The University of Wyoming's College of Education offers an interdisciplinary early childhood birth to five program. The B-5 program prepares educators to teach children from infancy to age five. It is based upon National Association for the Education of Young Children initial licensure standards that are used by states to develop their courses for teacher education programs.
Those who complete the licensure program are prepared to teach infants, toddlers and preschoolers. This program addresses the statewide need for certified early childhood educators to work in Wyoming's child care and education programs, including Head Start programs, state funded preschool programs, public school preschool programs, and private preschool and child care programs. This license does not certify one to teach in public school kindergarten programs or primary grades. A different early childhood endorsement for birth to age eight, or grade three, already exists as a dual endorsement option with elementary education certification.
A unique aspect of this early childhood birth to five program is its flexibility to accommodate both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students across the state who are working in fields related to early childhood education. This licensure program is available to undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students, majoring in or holding degrees in fields related to early childhood education. The B-5 initial licensure program is available on campus at the University of Wyoming and through online education.
Students complete six courses and a 6 credit hour supervised internship for the license. Each student must demonstrate competency for each NAEYC professional standards in competencies needed for PTSB licensure.
The B-5 licensure is available to 1) undergraduate students minoring in early childhood education with majors related fields to early childhood education. 2) It is also available for those graduates with a bachelor's degree in an approved related field (nursing, communication disorders, social work, and child psychology).
Prior to enrolling in any of the required program courses, the candidate must submit the application for enrollment in the B-5 licensure program, send official transcripts, pay the program fee and receive formal notification of program admittance. The process begins with paying the Touchnet application fee, completing the application and submitting it to the E.C Coordinator, Nikki Baldwin, nikb@uwyo.edu. Please address any questions to the Dr. Baldwin as well.
Most courses are offered online through the UW at a Distance which enables students to take courses without traveling to the UW Campus in Laramie.
