Early Childhood

FULL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

The Early Childhood Certificate Program is designed to prepare you with the depth of understanding and skills needed to work successfully in a Waldorf Early Childhood Setting. Our program instructors are leaders in the field of Waldorf early childhood education, with many years of Waldorf classroom experience and as adult educators.  Together with visiting faculty they will provide you with a rich and comprehensive education. 

Entrance requirements

This program welcomes first time teacher as well as working teachers. All applicants must have earned a high school diploma, have some familiarity with Waldorf education and anthroposophy and be able to satisfy your fieldwork requirements during the course of the program.

Our Waldorf Elementary Teacher Education program is a 25-month, 700-hour program that spans over three summers and two school years.

Enrollment opens each January, classes start in July. - Applications for our full time program starting July 2026, is open now.

The 3 summers are comprised of

  • 2 in person early childhood weeks

  • 1 in person early grades week

  • 1 three day online morning seminar

The 2 school years in between are comprised of

  • Four in person early childhood intensives per year

  • Monthly online Waldorf Essential Seminars

  • Bi-Monthly Anthroposophy studies online.

  • Monthly online Mentoring Mondays

  • One in person ‘Art of Speech’ workshop per year

  • One in person biodynamic farming workshop per year

  • One Threefold community event per year

  • Field work (Observation and practice teaching)

  • 1 Research/presentation project per year

Length and Format

APPLY

Areas of study and experience

  • Child and human development and and how it relates to Waldorf education

  • Anthroposophical studies, the philosophy behind Waldorf education.

  • Practices in Waldorf Early Childhood work and the underlying principles.

  • Artistic and handwork activities of Waldorf early childhood education

  • Professional and social aspects of Waldorf early childhood education

  • Inner holistic development of the educator

    What will you learn?

  • To understand the child in depth, through the broader study of human development, and specifically child development pre-birth to age seven.

  • To develop skills to practice this understanding in a Waldorf Early Childhood setting based on rhythm, arts, storytelling, music, crafts and imagination.

  • To study together Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy to deepen awareness of the far-reaching effects of a holistic education

  •  To practice tools for self-development and lifelong research.

Why join WISC as a full time student?

  • Full-time students are assigned a mentor who supports and visits in the classroom

  • WISC helps organizes ‘Field Work’ in the local schools for full time students.

  • We keep track of the AWSNA course credit requirements and make sure you stay on track to get certified. Example

  • Full time WISC students get 50% off on our Practical Arts and Emergency and Trauma Pedagogy Training program

  • 90% of WISC students get a job before they graduate from WISC

  • Supplies are included in the tuition

Program Overview

  • Summer 1

    We offer 2 Grades weeks, 2 Early Childhood weeks and a Human Dignity and Diversity week

  • School yr 1

    We offer Monthly in person intensives, online seminars and specialty workshops.

  • Summer 2

    We offer 2 Grades weeks, 2 Early Childhood weeks and a Human Dignity and Diversity week

  • School yr 2

    We offer Monthly in person intensives, online seminars and specialty workshops

  • Summer 3

    We offer 2 Grades weeks, 2 Early Childhood weeks and a Human Dignity and Diversity week

The summer weeks can each be taken separately. We recommend enrollment in the full program to get the best experience and the speediest pathway to become a certified Waldorf teacher. It is also the most cost effective option. Sign-up for our summer weeks will be available in May.

Our new full program of 600 course hours (plus Fieldwork) meets and exceeds the 450 minimum hours required by WECAN. We encourage you to watch the film Waldorf 100 Learn to change the world produced in association with the Waldorf 100 International Forum for Steiner/Waldorf Education.