Human Services & Labor Departments Announce College Credit Opportunity through New Jersey Registered Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program

Apprentices Now Eligible for Up to Nine College Credits from Thomas Edison State University

November 2, 2026

(TRENTON) – Building on the success of the New Jersey Registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) Apprenticeship Program, the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) today announced the program’s expansion to include an opportunity for eligible apprentices to receive college credits from Thomas Edison State University.

Launched as a pilot in 2024 by Human Services’ Division of Family Development and the NJDOL, the program provides apprentices with paid employment, on-the-job learning, mentorship, and support toward earning the Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate Credential. Apprentices who successfully complete the program are now eligible to receive up to nine college credits from Thomas Edison State University, in addition to a $500 merit award and a minimum three percent wage increase upon completion.

“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,” said Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha. “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. We are excited to welcome the second cohort and look forward to building on this success.”

“This program rewards early childhood education apprentices for their hard work and the classroom experience with college credit,” said NJDOL Acting Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis. “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. 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.”

“At Thomas Edison State University, we believe that learning happens throughout a person’s life and that valuable knowledge and skills can be gained in the workplace as well as the classroom,” said Dr. Jeffrey S. Harmon, Provost, Thomas Edison State University. “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, making it easier for early childhood educators to continue their academic journeys, advance their careers and strengthen the vital services they provide to New Jersey’s children and families. 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."

The program is administered through the NJ Workforce Registry and managed on behalf of the State by Public Consulting Group. This earn-and-learn model helps early childhood educators build skills and gain valuable experience while advancing their careers in the early childhood field.

The pilot phase included 20 apprentice positions supported by 14 early care and education employers across New Jersey. The pilot concluded on June 30, 2026, with 12 apprentices completing the program and earning a U.S. Department of Labor Certificate of Completion. Building on the success of the pilot, the second phase began on July 1, 2026, with 25 additional apprenticeship positions supported by 16 early care and education employers across the state. The 12 apprentices who completed the pilot are now eligible to receive up to nine college credits from Thomas Edison State University. The apprentices from the second phase will be eligible upon successful completion of the program.

Interest in the program has continued to grow. More than 80 employers applied to participate in the second phase, and 16 were selected to support 25 apprenticeship positions across New Jersey.

The addition of college credit marks a new step in the development of New Jersey’s Registered ECE Apprenticeship Program, connecting workforce training with higher education and creating additional opportunities for early childhood educators to continue their professional and academic growth.

For more information about the New Jersey Registered ECE Apprenticeship Program, visit www.ChildCareNJ.gov/Providers/Grants/Apprenticeship.

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