Early Childhood (P3) Alternate Route Certificate Program

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This program is designed for post- baccalaureate candidates with a P-3 Certificate of Eligibility (CE) from NJDOE and employment as a P-3 Teacher of Record. The 30-credit program helps P-3 provisional teachers complete the NJDOE-approved formal coursework required for the P-3 standard certificate.

View required courses and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog
Click Here:Early Childhood Education - Alternate Route, CERT

Application Deadline

August 1st: Fall semester
December 1st: Spring semester
May 1st: Summer semester
*Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space availability basis

General Information:

  • All courses are offered in the evenings.
  • Students can complete courses in two years.
  • Students can begin courses as a non-degree graduate student while they are awaiting their CE, and take a maximum of 9 credits (3 courses) in this status.
  • Students can apply up to 18 credits of the CP-3 – Alt route coursework to the M.Ed in Curriculum and Learning – Early Childhood Education Concentration.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University’s admission requirements, candidates must:

  • Complete the graduate application form, including a $50 non-refundable application fee
  • Submit a NJDOE Certificate of Eligibility for P-3 [ WPU participates in NJ DOE’s Limited CE Pilot program]
  • Provide verification of employment as a P-3 Teacher of Record. This can be a letter from HR or an administrator on the school/district letterhead indicating that the school/district will enroll you in the state’s provisional teacher program and verifying that you are a fulltime lead teacher of record in P-3 setting.  Applicants may provide a letter of a promise of employment with a start date within the first semester of classes.
  • Provide official transcripts from all previous U.S. colleges attended or official  course-by-course evaluation of overseas credentials/ transcripts. Must have cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Contact Us

Professor Anita Kumar 

Email: kumara1@wpunj.edu

How to earn a P-3 CE

See https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/teachers/endorsementsinstr/pdf/1013.pdf

Requirements for a P-3 CE include:

  • A bachelor's degree with an appropriate academic major in either liberal arts or a science program or 60 credits of liberal arts from an accredited college or university
  • Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Pass Praxis II ECE (5025) test. [Passing score on a Commissioner-approved assessment of basic skills/Praxis Core is required for Limited CE]
  • Fulfill Physiology & Hygiene requirement
  • Complete application for P-3 CE at NJEDCERT

50-hour Pre Professional Service course

Complete a 50-hour pre-professional seminar/experience. At WPU this is an asynchronous non-credit course CIEC 5999, offered 2-3 times per year. For more details see WPU’s webpage Alternate Route and 50 Hour Pre-Professional Requirement.



Certification Process

Simply taking the coursework will not grant you certification. Alternate Route Certification involves your district/school enrolling you in the Provisional Teacher Program (PTP), and 1)providing you with a Mentor, 2) completing final summative ratings for each year, and 3) your completion of the 30 credit P-3 Alternate Route program.

STEPS IN CE- Alternate Route Certification

For NJ DOE guidance on CE certification see, https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/teachers/

  1. P-3 Certificate of Eligibility (CE)  See details here
    • Register at ets.organd pass the required Praxis tests (Early Childhood Content Knowledge #5025. Note: Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Test (5752) combined or individually 5713, 5723, and 5733, are required for Limited CE] See https://www.ets.org/praxis/nj/requirements/
    • Apply for a P-3 CE at NJEDCERT
    • Upon review of your undergraduate transcripts, passing score on Early Childhood Praxis II [Code:5025], NJDOE will issue a CE if you meet the GPA requirements and have an appropriate academic major (or a minimum of 60 credits in Liberal Arts). This can take anywhere from 2-4 months.
  2. Employment and Provisional Teacher Process. See details here.
    • The CE allows you to seek employment with a public school or an approved nonpublic school. In order to be registered as a Provisional Teacher, you also need to complete a 50-hour pre-professional seminar/experience. At WPU this is non-credit online course CIEC 5999 offered 2-3 times per year.
    • When the CE holder accepts an offer of employment and provides verification of completion of a 50-hour Pre-professional Experience, the district/school must register employment with the NJDOE’s Office of Professional Development (609) 984-6377, and request issuance of a provisional license. This two year license allows the holder to begin working in the classroom and legalizes employment. It signifies that the applicant holds a CE and has accepted an offer of employment. In addition, it signifies that the employing school district or approved nonpublic school has registered the applicant in the Provisional Teacher Program and agreed to provide the required support and supervision.
    • Important: While some non-public schools or child development centers will employ you without a CE in hand, you must have a CE in order to complete the specialized alternate route courses and the PTP mentoring and evaluation.
  3. Becoming Permanently Certified. See details here
    • Upon successful completion of the PTP Mentoring, District/School required evaluations, and the completion of the Alternate Route 30 credit program, the district/school will request the issuance of a standard teaching certificate.      

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Additional Resources

NJ DOE Office of Licensing and Academic Credentials: 609- 292-2070, Monday - Friday between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

WPU Graduate Admissions: 973-720-2237 8:30 - 4:30, Monday - Friday; email: graduate@wpunj.edu