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Child Care Services

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This program prepares men and women to work effectively with groups of young children, ranging in age from infants and toddlers to preschoolers and 8-year olds. Graduates of this program will qualify to work in licensed child care centers, preschools, and family day care settings. Some may also find employment as “nannies” throughout many parts of the country.

This program emphasizes the learning environment and theory of child care, as well as hands-on, supervised experience. Additional knowledge and experience is provided in teaching, aiding, and lesson planning.


Career Opportunities
With the rise in two career households and single parent families, the job market for trained child care workers continues to flourish. Besides entering the job market, individuals who complete this program and decide to continue in the Early Childhood Education associate degree program will be given advanced standing for the completed courses. Graduates of this program may find jobs in the following types of occupations.
  • Child Care Teacher: Takes responsibility for planning and implementing developmentally appropriate programs for children in a child care setting
  • Child Care Teacher’s Assistant/Teacher’s Aide: Assists the classroom teacher at the day care, pre-school, or elementary level
  • In-home Provider/Nanny: Responsible for full- or part-time child care in the child’s home.
  • Family Day Care Provider: Provides developmentally appropriate programming for eight or less children in provider’s home.
  • Preschool Teacher: Teaches in a program licensed by the Department of Health and Family Services.
Is This Occupation for You?
Students entering the Child Care Services program should:
  • Like working with children.
  • Be able to communicate well with children and adults.
  • Have a caring attitude.
  • Be dependable and organized.
  • Have good reading skills.
Helpful Academic Background
  • Have good language, math, and reading skills.
  • Have taken related family and consumer education courses in high school.
Program Basics
  • Technical diploma, requiring a minimum of one year to complete.
  • Day classes.
  • High school articulation and college transfer courses accepted.
  • Financial aid available.
  • Classes start in August.
  • Advanced standing for early childhood experience may be granted with Southwest Tech instructor approval.
  • Complete First Aid/CPR with AED.
Additional Practicum Requirements
  • Health Physical (must use SWTC forms) including a 2 step TB test the first year and a TB test each year after.
  • Annual Background Check $12.00.
  • Security swipe card $5.00 (will get money back when the card is returned).
  • Program Name Tag $3.00 .
Program Admission Requirements
  • Complete required assessment testing.
  • Complete the application form.
  • Interview with counselor.
  • Pay a $30 nonrefundable application fee.
  • Submit high school and any post-secondary transcripts.
  • Complete the physical exam, provide documentation of a recent TB Skin test, and meet health requirements as approved by the College Health Educator, prior to enrollment in any supervised participation classes/activities. Students are responsible for ALL costs associated with meeting these requirements.
  • Meet Caregiver Background Check requirement (cost of $12.00 paid by the student).
  • Students may re-apply to be admitted to a program for which they initially do not meet the Student Academic Achievement Plan (SAAP) criteria after they follow the additional courses and alternate program sequence prescibed for them.
  • Students must provide their own transportation to and from a supervised participation site.
Graduation Requirement
  • CPR/First Aid is a graduation requirement for all students.

Technical Skill Attainment

This TSA (Technical Skill Attainment) scoring guide will be used to document your attainment of technical program outcomes for the Child Care Services Degree. To meet the requirements on the scoring guide, you will be asked to draw upon the skills and concepts that have been developed throughout the program and are necessary for successful employment in your field. Results will be used to inspire continual improvement of teaching and learning in Wisconsin Technical College System. In addition, this assessment will provide feedback to you about your performance.

Program Fees

Please contact Student Services at 800.362.3322, Ext. 2354, or email student-services@swtc.edu for current fee information.

A Program Fee list is provided (please note the costs are approximate and based on the current academic year).

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