Education · 1 of 5
The path
There are two versions of this career with very different training and very different pay.
- 1
High school diploma
Grade 12
Babysit, work at a camp, volunteer in a church nursery. Real hours with small children are what get you hired.
- 2
Entry job plus a credential
About 1 year
Most people start as an assistant while working toward the CDA (Child Development Associate) credential: roughly 120 clock hours of training, several hundred hours of hands-on experience, a portfolio, an observation and an exam.
- 3
Associate degree, if you want to lead a classroom
2 years
A two-year early childhood education degree at a community college. Many Head Start and higher-quality centers require it for lead teachers.
- 4
Bachelor's degree, if you want a public school
4 years
A four-year early childhood education degree that includes student teaching.
- 5
State teaching license
Final year plus testing
Finish a state-approved preparation program and pass the state certification exams. In Texas, for example, that runs through an approved Educator Preparation Program and the Texas Education Agency.