If an online associate in early childhood education career change is your route into preschool work, it can move you toward a classroom job without requiring you to leave your current employment. It will not replace a bachelor’s degree or state approval where either is required, so check the job’s requirements before you enroll. Compare online early childhood programs
- Preschool teaching commonly starts with an associate degree, but state rules still control placement and job titles. The same credential may open one role while leaving another out of reach.
- Field experience can require fixed weekly hours, clearances, and an application before you can begin. Those requirements can be harder to fit around employment than online coursework, particularly if the placement schedule is set by the school or site.
- Total program cost varies sharply by residency, so compare the full bill rather than a tuition rate. Review how residency affects your charges and whether the amount shown includes the costs tied to completing field experience.
Career changers should judge this degree by the first job it can support, not by the word “online.” A sound program builds knowledge of child development, lesson planning, observation, family communication, and classroom safety while giving you supervised experience. That practical component matters because finishing coursework alone may not satisfy the experience or clearance requirements attached to a placement.
The transition also has limits. A preschool teaching job may be within reach, while center administration usually calls for more education. State rules can change the answer again, especially if you plan to work in a licensed child-care setting. Before comparing programs, identify the job title you want, then confirm that the state and prospective employer accept this level of education for that role.
Is An Online Associate In Early Childhood Education A Good Career Change?
The degree is a practical entry point for adults moving from another field into work with young children. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that preschool teachers typically need an associate degree, with no related work experience or on-the-job training typically required. That makes the credential more direct than starting with a bachelor’s degree when your goal is an entry-level preschool classroom. It also gives career changers a narrower, more manageable target: prepare for early childhood work first, rather than paying for education aimed at roles they may not want.
The tradeoff is that the degree’s usefulness depends heavily on the setting and location. ChildCare.gov says education and training rules vary by state, territory, care setting, and the ages of the children served. Before you apply, check the rules for the setting where you want to work, then compare them with the program’s required courses and any supervised field experience. A program may prepare you academically while your state, employer, or licensing office sets additional conditions. If field placement is part of the program, confirm when it occurs and whether you can complete it while keeping your current job.
- Best fit: adults seeking preschool, child-care, or early learning work.
- Use caution: adults who want public-school teaching, school leadership, or a role that requires a bachelor’s degree. An associate degree may point toward early childhood work without satisfying the education expected for those destinations.
- Plan ahead: adults who need supervised field experience while keeping a current job. Course schedules may be manageable while a placement creates a separate scheduling obligation.
For a broader look at possible roles after graduation, compare GetEducated’s early childhood education associate career guide. The useful question is not whether the degree sounds relevant. It is whether its course work, field placement, and resulting credential match the job rules in your area. If your target job sits outside preschool or child-care settings, review that path before enrolling so you do not mistake a focused entry credential for a general teaching qualification.
Field Experience Requirements Can Change The Workable Plan
Online classes do not always produce a fully flexible training schedule. One partner example, Fisher College’s Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, includes separate Infant/Toddler field experience and Preschool field experience courses, so the classroom component is not folded into online coursework. Fisher College also requires CORI, SORI, and fingerprint screenings before placement. For a career changer, those requirements can affect when classroom experience begins and whether a planned transition date is realistic.
ChildCare.gov reports that staff in licensed child-care programs must pass state and federal criminal background checks. That requirement belongs in your planning before you leave a current job or promise an employer a start date. A program that helps arrange a site may reduce the work of finding a placement, but it does not necessarily remove the screening or documentation steps. Ask whether the school arranges placements, whether you must find your own site, and whether screening costs or health documents are separate from tuition.
- Ask when field experience courses begin and whether they can be taken alongside your other classes.
- Confirm whether field hours occur during business hours, including any required observation or classroom practice.
- Check how the program handles background checks and placement delays, and who contacts you if a site is not ready.
These details can decide whether the program fits your life. A career changer who can study at night may still need daytime availability for observation or classroom practice, and a delayed placement can change the timing of the entire plan. A program with online lectures may therefore have the same scheduling constraint as an in-person program once field experience starts. Read the field experience page before treating online delivery as a complete schedule solution, then compare its placement process with the hours you can actually make available.
What The Online Associate Degree Costs For A Career Change
Residency deserves close attention because listed totals vary sharply. Among the reported early childhood associate programs, listed costs run from $2,760 (In-State) / $19,740 (Out-of-State) to $6,077 (In-State) / $23,236 (Out-of-State). These are total degree costs, not per-credit rates or annual tuition, so they give you a better starting point for comparing the full program than a single tuition rate would.
The gap can change the risk of a career move. Before comparing monthly payments, confirm whether you qualify for the in-state figure, how many of your existing credits will transfer, and which fees are included. A low advertised rate can still lead to a larger bill if you repeat credits or pay separate charges for materials and placement requirements. For a career changer, transfer treatment matters twice: it can reduce the amount you pay, and it can shorten the time before you can move into the next stage of training or employment.
GetEducated's Picks
- Fisher College Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education
- East Mississippi Community College Associate of Arts (AA) - Early Childhood Education Emphasis
- Campbellsville University Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education
Partner programs give career changers different ways to compare the field. American Public University System offers the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Care & Education. Fisher College offers the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education / Director. Concordia University, St. Paul offers the Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Those options should be read alongside their residency treatment and transfer policies, since the same degree title does not guarantee the same final cost or remaining course load.
Use the full cost as one part of the decision, then compare field work, transfer policy, and the job level you want after graduation. A program with a lower listed total may be less useful if its required experience is difficult to fit around your schedule, while a higher total may reflect a path that better matches your existing credits. GetEducated’s early childhood education degree directory can help you see associate and higher-degree choices in the same subject.
Which First Jobs Make The Transition Worthwhile?
Preschool teaching is the clearest first target for an associate degree in early childhood education, although the program can also lead to work in child-care settings and other early learning environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that preschool teachers had median annual pay of $38,140 in May 2025. It also projects 4% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 66,700 openings annually. That combination makes preschool teaching the stronger first-job option for a career changer who wants the degree to affect both job level and long-term direction.
Child-care work can be easier to enter because the typical entry requirement is lower. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that childcare workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training. Median annual pay was $34,980 in 2025, and employment is projected to decline 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 150,300 openings annually. The larger number of openings does not automatically make this the better outcome: it reflects a broad occupation with lower typical education requirements and lower median pay. For someone changing careers, it may be a practical way to gain experience, but it may not use the associate degree as fully as a preschool teaching position.
| Career Target | Typical Entry Point | What The Associate Degree Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool teacher | Associate degree commonly required | Provides formal preparation for classroom teaching and supervised practice |
| Childcare worker | High school diploma and short-term training commonly sufficient | May strengthen preparation and support movement toward teaching duties |
| Preschool or daycare administrator | Bachelor’s degree typically required | May serve as a starting credential before further education |
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry education for preschool and daycare education administrators. If management is your real goal, plan for the next credential rather than treating the associate degree as the final step. GetEducated’s early childhood education bachelor’s advancement guide shows why the longer route may matter. The associate degree can still serve as a useful first stage, but the administrative path requires you to account for another degree, additional tuition, and more time in school before that target is realistic.
That does not make the associate degree a poor choice. It makes the target job decisive: use it to enter early learning work, test the field, and build experience before deciding whether a bachelor’s degree is worth the added cost. Preschool teaching offers the clearest connection between the degree and the first job, while child-care work may provide a faster entry point with less direct educational payoff. Compare those outcomes with your intended end point before enrolling, especially if management is the reason you are considering the field.
Find Your Online Education Degree
Narrow 99 accredited online Education degree programs to find the perfect fit.
Laramie County Community College
Associate of Arts in Education / Elementary & Early Childhood Education (K-6)
Northland Community and Technical College
Associate in Science in Early Childhood & Paraprofessional
Tallahassee Community College
Associate in Science in Early Childhood Development, Education & Management
Northampton County Area Community College
Associate in Applied Science in Early Childhood Education (Infant to Grade 4)
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Associate in Applied Science in General Early Childhood Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an online associate degree help me change careers?
Yes, an associate degree can support a move into preschool teaching or other early learning work when the program meets local rules and includes supervised experience. That combination matters: coursework explains child development and teaching practice, while field experience shows how those ideas work with children. A program that offers only online classes may not provide the same preparation.
Do I need experience before starting this degree?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says preschool teachers typically need no related work experience before entering the field. Field experience is still part of many programs, so the degree may give you structured exposure even when employers do not require prior work experience. Review how much of that experience the program arranges and what you must arrange yourself.
Will I need to complete field experience in person?
Often, yes. Online coursework may be remote, but classroom observation and supervised practice usually take place at an approved site. That means an online degree can still include a location-based obligation, and the site may affect whether the program works with your schedule and where you live.
Can I complete the degree while working?
Possibly, but fixed field hours can limit flexibility. Check the field experience calendar before applying, including whether hours are scheduled during times you can attend and whether the program helps identify an approved site. A flexible course schedule does not automatically make the required practical work flexible.
Do early childhood programs require background checks?
ChildCare.gov says staff in licensed child-care programs must pass state and federal criminal background checks. Because field experience places students in an approved setting, review the program’s background-check requirements before enrollment. A problem with eligibility could affect access to the practical portion of the degree.
Is an associate degree enough to become a preschool teacher?
It often meets the typical education level for preschool teaching, but state and employer rules can add requirements. The same associate degree may therefore qualify you for one early learning position and fall short of another. Check the rules for the specific role and location you are targeting rather than treating the degree as a universal credential.
Can this degree lead to child-care management?
It can be a first step, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that preschool and daycare education administrators typically need a bachelor’s degree. The associate route may open an entry point into early learning work, while the bachelor’s route better matches an administration goal. Moving from one route to the other may also make transfer-credit treatment worth examining before you enroll.
How should I compare program costs?
Compare total program cost, residency rules, transfer credit, required fees, and field experience expenses rather than relying on a per-credit price. A lower published rate can lose its advantage if transfer credits are limited or practical requirements add costs and travel. Request a formal transfer-credit review and verify recurring fees with the bursar before comparing final totals.
Should I choose an associate or Bachelor’s degree for a career change?
Choose the associate route when you want a shorter entry path into early learning work. Choose the bachelor’s route when your target role requires it or you want administration later. The better option depends on the job you are pursuing and how much additional education that path demands, not simply on which program appears shorter.
Keep comparing before you commit: Compare associate programs
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Preschool teachers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Childcare workers
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Education and training by occupation
- ChildCare.gov: Staff qualifications and required training
- ChildCare.gov: Staff background checks
- Fisher College: Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education