Do You Need a Degree to Open a Daycare? 5 Key Items to Know

Are you confused about the educational requirements to start a daycare? You don’t know how to get started with your daycare business?

Good news! You don’t need any childcare degree to start or own a daycare. In fact, you don’t need any college degree to run your daycare business. 

But there’s some base-level education that’s required. Plus, if you’re starting a commercial center, your position and role determine whether you need a degree. 

I have discussed 5 key items related to degree requirements for home daycare and daycare centers, business impact, preferred degree, certifications, training, and most frequently asked questions.

So, let’s dive into it and clear out all your confusion!

Educational Requirements for Starting a Daycare

Do You Need a Degree to Run a Home Daycare?

You don’t need a degree to start a home daycare. However, you’ll have to meet your state’s minimum educational requirements. 

All US states require home daycare owners to have a minimum of a high school degree or its equivalent. 

Do You Need a Degree to Open a Daycare Center?

Again, you don’t need any degree to start a commercial home daycare center, but this isn’t that simple. Most states require the director/manager of the daycare center to have a childcare degree. If you’re taking up that role, you’ll have to meet that requirement. 

However, some states allow you to own a commercial daycare and hire a director for it. In this case, you can open your center without any degree. But now, your role in your business will be limited. You can do documentation, marketing, and other tasks. But you can’t get involved in childcare, curriculum, and any task related to kids.

Director Qualification Requirements

• Degree in early childhood/ child development or related field.
• Or a combination of credits, CDA (Child Development Associate) and CPAC (Children’s Program Administrator Credential), depending upon the state. 

Will Not Having a Degree Impact My Daycare Business?

Let’s get ourselves in your customers’ shoes, shall we? Parents want their kid’s caregivers to be experienced. They should know their work in and out. And if that’s there, you don’t have to worry.

You, as an owner, don’t need any credentials or degree. Your employees who’ll be dealing with kids need to meet your state’s requirements. And if you’re also taking any role in your daycare, then you’ll have to meet the requirements of that role. 

So remove the focus from yourself and bring the spotlight to licensed, trained and experienced employees. 

What Degree Should You Go for if You Want to Run Your Own Daycare?

If childcare and education are what you want to do in the future, then opt for an early childhood education or child development degree. Basically, any degree related to child education and development will be your best choice. You can be the director of your own center. And in the case of home daycare, you’ll have a solid edge over your competitors. 

What Other Certifications Do I Need to Start a Daycare?

You’ll need a lot of certifications to start a daycare. The most important is the license. To get that, you’ll need multiple legal documents and certificates.

For example, approval from the fire department. Your employees will need to have training and certification in childcare, CPR and first aid. If you’re also going to deal with kids, you’ll also need these certifications. 

Whoever is involved in taking care of kids, whether it’s you or your employees, can’t be totally new to this job. Experience or training in childcare is a must. 

Some of the essential trainings are

• CPR 
• First aid
• Fire extinguisher training
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 

Nice to Have Training for Starting a Daycare

Other than the mandatory training, the following are some topics you should consider for better operations. 

• Professional development workshops
• Special needs education
• Health and safety training
• Curriculum development
• Online courses
• Behavioral management techniques

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need a College Degree to Work at a Daycare?

No. To work in a daycare, you must be 18 plus and a high school graduate. Then, you’ll need training, certifications or some past experience to get the teacher’s job in a daycare center. If you’re not fully trained or don’t have relevant experience, you can get the role of teacher’s assistant. 

Conclusion

So, what degree do you need to open your own daycare? None. For home daycare, you only need a high school degree or something equivalent. 

For a commercial center, the manager/director needs a childhood degree. You can own the center and hire a qualified director. And if you want to be a director + owner, then you’ll need the degree or see what other equivalents your state suggests. 

So, are you now ready to start your daycare? Let us know in the comments.