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The professional development system for early care and education
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South Carolina’s Early Care and Education Credentialing System

The credentialing system in South Carolina is a way of improving children’s learning by promoting career development among those who educate and care for young children. Credentialing is a way to increase caregivers’ skills and ensure that everyone working with young children has the same basic knowledge and competencies.

Recent research on brain development indicates that the early years, birth to 3 years, of a child’s life are critical. It is a period of life when development is very rapid. Children develop a sense of trust, a sense of who they are, and what they can contribute to the world. It is also a time they internalize a set of social and moral values that will guide their behavior into adulthood. The stimulation and experiences provided by the child’s caregiver are the foundations upon which all future learning is built. Early care and education professionals play an important role in a child’s development, for they help to increase the child’s capacity to think, develop cognitive skills and increase language and literacy skills. Early care and education programs must provide a safe, warm, nurturing environment so our children can develop to their fullest potential.

The Center currently awards five credentials:

The South Carolina Early Childhood Credential (Replaced the ABC 60-hour Credential),

The ABC Family Child Care Credential

The South Carolina Infant/Toddler Credential

The South Carolina Director Credential

The South Carolina School-Age Credential