Childcare Directors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of childcare 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 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 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 directors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Childcare Directors?
Do childcare directors need a degree? What kind of experience do childcare 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 directors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Childcare Directors
Jobs Postings for Childcare Directors By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 8,086 (39%)
- No Education Listed: 6,087 (30%)
- High School or GED: 3,628 (18%)
- Master's degree: 2,462 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 261 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of childcare directors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 39% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 18% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Childcare Directors
Jobs Postings for Childcare Directors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,990 (28%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,488 (52%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,844 (17%)
- 7-9 Years: 136 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 150 (1%)
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 directors. In 52% of job postings for Childcare Directors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for childcare directors.
What Kind of Degree Do Childcare 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 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 directors, and in 2023 a total of 114,256 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 directors.
Top Degree Programs for Childcare Directors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Childcare Directors (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 31,028 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education, Other. | 4,643 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 31,028 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education, Other. | 4,643 |
| Child Development. | 4,356 |
| Child Care and Support Services Management. | 3,627 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. | 1,612 |
| Superintendency and Educational System Administration. | 1,225 |
| Educational Evaluation and Research. | 610 |
| Administration of Special Education. | 185 |
| Early Childhood Program Administration. | 78 |
| International School Administration/Leadership. | 18 |
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 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 Directors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by childcare 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 directors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Childcare Directors
Based on 18,693 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Childcare Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 5,087 | 27% |
| Child Development | 4,930 | 26% |
| Marketing | 1,823 | 10% |
| Working With Children | 1,560 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,386 | 7% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Childcare Directors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 7,558 | 40% |
| Leadership | 6,113 | 33% |
| Management | 5,721 | 31% |
| Teaching | 5,009 | 27% |
| Operations | 4,615 | 25% |
Based on 18,693 job postings related to childcare directors, preschool education was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for child development, marketing, working with children, lesson planning and head start (education program) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for childcare directors, followed by leadership, management, teaching, operations and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Education | 5,087 | 27% |
| Child Development | 4,930 | 26% |
| Marketing | 1,823 | 10% |
| Working With Children | 1,560 | 8% |
| Lesson Planning | 1,386 | 7% |
| Head Start (Education Program) | 1,382 | 7% |
| Early Childhood Education | 1,308 | 7% |
| Curriculum Development | 1,221 | 7% |
| Early Head Start (Education Program) | 1,186 | 6% |
| Social Work | 1,108 | 6% |
| Developmental Psychology | 1,039 | 6% |
| Primary Education | 980 | 5% |
| Human Services | 900 | 5% |
| Newsletters | 857 | 5% |
| Special Education | 773 | 4% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 750 | 4% |
| Billing | 676 | 4% |
| Classroom Management | 657 | 4% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 631 | 3% |
| Mental Health | 624 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 7,558 | 40% |
| Leadership | 6,113 | 33% |
| Management | 5,721 | 31% |
| Teaching | 5,009 | 27% |
| Operations | 4,615 | 25% |
| Planning | 3,805 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 2,465 | 13% |
| Writing | 2,213 | 12% |
| English Language | 1,904 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,759 | 9% |
| Coaching | 1,694 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,673 | 9% |
| Coordinating | 1,663 | 9% |
| Problem Solving | 1,587 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 1,551 | 8% |
| Budgeting | 1,490 | 8% |
| Scheduling | 1,372 | 7% |
| Lifting Ability | 1,358 | 7% |
| Supervision | 1,327 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 1,157 | 6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about childcare directors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for childcare directors.
What do childcare directors do?
How much do childcare directors make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.