The CCP for Early Intervention (EI) Educators  equips mid-career individuals with skills to support children with special needs. 

Newly hired participants will undergo the Specialist Diploma in Early Childhood Intervention [Special Needs] (SDESN), a 360-hour part-time course over 15 months, offered by the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC).

The course combines classroom and practical training and includes two Post-Diploma Certificate (PDC). Upon successful completion of the CCP, trainees will be qualified Early Intervention Educators. This is the only course recognised by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) as the professional qualification for Early Intervention teachers to work in the Early Intervention Programmes for Infants and Children (EIPIC). 

The CCP runs three intakes annually – April, July and October.

More on the role of an Early Intervention Educator here: ECDA Shape our Tomorrow

Course details here: SDESN Module Synopsis

Minimum Qualifying Salary (Monthly*)

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) have implemented a Minimum Qualifying Salary for the Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) in Early Childhood.

CCP for EI Educators: $2,600

*The salary refers to the fixed monthly salary received by CCP trainee(s) from their employer during the CCP training, comprising basic monthly salary and fixed monthly allowance (if any).

Eligibility Criteria

Individuals

Applicants must:

• Be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident;
• Minimum 21 years old;
• New hires must have graduated or completed National Service, whichever is later, for at least two (2) years at the point of application;
• Meet the SDESN minimum entry requirement;
• Be a new hire (employed for 6 months or less) by a participating EI employer;
• Career conversion is required : New job role trained for under the CCP should be substantially different from previous job role(s);
• Not be a shareholder, related to individuals in the CCP participating company who have the authority to make decisions in relation to the CCP application, or an immediate ex-staff of the participating company, or its related entities.

Interested individuals may register with NIEC to learn more about participating employers.

Entry Criteria for the SDESN

To qualify, the company-sponsored individuals must:

• Hold a Diploma or Degree from a recognised Tertiary Institution;
• Preferably have relevant work experience with children aged 0-6 year. Applicants with no relevant experience may be required to take pre-requisite modules before enrolling onto the SDESN;
• Be employed as a Beginning/Early Intervention Educators at ECDA-funded Early Intervention Programmes for Infants and Children (EIPIC) Centres, or other Early Intervention Practices recognised by NIEC.

Employers

Participating employers must:

• Be registered in Singapore with a valid Unique Entity Number (UEN) with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA);
• Offer a full-time position related to the Early Intervention job role, with:
  • A minimum fixed monthly salary of $2,600;
  • An employment contract on permanent terms or on contract terms that are no less than one (1) year.
• Ensure the new hire:
  • Meets all the eligibility criteria:
  • Is not a shareholder, related to the owner(s), or an immediate ex-staff of the company or its related entities.
• Commit to CCP training arrangements and adhere to all CCP terms and conditions.

Application Process

Applications received will be routed by the Programme Partner, NIEC, to participating employers for joint review. Suitable candidates will be shortlisted by employers for interviews. Applicants who have secured employment or provisional employment with employers will be notified by NIEC to submit application for the SDESN.

Funding support

Employers must commit to working with WSG and NIEC on necessary administrative matters related to the CCP.