Accelerated Certificates
Fast Track to Career with Stackable Credentials
The purpose of these accelerated certificate programs is to provide adult learners, who often balance various commitments, with accessible, quick, and adaptable pathways to achieve their academic and career aspirations. Each of the three programs is tailored for full-time enrollment and consists of 8-week courses starting at different times. They offer the flexibility for students to begin, pause, and pursue stackable certificates, which not only allow exploration of career options but also enhance earning potential upon certificate completion.
Each Accelerate Certificate program is crafted to enable you to acquire certificates progressively. You have the flexibility to collect these certificates and transition into career paths at your own speed, as you develop 21st-century skills deemed essential by local industry experts and confirmed by labor market analysts. These certificate programs come with career exploration events, hands-on learning experiences, and internship opportunities!
Explore The Three Accelerated Certificate Pathways
Teacher's Aide
Certificate of Completion
3 Noncredit Units
Upon completing two teacher’s aide training courses, the student will earn a certificate of completion, gain the basic skills needed to provide support in various educational settings such as before/after school programs, and build toward pathways in early childhood education.
Optional Term - Fall or Spring
- NCWFP 40: Teacher’s Aide Training - The Basics, 4 weeks
- NCWFP 41: Teacher’s Aide Training - Educational Technologies, 4 weeks
- NCWFP 42: Teacher’s Aide Training - Special Education, 4 weeks
Career Opportunities
$15 - 18/hour
Child Care Aide, Before/After School Youth Leader
Child Development Assistant Teacher
Certificate of Proficiency
12 Credit Units
Upon completing the program, the student will be able to convey how theories of child development and socialization can be applied to support play and learning in an early childhood classroom.
Term 1 - Fall 1st 8 weeks
- CHLD 105: Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
- CHLD 113: Child and Adolescent Growth Development*
Term 1 - Fall 2nd 8 weeks
- CHLD 106: Introduction to Curriculum in Early Childhood
- CHLD 210: Child, Family, and Community*
Career Opportunities
$17 - 19/hour
Teaching Assistant (preschool); Paraprofessional / Paraeducator
Child Development Associate Teacher
Certificate of Achievement
18 Credit Units
Upon completing this program, the student can design and implement a curriculum based on observation and assessment of young children to support play and learning in an early childhood classroom.
Term 2 - Spring 1st 8 weeks
- CHLD 200: Observation & Assessment in Early Childhood*
- [GE] PSYC 101: General Psychology*
Term 2 - Spring 2nd 8 weeks
- CHLD 205: Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- [GE] PSYC 104: Statistics*
Career Opportunities
$20 - 22/hour
Instructional Assistant (ECE; preschool), Internship Opportunities
Child Development Teacher
Certificate of Achievement
27 Credit Units
(plus 16 General Education [GE] Units)
Upon completion, the student can design and implement a curriculum based on observation and assessment of young children to successfully manage an early childhood classroom.
Term 3 - Summer 6 to 8 weeks
- CHLD 109: Child Behavior and Guidance
- [GE] PSYC 205: Research Methods in Psychology*
Term 4 - Fall
- CHLD 235: Child in a Diverse Society, 1st 8 weeks
- CHLD 270: Practicum - The Student Teaching Experience, 17 weeks
Career Opportunities
$26 - 30/hour
Lead Teacher (ECE; Preschool) except Special Education; Transitional Kindergarten*
* Transfer courses are those that also count toward an Associate Degree for Transfer
in Child and Adolescent Development.
** Must hold a teaching credential with 24 Early Education/Child Development course
units.
This plan assumes full-time attendance. The part-time track is also available for
students who can only take up to four courses per semester.
Financial aid might be available. Contact the Financial Aid office at 760.795.6620
or MCCFinAid@miracosta.edu
Students should meet with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient and equitable pathway.
Office Clerk
Certificate of Completion
12 Noncredit Units
Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to demonstrate the skills needed to enter the workforce as an entry-level office clerk.
Optional Term - Spring or Fall 1st 8 weeks
- NCBOT 30: Office Skills & Procedures
- NCVOC 31: Beginning Microsoft Word
- NCVOC 39: Beginning Microsoft Excel
Optional Term - Spring or Fall 2nd 8 weeks
- NCBOT 20: Specialized Documents for Business
- NCWFP 11: Applied Computer Skills
Career Opportunities
$18 - 29/hour
Correspondence Clerks; Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Accounting Assistant
Certificate of Proficiency
14 Credit Units
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to successfully construct and analyze accounting information for the purposes of making business decisions.
Term 1 - Spring 1st 8 weeks
- ACCT 101: Practical Accounting (Or ACCT 201 - Transfer*)
- ACCT 104: Payroll Accounting
Term 1 - Spring 2nd 8 weeks
- ACCT 102: Practical Accounting II (Or ACCT 202 - Transfer*)
- ACCT 148: QuickBooks
Local Internship - Summer 6 to 8 weeks
- ACCT 292: Internship Studies
Career Opportunities
$21 - 30/hour
Billing and Posting Clerks; Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks; Accounting Assistants; New Accounts Clerks
Bookkeeping
Certificate of Achievement
25 to 26 Credit Units
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to analyze and record business transactions using double-entry accounting as well as construct and interpret required financial statements.
Term 2 - Fall
- ACCT 158: Business Math (Or BUS 204 - Transfer*), 1st 8 weeks
- ACCT 145: Individual Income Tax (Or ACCT 146 or ACCT 147), 12 weeks
Term 2 - Fall 2nd 8 weeks
- ACCT 149: IRS Volunteer Prep
- CSIT 128: Excel for Business (Or CSIT 110 - Transfer*)
Career Opportunities
$30 - 43/hour
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents; Tax Preparers; Bookkeeping, Accounting Clerks (Bookkeepers)
Enrolled Agent Certification Opportunity
- Complete ACCT 145, 146, 147 and 149
- Pass the Enrolled Agent Exam
* Transfer courses are those that also count toward an Associate Degree for Transfer
in Business Administration.
This plan assumes full-time attendance. The part-time track is also available
for students who can only take up to four courses per semester.
Financial aid might be available. Contact the Financial Aid office at 760.795.6620
or MCCFinAid@miracosta.edu
Students should meet with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient and equitable pathway
Supply Chain Management
Certificate of Achievement
12 Credit Units + 9 Elective Credit Units
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to demonstrate supply chain management skills and strategies to support global supply chain and operations management activities and decision-making.
Career Opportunities
$22 - $49/hour
Career Options: First-line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
There are two suggested accelerated pathways: one for an Associate in Arts (AA) in Supply Chain Management and another for an Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) in Business Administration 2.0 to California State University San Marcos (CSUSM).
Associate in Arts (AA) in Supply Chain Management
If you're interested in pursuing an Associate in Arts (AA) degree in Supply Chain Management, take a look at the sample course sequence for a fall 2024 start date.
Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree in Business Administration 2.0
If you’re interested in earning a bachelor's degree from CSUSM, there is also a sample course sequence for an Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree in Business Administration 2.0 starting fall 2024.
Download the Certificate Flyers
Student Resources
We aspire for you to attain equity in access, support, and success through these accelerated certificate programs. Various resources, including financial aid, counseling, and tutoring, will be available to aid you on your journey.
Students should meet with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient and equitable pathway. miracosta.edu/counseling
Financial aid might be available. Contact the Financial Aid office at 760.795.6620 or MCCFinAid@miracosta.edu
Explore an array of Student Resources available to you.
