Start a Career as an Early Childhood Educator

The Early Childhood Education Career Training Program is recruiting participants for its 2025-2026 cycle. This free program provides training and job experience for people who want to start a career as an early childhood educator. The program runs from October 2025 to June 2026.

Participants in the program prepare to earn the nationally recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and become an Early Education and Care (EEC) certified teacher in Massachusetts. During the program, participants take an online early childhood course, complete a paid internship at a licensed early childhood program in Cambridge, receive on-site observations and feedback sessions, get help with career planning, and more.

“The internship has been a wonderful opportunity, not only to develop new skills, but to learn real-world applications and create wonderful connections with people in the field of early childhood,” explains Sadira, an intern in the 2024-25 program. Sadira is completing her internship at Evergreen Day School in Cambridge and will graduate from the program in June. “My goal when I finish my internship is to continue my education and get a job working as a preschool teacher.” 

The Early Childhood Education Career Training Program might be right for you if:  

• You are looking for entry-level training to enter the field of Early Childhood Education  
• You are interested in becoming an EEC certified teacher in Massachusetts   
• You are ready to commit to a long-term career as an early childhood educator  
• You are available to work 4 or 5 mornings  in a licensed childcare center in Cambridge 

To learn more about the program, sign up for an information session. Information sessions will be held from May to July. The deadline to apply is August 8, 2025.

Sign up for an online information session 

If you are currently working in Cambridge as an early childhood educator and want to earn your CDA, contact Emily Callejas, Workforce Development Manager at the Cambridge Office of Early Childhood: ecalljeas@cpsd.us or 617-349-9785.

For more information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/EarlyChildhoodCareer.

Photo: Sadira, left, learns a preschool classroom activity with another participant in the ECE Career Training Program.