Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This Advanced Certificate course supports learners gain knowledge and practical skills to be successful in a career in a variety of Early Years settings. Additionally, this programme includes modules for Special Needs Assisting.
The course provides opportunities to work as a Special Needs Assistant or personal carer in a variety of Early Childhood Care and Education settings including: Full Day Care, Pre-School, Primary and Secondary schools.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
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Stage 2 Modules:
Advanced Professional Practice Placements in Early Learning and Care
Sociology and Social Policy in Early Learning and Care
The Developing Child
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Inclusive Early Learning and Care
Supervision and Administration in Early Learning and Care
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 6M21471 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
Professional practice placement:
Learners must complete 150 hours of professional practice placement in each year in a minimum of two settings:
- Working directly with children aged between 0- 2 years 8 months, and
- Working directly with children aged 2 years 8 months – 6 years.
Learners must be Garda vetted before going on professional practice placement. Learners must pass the professional practice placement elements in each year.
Here are some of the most popular career destinations you could progress to:
Primary School Teaching │ Speech and Language │ Early Childhood Lecturer │ Inspectorate roles │ Managerial and Leadership position within Early Years settings │ Government Agencies such as Tulsa │ Semi state bodies such as the ISPCC.