Childcare Center Directors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of childcare center directors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for childcare center directors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of childcare center directors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for childcare center directors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Childcare Center Directors?
Do childcare center directors need a degree? What kind of experience do childcare center directors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for childcare center directors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Childcare Center Directors
Jobs Postings for Childcare Center Directors By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 12,671 (45%)
- No Education Listed: 6,696 (24%)
- High School or GED: 5,793 (20%)
- Master's degree: 3,037 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 223 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of childcare center directors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 45% of positions. In 24% of job listings no education level was listed and in 20% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Childcare Center Directors
Jobs Postings for Childcare Center Directors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 6,341 (37%)
- 2-3 Years: 7,767 (45%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,390 (14%)
- 7-9 Years: 307 (2%)
- 10+ Years: 267 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for childcare center directors. In 45% of job postings for Childcare Center Directors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 37% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 14% of job postings for childcare center directors.
What Kind of Degree Do Childcare Center Directors Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for childcare center directors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective childcare center directors, and in 2021 a total of 120,203 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective childcare center directors.
Top Degree Programs for Childcare Center Directors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Childcare Center Directors (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 32,685 |
| Education, General. | 29,696 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Education, Other. | 4,749 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 32,693 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 32,685 |
| Education, General. | 29,696 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,141 |
| Education, Other. | 4,749 |
| Child Development. | 4,641 |
| Child Care and Support Services Management. | 3,885 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,323 |
| Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. | 1,727 |
| Superintendency and Educational System Administration. | 1,107 |
| Educational Evaluation and Research. | 290 |
| Administration of Special Education. | 186 |
| Early Childhood Program Administration. | 70 |
| International School Administration/Leadership. | 10 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Childcare Center Directors
Achieve your goal of becoming a life-changing elementary school teacher in Ohio with Franklin’s Primary Education program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
What Skills Do Childcare Center Directors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by childcare center directors to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for childcare center directors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Childcare Center Directors
Based on 26,026 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Childcare Center Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 8,390 | 32% |
| Child Development | 5,521 | 21% |
| Marketing | 3,200 | 12% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,938 | 7% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,886 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Childcare Center Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 10,996 | 42% |
| Management | 8,260 | 32% |
| Leadership | 8,232 | 32% |
| Teaching | 7,875 | 30% |
| Operations | 6,577 | 25% |
Based on 26,026 job postings related to childcare center directors, preschool education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 32% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for child development, marketing, lesson planning, early childhood education and primary education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for childcare center directors, followed by management, leadership, teaching, operations and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 8,390 | 32% |
| Child Development | 5,521 | 21% |
| Marketing | 3,200 | 12% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,938 | 7% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,886 | 7% |
| Primary Education | 1,714 | 7% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,610 | 6% |
| Working With Children | 1,388 | 5% |
| Purchasing | 1,210 | 5% |
| Newsletters | 1,041 | 4% |
| Social Work | 966 | 4% |
| Special Education | 950 | 4% |
| Head Start (Education Program) | 945 | 4% |
| Human Services | 920 | 4% |
| Billing | 913 | 4% |
| Performance Appraisal | 891 | 3% |
| Developmental Psychology | 872 | 3% |
| Performance Improvement | 795 | 3% |
| Classroom Management | 787 | 3% |
| Auditing | 768 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 10,996 | 42% |
| Management | 8,260 | 32% |
| Leadership | 8,232 | 32% |
| Teaching | 7,875 | 30% |
| Operations | 6,577 | 25% |
| Customer Service | 5,535 | 21% |
| Planning | 5,040 | 19% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,205 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 3,137 | 12% |
| English Language | 2,876 | 11% |
| Writing | 2,864 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 2,789 | 11% |
| Coordinating | 2,444 | 9% |
| Coaching | 2,420 | 9% |
| Administrative Functions | 2,360 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 2,155 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,009 | 8% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,897 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,869 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 1,762 | 7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about childcare center directors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for childcare center directors.
What do childcare center directors do?
How much do childcare center directors make?
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