Sonoma State University

Child Development Permit

Boys looking through two hanging tires

The California Child Development Permit is issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). The permit is organized into different levels, each authorizing the holder to perform different levels of service in child development programs. Some information about the permit can be found on the Child Development Permit Matrix, and additional information is available from CCTC.

Applications for a Child Development Permit should be sent directly to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.  Visit the website at CCTC Child Development Permits for an application and instructions.

Most permit levels require the holder to earn course units in three core areas: Child/Human Growth and Development; Child, Family, and Community; and Programs/Curriculum. Additional units in child development/early childhood education, as well as experience working in an early childhood program, may also be required.

The following courses satisfy CCTC requirements for coursework in each of the permit categories. Please keep in mind that courses are not offered every year; careful planning is needed to complete coursework in an efficient and timely manner. 

Permit Course Work

Applicants for the Child Development Permit-Associate Teacher level must complete 12 units of ECE/CD coursework.

Applicants for the Child Development Permit-Teacher level must complete 24 units of ECE/CD coursework, plus 16 units of General Education.

ECE/CD coursework may be selected from the following categories. Most permit levels require the holder to earn course units in three core areas: Child/Human Growth and Development; Child, Family, and Community; and Programs/Curriculum. Additional units in child development/early childhood education, as well as experience working in an early childhood program, may also be required. 

Please see an Early Childhood Studies advisor for more information.

Child Growth and Development

  • EDEC 110 - Understanding Development: Birth through Adolescence: 3 units
  • PSY 410 - Child Development: 4 units
  • EDEC 538 - Children’s Thinking and STEM Experiences: 3 units
  • EDEC 532 - Social and Emotional Development: 3 units

Child, Family, and Community

  • EDEC 270 - Families and Children in Diverse Societies: 4 units
  • EDEC 450 - Empowerment and Equity for Children and Families: 3 units
  • SOCI 345 - Sociology of Families: 4 units
  • PSY 418 - Diversity in Families: 4 units

Early Childhood Programs/Curriculum

  • *EDEC 237 - Early Childhood Curriculum with Field Experience: 4 units (Discontinued)
  • EDEC 238 - Preschool Curriculum: 3 units
  • EDEC 290 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum and Development: 2 units
  • EDEC 291 - Preschool Curriculum and Development: 2 units
  • *EDEC 437 - Integrated Curriculum with Field Experience: 4 units

General Early Childhood Development

  • EDEC 201 - Foundations of Early Care and Education: 4 units
  • EDEC 435 - Leadership on Behalf of Children and Families: 4 units
  • EDEC 460 - Introduction to Research in Early Childhood Studies: 4 units
  • EDEC 531 - Play and its Role in Development and Learning: 3 units
  • EDEC 535 - The Visionary Leader in ECE Programs: 3 units
  • EDEC 490 - Special Topics in Early Childhood Studies: 1-4 units
  • EDSP 432 - Young Children with Special Needs: 4 units 
  • PSY 448 - Cognitive Development: 4 units

Supervised Field Experience

EDEC 237 (discontinued), EDEC 220, and EDEC 437 are four-unit courses that include three units of content and one unit of supervised fieldwork. Three courses must be completed to meet the permit’s 3-unit supervised fieldwork requirement.

  • *EDEC 220 - Child Observation with Field Experience: 4 units
  • *EDEC 237 - Early Childhood Curriculum with Field Experience: 4 units (Discontinued)
  • *EDEC 437 - Integrated Curriculum with Field Experience: 4 units
  • EDEC 290L - Infant & Toddler Curriculum and Development Lab: 2 units
  • EDEC 291L - Preschool Curriculum and Development Lab: 2 units

*Some courses are listed in more than one category.  However, a course that has been used to meet the requirement in one category cannot double-count towards another category.  You must take one course in each of the categories specified on the permit matrix.