Early Childhood Project Success

NJCU P-3 Graduate Program STEP BY STEP

P-3 Certificate Traditional Route;

1. Complete your Bachelors Degree with a Liberal Arts or Science major, and a minimum of a 2.75 G.P.A.
2. Apply to NJCU to be a graduate student
3. Upon admission to NJCU, request entrance into the Early Childhood Education certificate program.
4. Successfully complete required 30 credits of p-3 professional education courses, including traditional student teaching. (Option to complete Masters Degree for an additional fourteen credits.)
5. Complete program with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75
6. Apply to the state for a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS)
7. Secure a teaching position with preschool through third grade children
8. Register in the provisional teaching program, through your employing district
9. Complete one year of provisional teaching in same district, under district assigned mentor.
10. District recommendation for standard certificate filed with the state
11. Standard P-3 certificate issued.

Currently licensed teachers need only complete 13 credits of p-3 professional education courses to add the p-3 endorsement.
Licensed k-8 teachers, who can document two years of pre-school teaching under their k-8 certificate, are grandfathered, and do not need the p-3 endorsement.

*P-3 Certificate Specialized Alternate Route;

1. Completed Bachelors Degree with a Liberal Arts or Science major, and a minimum of a 2.75 G.P.A.
2. Receive Certificate of Eligibility (CE) from state
3. Apply to NJCU to be a graduate student
4. Upon admission to NJCU, request entrance into the Early Childhood Education p-3 certificate program, Alternate Route.
5. Successfully complete required 15 credits of p-3 professional education courses.
6. Complete program with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75
7. Register in the provisional teaching program, through your employing district
8. Complete one year of provisional teaching in same district, under district assigned mentor. Four weeks of intensive mentoring followed by 30 weeks of less intensive mentoring.
9. District recommendation for standard certificate filed with the state
10. Standard P-3 certificate issued.

*Specialized alternate route candidates complete program while employed as a group teacher in Abott contracted program

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