Directors of Early Childhood Education: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of directors of early childhood education 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 directors of early childhood education to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of early childhood education 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 directors of early childhood education.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Early Childhood Education?
Do directors of early childhood education need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of early childhood education 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 directors of early childhood education to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Early Childhood Education
Jobs Postings for Directors of Early Childhood Education 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 directors of early childhood education. 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 Directors of Early Childhood Education
Jobs Postings for Directors of Early Childhood Education 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 directors of early childhood education. In 52% of job postings for Directors of Early Childhood Education, 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 directors of early childhood education.
What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Early Childhood Education Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of early childhood education, 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 directors of early childhood education, 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 directors of early childhood education.
Top Degree Programs for Directors of Early Childhood Education
Top 5 Degree Programs for Directors of Early Childhood Education (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 |
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What Skills Do Directors of Early Childhood Education Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of early childhood education 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 directors of early childhood education, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Early Childhood Education
Based on 18,693 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Directors of Early Childhood Education
| 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 Directors of Early Childhood Education
| 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 directors of early childhood education, 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 directors of early childhood education, 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 directors of early childhood education? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of early childhood education.
What do directors of early childhood education do?
How much do directors of early childhood education make?
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