How to Become a Child Care Director: Career Guide

Becoming a child care director can be achieved by obtaining a college degree, gaining relevant work experience, and obtaining licensures and other credentials.

Requirements to be a child care director may slightly vary between states. Visit your state's website to learn about specific requirements for becoming a child care director.

You can understand general requirements for becoming a child care director using the information below.

Earn a College Degree

Most employers require you to have a bachelor's degree. However, some employers accept an associate degree coupled with years of professional experience.

Early Childhood Education Degree

If you are interested in becoming a child care director, earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field from an accredited institution to gain knowledge and skills required by most employers.

A bachelor's degree in early childhood education demonstrates that you can meet the educational needs of children from birth up to about the age of eight years old depending on the college program you complete.

Consider an accredited early childhood education degree program that leads to state licensure if you are interested in becoming a child care director in a traditional public school.

Many colleges offer online programs to provide the flexibility many adults need to continue personal and professional duties. Examples of top online schools for early childhood education include:

• Ball State University
• Liberty University
• University of Arizona, Global Campus

Gain Professional Work Experience

The amount of professional work experience needed to pursue a child care director position typically depends on the employer, state requirements, and your level of education.

One to up to five years of relevant work experience may be required to become a child care director. Examples of roles that may satisfy requirements for professional work experience may include:

• child care administrative assistant
• child care supervisor
• child care worker
• teacher
• teacher assistant

Obtain More Credentials

Other credentials such as state licensure and safety training may be required to become a child care director in your state. See examples of other essential credentials below.

State Licensure

If you want to pursue a career as a child care director in a public school environment, you will need to obtain a state teacher's licensure with an endorsement in early childhood education.

Complete a bachelor's degree program that leads to state licensure and pass a background check to earn your teacher's licensure. To maintain state licensure, most states require you to complete ongoing training hours.

Child Development Associate

Earn a Child Development Associate credential to stand out from others seeking child care director roles or to meet the requirements for a specific employer. CDA credentials must be renewed every three years.

The Child Development Associate credential is provided through the Council for Professional Recognition to prepare educators to meet the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social growth of young children.

Health and Safety Training

You may be required to complete or provide credentials for health and safety training to enter into your child care director position. Examples of health and safety training include:

• cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• first aid
• administration of medication
• child abuse and neglect prevention and reporting

Meet Other Requirements for Becoming a Child Care Director

Many employers require you to be at least 21 years of age and meet health requirements to become a child care director. A background check may also be required before starting a child care director position.

Personal health requirements may include providing a copy of your immunization records or physical examination reports to demonstrate that you are physically fit and in good health.

Apply for Child Care Director Roles

Once you are confident in your qualifications, start exploring employment openings for child care directors through job boards and networking opportunities. Examples of job boards include:

• Indeed.com
• Glassdoor.com
• Simplyhired.com

You can also search for employment opportunities by visiting the website or physical location of child care centers.

Start a Child Care Center

You can also start your own child care center to become a child care director. State requirements for becoming a child care provider can be found in the National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming A Child Care Director

See frequently asked questions about becoming a child care director below.

Is It Hard To Become a Child Care Director?

The process for becoming a child care director is not hard but it is time consuming.

Educational studies and training required to become a child care director may or may not seem challenging depending on your academic behaviors and personal interests.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Child Care Director?

It generally takes six to eight years to complete requirements for becoming a child care director.

Where Can I Find Child Care Director Jobs?

Visit your local child care centers, search for jobs through online job boards, or start your own business to become a child care director.

Become a Child Care Director

Become a child care director by earning a college degree, gaining professional work experience, and obtaining essential credentials that demonstrate that you have knowledge and skills to meet the educational needs of young children.