Introduction to Psychology
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →New JerseyChild care
Psychology courses that relate to child growth and development
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
New Jersey's group teacher rule counts 9 credits in education, psychology, health care, nursing or another field related to child growth or development. Courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Educational Psychology and Psychology of Diversity fit that wording well. They do not replace the 6 credits in early childhood education or child development.
The words that matter
N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6 lists the fields for the 9-credit half of group teacher Option B: education, psychology, health care, nursing, or any other field related to child growth or development. Psychology is named outright, so a psychology course fits the wording without any argument about whether it relates to children.
The rule does not list course titles. That leaves room for judgement, and the Office of Licensing is the one that judges. A course built around adult topics, such as industrial psychology, is still psychology, but a reviewer may look more closely at a course whose link to children is weak. Courses that deal with learning, development, behaviour and families are the safest picks.
Five courses that fit the wording
UPI Study offers five psychology courses that match the 9-credit wording. Each carries an ACE or NCCRS credit recommendation. You need three 3-credit courses to fill the 9 credits, so most people pick the three that suit their room and age group.
| Course | What it covers | Why it suits child care |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Psychology | Development, learning, memory, emotion, behaviour | The base for every other psychology course |
| Educational Psychology | How children learn, motivation, assessment | Closest to planning lessons and activities |
| Psychology of Diversity | Culture, identity, bias, inclusion | Working with families from many backgrounds |
| Abnormal Psychology | Anxiety, ADHD, autism, mood and behaviour conditions | Noticing signs and talking with parents |
| Psychology of Personality | Temperament, traits, personality theories | Why children respond differently in groups |
A sensible set of three
For most group teachers, Introduction to Psychology, Educational Psychology and Psychology of Diversity make a balanced set. The first gives the general picture of development and learning. The second turns that picture toward teaching. The third prepares you for the mix of languages, cultures and family shapes found in most New Jersey centers.
If you work with children who have extra needs, Abnormal Psychology can take the place of Psychology of Diversity. If you already have a general psychology credit from high school dual enrolment or an earlier college, you may need only two more courses. Look at your transcript first so you do not pay for a course you already have.
- General start: Introduction to Psychology.
- Classroom focus: Educational Psychology.
- Families and inclusion: Psychology of Diversity.
- Extra needs: Abnormal Psychology.
What psychology cannot replace
The 6-credit half of Option B is narrow. It must be early childhood education or child development. UPI Study does not offer early childhood education or child development courses, so take those 6 credits at a county college or another college. Mercer County Community College, for example, lists $260.55 a credit for Mercer residents for the 2026-2027 year, including its college and technology fees.
The rule also asks for a year of teaching experience with children under six. No course, from any provider, stands in for that year, although supervised practice teaching or student teaching can count toward it.
Turning a course into college credit
The rule speaks of college credits, and the center keeps an official college transcript as proof. A UPI Study course becomes college credit when a college reviews the ACE or NCCRS recommendation and posts the credit. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit, and many other colleges do the same.
Before you start, ask two questions in writing. Ask the college how it would post each course. Ask the DCF Office of Licensing whether credit posted that way would count toward the 9 related credits. With both replies in hand, you know the plan works before you spend money on it.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the DCF Office of Licensing in writing, before you enrol, whether the 9 credits you plan to take would count toward Option B once they are on a college transcript, and keep the reply with your staff records.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Does any psychology course count toward the 9 credits?
Psychology is named in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.6, so psychology courses fit the wording. DCF still judges each transcript, and courses about learning, development, behaviour and families are the safest choices. Ask the Office of Licensing in writing about your exact courses before you enrol, and keep the reply.
Can psychology count toward the 6 ECE credits?
Not on the rule's wording. The 6 credits must be in early childhood education or child development. A child development course taught in a psychology department may be read either way, so ask DCF before you rely on it. General psychology belongs in the 9-credit half of Option B.
How many courses do I need for 9 credits?
Usually three courses of 3 credits each. If you already have a psychology or education credit from an earlier college or dual enrolment, check your transcript, because you may need only two more. Each college posts credit in its own way, so ask how many credits it would give each course.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Abnormal Psychology
Self-paced online Abnormal Psychology course (Psychology 180). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Get DCF's answer in writing first, then take your psychology courses at your own pace and have a college post the credit.
Sources
- NJ DCF: Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C. 3A:52) (official)3A:52-4.6(c)3: group teacher needs one year of teaching experience in a group program for children under six and one of Options A to F (associate degree in ECE or CD; 6 ECE/CD credits + 9 credits in Education, Psychology, Health Care, Nursing or a related field; CDA; CCP; Registry group teacher endorsement; NJ Infant/Toddler Credential). 4.6(c)5: conditional approval with 12 credits + 1 year (3 credits left, 9 months) or 6 ECE/CD credits + 3 years (9 credits left, 2 years). Head teacher Options A to G; director options. 3A:52-4.7: 20 hours of staff development a year for directors, head and group teachers. Manual effective 20 Dec 2023, expires 20 Dec 2030. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Mercer County Community College: Tuition and fees (official)Summer 2026 to Spring 2027: $260.55 a credit for Mercer residents, $420.25 for other New Jersey residents, $450.85 out of state, including a $35.75 college fee and $34.50 technology fee per credit. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.