Train, Work, and Grow as an Early Childhood Educator

Get paid, earn college credit, and gain real classroom experience — all while preparing for a career in early childhood education

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Rooted in Community. Growing the Next Generation of Educators

Since 2015, the YMCA’s Early Educator Apprenticeship Program has provided a pathway into early childhood education for East Bay community members, many of them parents whose children have thrived in our programs.

Grounded in our mission to nurture potential and strengthen communities, the program recruits directly from the neighborhoods we serve, creating a diverse and passionate workforce that reflects the families in our classrooms. Through our Earn and Learn model, more than 500 aspiring educators have gained hands-on experience, professional support, and the tools to become confident, high-quality early childhood teachers.

What You’ll Gain as an Apprentice

The YMCA’s Early Educator Apprentice Program is more than a training opportunity —it’s a chance to grow your skills, build your confidence, and take real steps toward a meaningful career in early childhood education. As an apprentice, you’ll receive personalized support, hands-on experience, and mentorship designed to help you succeed in college, in the classroom, and beyond.

Education Support

Build your future without the burden of student debt.

Connect one-on-one with a dedicated college support coach.
Earn college credit while you work
Navigate higher education with guidance every step of the way

Hands-On Experience

Gain real-world skills in real classrooms.

Get paid while you learn in a licensed early learning center.
Apply what you’re learning in college directly to your job.
Build confidence through daily classroom experience.

Long-Term Growth

Grow your skills with a community who believes in you.

Learn alongside mentors who’ve walked this path before.
Join a supportive community that wants to see you thrive.
Discover long-term career pathways in early education

Cohort Learning Community

Small group classes, peer support & encouragement, personal growth, streamlined enrollment

Diverse and Inclusive

Equity-based accesible to participants, staff and instructors

Two-Generation Approach

Whole family emphasis, benefits for participanting parents & children

Strong community Partnerships

Collective capacity building with employers, colleges/universities and funders

Individualized Support

On-the-job training and learning, degree/teaching permit achievement, stipends or wages, child care, mental health, transportation, resume and interview prep

Tailored Approach

Community-based, mentoring/coaching, success coordination, embedded tutoring, service navigation, academic counseling and coaching

Creating a path forward

The YMCA’s Early Educator Apprentice Program follows an academic semester schedule at one of our partner colleges. All Early Childhood Education units are subsidized when you are enrolled in the YMCA Early Educator Apprentice Program.

Earn and Learn

To supplement your learning, the YMCA’s Early Educator Apprentice Program follows an “Earn and Learn” model to supplement your training. Once you finish your first 6 ECE Units, you are eligible to be placed for paid On-The-Job Training at one of our Early Learning Centers, where you will apply the material you learn in your ECE course in a pre-school setting.

Choose the program that’s right for you

Tier One: Associate Teacher

Apprentices complete 12 Early Childhood Education units and 50 days of on-the-job training to obtain an Associate Teacher Permit.

Goals & Opportunities:

First 12 units of ECE/CHDEV (includes 3 core areas: CGD, CFC, CUR)
50 days of mentored on-the-job training
Associate Teacher Permit
Soft Skills Trainings
CPR certification
Introduction to Head Start program compliance
Stipend for successful completion of first 12 units
Employment with YMCA Early Childhood Impact

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Tier Two: Teacher / AA-T degree

YMCA employees – Apprentices earn additional Early Childhood Education and General Education units to count towards a Teacher or Master Teacher permit and Associate Degree.

Tier Three: Site Supervisor / BA degree

YMCA employees – Apprentices join a 4-year university and complete additional courses to meet the requirements of a BA degree in Early Childhood, Human Development or related field, and site supervisor or program director child development permit.

What you’ll need to join

Be eligible to work in the U.S. (Work permit required)
Pass a background check (required for working with children
Be able to commit to on-the-job training hours (see OJT details below)
Meet eligibility criteria for funding

The YMCA program has offered me all the extended support needed to pursue my goal of being a great educator. With the courses offered, I had the opportunity to uncover things about myself as a parent and as a person, which have helped me for the better. I am excited to learn more and eventually earn my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

Erica D. joined the EEAP in the fall of 2020 as a Head Start parent and First 5 participant. Erica is a full-time employee at the YMCA of The East Bay and is working on her AA degree. Learn more about their success in the program

The YMCA Early Educator Apprentice Program is sponsored by ECEPTS.

GET STARTED TODAY

Click the “Apply Now” button below to submit your application. After your application is received, a program staff member will contact you about next steps. We encourage applicants to prepare by collecting the following information/documents:

Immunization record, including COVID-19 vaccination
Unofficial transcript(s) for college coursework
Government issued identification (Driver’s License, Passport, etc.)
CalWorks benefits letter or case number (if applicable)

Apply Now

Join Our Open House

JOIN OUR LIVE WEEKLY INFORMATION SESSION

Join us to learn more about the Early Educator Apprentice Program, meet the team, and ask questions.