Photo: Joyce Preschool–
Minneapolis, MN

Photo: Joyce Preschool–
Minneapolis, MN

Virtual Career Guide

Welcome to the Minnesota Childhood Care and Education Workforce Virtual Career Guide!

The Achieve Virtual Career Guide and Career Lattice are tools of empowerment. Advance your skills and succeed in reaching your career goals. Use this tool to search opportunities and identify options for your path of achievement.

What does the Virtual Career Guide do?

This Virtual Career Guide can help you plan a successful childhood care and education career.  Click the icons below to find out how!

Who should use the Virtual Career Guide?

This tool is for:

  1. Members of the MN Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce.
  2. Individuals interested in learning about careers in early childhood.
  3. High school students exploring career options in early childhood.

How do I use the Virtual Career Guide?

The Virtual Career Guide is easy to use.

  1. Click on your current or desired Career Lattice step below.
  2. Explore the Training & Education Requirements and Qualifying Positions.
    • Click on the Qualifying positions to view position descriptions and salary information.
  3. Scroll down to Search for Training Opportunities or to view open positions on the Achieve Job Board.

Career Lattice

The MN Career Lattice helps employers easily identify qualified candidates for open positions. It outlines the twelve career steps those working in the Childhood Care and Education field can reach to move forward in their careers. The steps on the MN Career Lattice begin with Foundational Awareness and end with a doctorate degree.

Steps 1-5

Training & Education Requirements

Step 1: A High School Diploma or GED & 10 Training Hours

Step 2: A High School Diploma or GED & 25 Training Hours

Step 3: A High School Diploma or GED & 55 Training Hours

Step 4: A High School Diploma or GED & 90 Training Hours

Step 5: A High School Diploma or GED & 120 Training Hours

No College Credit

Minnesota Child Care Credential (MNCCC)

OR

Minnesota Infant Toddler Credential (MNITC)


Qualifying Positions*

*These positions are listed as examples based on generalities, this is not an exhaustive list.

Nanny
Camp Counselor
Guardian ad Litem
Assistant Teacher
Child Care Center Director
Youth Worker
Recreation Leader/Director
Child Care Lead Teacher
Teacher’s Aide
Family Child Care Provider

Steps 6-8

Training & Education Requirements

Step 6: 8 College Credits OR

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentia OR

National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation

Step 7: 16 College Credits OR MnAEYC Early Childhood Director’s Credential

Step 8: 30 College Credits OR Child Development Diploma

Qualifying Positions*

*These positions are listed as examples based on generalities, this is not an exhaustive list.

Nanny
Camp Counselor
Guardian ad Litem
Assistant Teacher
Child Care Center Director
Youth Worker
Recreation Leader/Director
Child Care Lead Teacher
Teacher’s Aide
Family Child Care Provider

Step 9

Associate’s Degree with
6-30 Approved Semester College Credits


Training & Education Requirements

Associate’s Degree


Qualifying Positions*

*These positions are listed as examples based on generalities, this is not an exhaustive list.

Early Head Start Teacher
Food Program Monitor
Home Visitor
Public School Paraprofessional or Teacher’s Aide

Step 10

Bachelor’s Degree with
6-36 Approved Semester College Credits


Training & Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree


Qualifying Positions*

*These positions are listed as examples based on generalities, this is not an exhaustive list.
Child/Family Counselor
Child Welfare Social Worker
Early Childhood and Family Education Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Registered Nurse or Nutritionist
Human Service Director
Child Support Officer
K-6 Teacher
ECFE Parent Educator
Early Intervention Specialist
Head Start Teacher
Professional Development Advisor

Step 11

Master’s Degree with
6-36 Approved Semester College Credits


Training & Education Requirements

Master’s Degree


Qualifying Positions*

*These positions are listed as examples based on generalities, this is not an exhaustive list.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist
Educational Researcher
Children’s Librarian
Family Therapist
Child Development Specialist
Early Childhood Professor (College or University)
School Counselor
Speech & Language Pathologist

Step 12

Doctorate Degree with
6-36 Approved Semester College Credits


Training & Education Requirements

Doctorate


Qualifying Positions*

*These positions are listed as examples based on generalities, this is not an exhaustive list.
Child Psychologist
Early Childhood Professor (College or University)

Use the Develop Search for Training feature.

Looking for a new job? Check out the Achieve Job Board!

Find lots of helpful resources, including the Minnesota Career Lattice, Learning Record Review Request, Acceptable Documentation Policy and Foreign Education Documentation.