Credential Options
Candidate for Early Childhood Credential
The candidate for the AMS Early Childhood Credential holds a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university or its equivalent from a non-U.S. college/university. Non-U.S. college/university degrees will be noted on the credential with a reference to the country where the degree was awarded and that it meets the nationally recognized post-secondary educational standard in the state, province, or country of issuance.
Associate Early Childhood Credential
AMS grants the AMS Associate Early Childhood Credential when the course graduate does not have a bachelor’s degree. Employment requirements vary in different types of schools (e.g. private, public/charter, faith based, publicly funded). In some locations or schools, an associate credential may not qualify for full teaching responsibility.
The applicant is responsible for checking specific jurisdictions and schools for particular employment requirements. AMS strongly recommends that the holders of the AMS Associate Early Childhood Credential obtain a bachelor’s degree within seven years; a recommendation that the VCMS strongly supports. To upgrade a credential, the teacher must be a current AMS member and send an official transcript documenting the bachelor’s degree with the credential upgrade fee to the AMS Office of Teacher Education. AMS hopes that the adult learner considers his/her credential as the beginning of their life-long learning journey. Applicants are required to sign a statement verifying that they were informed of the limitations of not earning a bachelor’s degree.
Credential For Graduates Who Do Not Have The Equivalent Of A Regionally Accredited U.S. College/University Degree
AMS offers a credential at each course level to candidates who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a non-U.S. college/university, who meet the admissions requirements and successfully complete the requirements of that course. A credential is awarded to those whose degree is officially determined to not be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university, but which still meets the nationally recognized post-secondary educational standard in the state, province, or country of issuance. This credential will state the degree earned and the name of the country in which the degree was earned. [11/03] The official equivalency evaluation is to be submitted to the AMS office of teacher education by the TEP director in lieu of the non-U.S. transcript. Candidates whose non-U.S. transcript is determined to be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university will be awarded the full AMS credential.
Transfer Policy
VCMS accepts applications from adult learners who want to transfer from other AMS affiliated and MACTE accredited teacher education programs if the adult learner is within the three-year time limit following the original academic phase and is currently an AMS member. VCMS will review and evaluate the completed academic and practicum work. If it is determined that the VCMS requirements are adequately satisfied the adult learner may be accepted into the VCMS program. The adult learner must be in good standing financially with the original program. The fee for the review and evaluation of previous work through an AMS affiliated program is $100.00 *.
Applicants from non-AMS programs that are recognized by AMS and accredited by MACTE will be accepted from candidates that have a degree in keeping with AMS credential requirements and are a current AMS member. Credential and portfolio of the candidate will be reviewed and evaluated and proficiency pre- testing will be used to plan a program of study. The adult learner is required to take the VCMS philosophy course and fulfill academic requirements for it. Additional academic requirements may be necessary to ensure that all AMS and VCMS program requirements for a credential are met. The practicum requirements for the adult learner must meet the requirements of AMS and VCMS. The fee for review and evaluation of previous work from an AMS non-affiliated program is $300.00.*