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Career Path Survey

This assessment tool was designed to provide guidance as you consider pursuing a career in early childhood education. The following questions will help you assess and reflect on your interests and goals and align those with 1 of 5 possible career patterns for working with children.

Please note that there is no right or wrong answer for this assessment. Although you may agree with more than one choice, you can only choose one letter, so click on the one that most closely aligns with your thoughts or beliefs. At the end of the survey you will be given a description of which Career Pattern reflects your choices.


Decision survey adapted from: Careers with young children: Making your decision. Authors: Judith W. Seaver, Carol A. Cartwright, Cecelia B. Ward and C. Annette Heasley. 1979. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Washington, DC.

It has been modified where appropriate to reflect updated language and/or fit the needs of this online assessment tool.

Additional Survey:
The O*NET Interest Profiler

The US Department of Labor offers a more general online tool for assessing your interests, strengths and personality and helping you to find a career path. This free, easy-to-use tool can also help to match you with careers that interest you based on your current level of education.

Try the O*NET Interest Profiler

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