledgeable about learners and are able to employ instructional methods, strategies and technologies to meet the needs of all students;
Have a rich understanding of the subject/s that they teach;
Employ best practices in the planning, delivery and assessment of instruction to improve learning achievement of Pre-K-12 students.

Disclosures

Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures

The University of New Hampshire offers a number of academic programs designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in New Hampshire. However, completing a UNH degree/program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like years of work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria.

UNH does not guarantee that its professional licensure programs will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states. Some states maintain different requirements for professional licensure or certification and requirements can change frequently. Federal regulations require the University to make public disclosure of certain information regarding professional licensure or certification programs, regardless of the modality the program is offered (i.e., in-person or online). The University provides guidance below but recommends students contact their state/territory licensing or certification board to ensure a program meets specific state/territory requirements.

Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for information about whether this program meets professional licensure requirements in your state.

Our Accreditation

The UNH College of Professional Studies is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Below you’ll find the current accreditation status of our teacher education programs.

NH DOE Program Approval Status - Approved Through August 30, 2028

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (K-6) (K-8)

GENERAL SPECIAL EDUCATION

MATHEMATICS, MIDDLE LEVEL

MATHEMATICS, UPPER LEVEL

READING AND WRITING SPECIALIST

READING AND WRITING TEACHER

Program Details

Application Procedures

Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis, with the opportunity to begin studies during the Fall, Spring, or Summer terms.

Learn more about our requirements to begin the admission process and gain full admission status.

Apply Now

Teach Licensure Exam Requirements

Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators

The State of NH requires all teachers to pass the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, unless they have scored in the 50th percentile or above in the SAT after 2005, GRE, or ACT tests (NH DOE will review scores and issue a waiver). Candidates who have not taken the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators will be expected to submit passing scores, NH DOE Waiver, or current NH DOE Teaching Certification by completion of EDC 800, Introduction to Field Clinical and Program Requirements. Information, practice tests, practice guides and registration for the test is available at: www.ets.org/praxis. Additional study options are available on our resource page.

Praxis II and Pearson Foundations of Reading Assessments

In addition to passing the Praxis Core exam, for certain teacher certifications, teacher candidates may be required to pass a Praxis II exam and/or the Pearson Foundations of Reading assessment. Specific exam requirements are found on the School of Education Testing requirements page.

Clinical Placement

One of the most unique and valuable traits of our PBTL programs is the clinical-based component.

Candidates need to be working or volunteering* in an approved school or program during most of their tenure in the program.

Those seeking initial teacher licensure work as paraeducators, classroom aides, assistants, or Alternative 4 teachers within public or private schools and programs in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, or Vermont.

*Minimum volunteering requirement: 15 hours per week.

Candidates for initial licensure are required to document a minimum of 360 supervised teaching hours for one license and a minimum of 440 supervised hours for two licenses.

Experiences in inclusive classrooms working with students in the grades or age ranges of your license are a requirement of the program. For licensure programs that cover a broader range of grades or age ranges, candidates must spend a minimum of 10 hours working with each population.

Clinical Based Mentors

In this clinical-based program, candidates work with three mentors throughout their plan of study:

UNH College of Professional Studies instructor
Clinical Placement Faculty
Clinical Experience Educator in the School/Program (chosen by the candidate, this mentor should be an experienced teacher who holds the licensure area being sought)

The Clinical Placement Faculty will observe the teacher candidate for the methods courses listed in the provided chart.

Each of these courses has an additional clinical mentoring fee of $75 per credit to cover the on-going supervision and support of the clinical-based experience. Candidates will be required to teach lessons and be observed by the Clinical Placement Faculty.

Please check the Catalog for a full listing of PBTL Methods Courses that require a clinical-based mentor.

Dual Licensure Opportunities & Master's Degree Options

Flexible Schedules

Read more about our Online Flexibility.

Career-Focused

There are several ways to plan your course and earn a dual license. Ask us about our credit-efficient options for earning two licenses. It typically only takes about 2-5 courses to make this goal a reality! In addition, up to 24 credits will transfer into our M.S. in Instruction and Leadership.

Request Info and Connect with an Advisor

Get started by connecting with an advisor

An advisor trained in our teacher licensure programs will contact you to learn more about your academic and career goals.
We’ll also share our course schedule so you can read more about the College’s programs, students, and faculty.

Speak with an Advisor

Availability in Your State

Our programs leading to teacher licensure are available to new students in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Select your state to view full details.

New Hampshire

All programs leading to teacher licensure are available in New Hampshire.

Maine

Maine teacher candidates must complete clinical work in placements located in York, Cumberland or Oxford county.

Sources:
Maine Department of Education, Certification Requirements by Position, https://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/requirements. Accessed 12/9/19.

Massachusetts

Teacher candidate must have a clinical placement in the Essex or Middlesex counties.

Sources:
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Teacher Fields and Grade Levels. Teacher Specialist Fields and Grade Levels. Accessed 12/9/19.

Vermont

Teacher candidates must have a clinical placement in the Windham or Windsor counties.

All programs leading to teacher licensure are available in Vermont.

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Teacher Certification - Post Bacc - CPS, CPSO