Localize Your School Search

Search by State

AB AK AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA PR QC RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Schools in All States

Degrees and Schools

Individuals who want to become preschool teachers should pursue a degree in early childhood teacher education. Depending on the state and the position, an associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood teacher education is often required for employment in this field. Master's degrees are appropriate for those who aspire to become a daycare or preschool director. These programs are available at many universities and colleges across the country. Early education teacher programs should be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or another accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Coursework

An early childhood teacher education program will typically include courses such as the following:

• child development
• creative experiences for young children
• child guidance
• health, safety and nutrition
• language and literacy curriculum
• math and science curriculum
• curriculum and program planning
• young children with special needs

Online Classes and Programs

Early childhood education degree programs can readily be found online at many online schools at all degree levels. Many of these programs are designed to allow working students to obtain their degree at their own pace. These programs should be properly accredited as described above.

Employment Requirements

Some preschool teaching positions only require a high-school diploma but more commonly, a minimum of an associate's degree in early childhood teacher education is required. Other requirements vary by position and state but may include some of the following: state teaching license, national Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, CPR and first-aid certification, criminal background check or foreign language fluency.

How to Evaluate Schools and Programs

When choosing an early education teacher program, asking the following questions can be helpful:

• Convenience - Is the location of the school convenient? Are the courses offered at suitable times?
• Cost -What is the cost of attending the program? How much will need to be borrowed? Will the student be able to pay back the loans given their likely future salary?
• Job Placement - Where have graduates found work? Does the school help students find their first job?
• Accreditation - Is the program accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)? Is the school accredited by a regional accrediting agency or a national agency that is recognized the US Department of Education or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)?

Preschool Teachers Job Description

The preschool years are critical years of development as children develop social, emotional, behavioral and early academic competencies that prepare them for success in elementary school. Unlike in the past, children entering kindergarten these days are expected to already have mastered the social, emotional and behavioral skills as well as early academic knowledge necessary for further academic learning to take place. Preschool teachers have the tough job of helping their students develop a strong foundation in all of these areas so that they are ready to excel in an academic environment. They teach and care for young children who are usually between the ages of three and five, or up until the time they start kindergarten.

The major categories that a preschool teacher will cover include:

• fine motor skills – cutting, gluing, holding pencil or crayon properly
• gross motor skills – riding tricycle, monkey bars, creative movement
• social skills: taking turns, working together, listening
• emotional skills – vocalizing feelings, controlling strong emotions
• reading and writing – alphabet recognition, writing name
• math skills – counting, grouping, shape recognition

Resources

Council for Professional Recognition - This organization administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential which is a component of most states' licensing requirements.

National Association for the Education of Young Children - The NAEYC strives to improve the education of young children through professional development, conferences, standards, accreditation and advocacy.

National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators - The NAECTE is a membership organization of early childhood teacher educators which promotes professional growth by facilitating information exchange, advocating for education improvements and sponsoring conferences and publications.