How to Become a Daycare Provider: Requirements, Qualifications & Rules
Do you like working with children and their parents to provide an enriching environment and the best quality of care? Learn what it takes to become a daycare provider. Explore the requirements, qualifications, and rules to this career path.
Career Information At a Glance
Daycare providers care for children either in their own home or in a childcare center. They not only attend to the child's basics needs, but may also help keep them safe, arrange activities, and provide meals. Getting into this industry can vary from an entry level high school diploma to a higher education degree such as early childhood education. Please see the table below for more information.
| Required Education | No formal education required; some employers prefer high school diploma or postsecondary training |
| Education Field of Study | Early childhood education or child development |
| Key Skills | Knowledge of child development, customer service, awareness of basic childcare and hygiene |
| Licensure and Certification | State licensure may be required; optional certification available |
| Job Growth (2020-2030)* | 8% (for all childcare workers) |
| Median Salary (2020)* | $25,460 annually (for all childcare workers) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Does a Daycare Provider Do?
A daycare provider is responsible for the health and safety of the children in their care. They look after basic hygiene requirements and create age appropriate curriculum for those they are caring for. They are often the overseers of the child's first social interactions and manners, such as sharing and playtime. Daycare providers are also responsible for providing age appropriate games to help develop a child's skills ensuring they meet important developmental milestones.
What Are Some Important Skills for a Daycare Provider?
A daycare provider should have excellent social and communication skills. They will be interacting with both children and parents and will need to be able to relay information effectively. Providers should also have good interpersonal skills to develop and maintain relationships with the children in their charge. They should be patient and willing to get on a child's level to help them understand instructions. Daycare providers should also be energetic and physically able to keep up with energetic children including lifting them when necessary.
What Kind Of Education or Training Does a Daycare Provider Need?
Some entry-level positions may not require any education at all, but a high school diploma is generally considered the base requirement for most daycare facilities. Higher-level and higher-paying jobs may require some postsecondary education, such as a 2-year degree in child development or early childhood education. Most state laws also require the provider to have certifications and/or knowledge in a variety of health and safety topics, including CPR, basic first aid, safe sleep practices for infants, etc.
What Are the Licensure and Certification Requirements for Daycare Providers?
Certain states may require a daycare facility to be licensed. This can be true for private, in home, and public daycare centers. To work in a licensed daycare, a daycare provider must meet state licensure requirements. They may be required to provide a record of immunizations, pass a background check, meet some minimum training requirements, and get certified in CPR. Some states or employers may also require daycare providers to earn a national credential, such as the Child Development Associate (CDA). The CDA credential is offered by the Council for Professional Recognition, and applicants need to meet specific education and experience requirements to earn it, as well as participate in an observation period. The National Association for Family and Child Care also offers a national credential with similar requirements.
What Are the Work Environments for Daycare Providers?
Daycare providers have a variety of work settings they may choose from. They can go the entrepreneurial route and open their own daycare facility, or they could work for an established daycare center. A daycare worker might also choose to be a private, in home nanny. These options can provide a variety of different work schedules and levels of job flexibility.