Building on the ongoing momentum of the New Jersey Registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) Apprenticeship Program, state officials announced a major expansion today that bridges workforce training with higher education. Eligible apprentices enrolled in the state-sponsored program can now earn up to nine college credits through Thomas Edison State University (TESU).
The joint initiative, spearheaded by the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), provides early childhood educators with a paid earn-and-learn model that combines hands-on workplace training, professional mentorship, and coursework toward the Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate Credential.
In addition to the newly available college credits, apprentices who complete the program receive a U.S. Department of Labor Certificate of Completion, a $500 merit award, and a guaranteed minimum three percent wage increase from their employers.
State leaders emphasized that the expansion addresses critical workforce shortages while rewarding hands-on classroom experience with tangible academic milestones.
“This initiative reflects New Jersey’s commitment to elevating early childhood education as a profession and supporting the educators who help shape our children’s growth and development,” Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha said. “This is more than an investment in educators; it is an investment in our youngest residents, our working families, and the future of our state.”
NJDOL Acting Commissioner Kevin Jarvis highlighted the cost and time savings for educators looking to further their degrees. “Our first infant and toddler apprentices recently earned their federal certificates of completion and now they can use this to earn college credit, saving them time and money when they decide to further their education,” Jarvis noted. “We’re making it easier for New Jersey workers to become certified educators, and that means our littlest learners get the quality care they deserve right from the start.”
The partnership with Thomas Edison State University offers a streamlined path toward degree completion, recognizing skills mastered directly on the job.
“By awarding college credit for the competencies apprentices develop through this program, we are helping to bridge the gap between workforce training and higher education,” Jeffrey Harmon, provost at Thomas Edison State University said. “TESU remains invested in helping to fill teacher shortages, both in the traditional and career and technical areas, with degree programs designed from the ground up to aid educators.”
Administered via the NJ Workforce Registry and managed by Public Consulting Group, the initiative originally launched as a 20-position pilot in 2024 supported by 14 early care and education employers.
Following the successful conclusion of the pilot phase on June 30—which saw 12 apprentices earn their federal certificates—the state launched its second phase on July 1. Demand among employers has surged dramatically, with over 80 early childhood education providers applying for the second cohort. Sixteen employers were ultimately selected to host 25 new apprenticeship positions across New Jersey.
The 12 initial graduates are immediately eligible to apply their nine credits toward TESU degree programs, while members of the active second cohort will become eligible upon graduating from the program.
To learn more about participating as an employer or apprentice, visit www.ChildCareNJ.gov/Providers/Grants/Apprenticeship.
