The Child Care Development Specialist Apprenticeship has been in existence since 2000. With the State adoption of competencies for Early Childhood educators and professionals in Colorado, the creation of a state-level Department of Early Childhood, and the rollout of universal prekindergarten programming, the landscape is changing in Colorado. The apprenticeship program streamlines the ability of participants new to the EC workforce to learn and earn at the same time while acquiring the knowledge and skills to work as an early childhood teacher or early childhood program director. The degreed apprenticeship program has been developed as a means to offer college credit for ECE certificates leading to the AAS degree in ECE with RRCC based upon demonstrated competency in the workplace for the apprentices so they can earn college credit attached to their apprenticeship learning experience through competency-based education (CBE). Holding college transcripts connected to this learning experience offers transportable learning that is recognized both inside and outside of Colorado beyond the current non-credit credentials offered through the Colorado Dept. of Early Childhood. The benefit of this program is significantly reducing the time and cost of earning a college degree for a workforce that does not currently experience equity in pay for their services. This program offers equity of access to higher education for underserved populations as well as this program supports individuals on finding the right path for themselves within the field of early childhood education.