Professional in the field of Early Childhood Education are people who are:

• committed to caring for all children within the contexts of both family and the community
• high tolerance for ambiguity
• flexible
• has specialized education and training in child growth and development and early childhood education
• possess certain body of knowledge shared by others in the profession
• has specialized set of skill essential to caring for and educating young children
• committed in providing healthiest and most psychologically sound experiences for young children
• articulates the essentials of developmentally appropriate practices to others
• participates in the early childhood profession at large through membership in early childhood professional organization
• accountable to a professional code of ethics
• expects ongoing professional development

Distinct characteristics:

• Ethical performance that is fair
• A high level of “essential” expertise and skills combined with “sensitivity” to meaningful patterns and the capacity to use “varying levels of flexibilities in their approach to new situation”
• A body of deep knowledge and skills that lay people do not possess
• Considerable autonomy in practice and control entry into the profession
• Commensurate compensation
• Professional organization