What Does a Preschool Teacher Do?

There are several steps to getting this job, but earning your qualifications will be worthwhile. In fact, sheer opportunity is a reason preschool teacher is one of the top careers for community college graduates. In addition, some cities have increased demand. For example, Phoenix is a hub for public service jobs, including preschool teacher. 

First, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent. 

For most jobs, you’ll need an associate degree from a state-approved program. 

Before you take any educational or training steps, realize that the requirements for preschool teachers vary by state and by school. (We have a helpful link for that below.)

For example, some federal Head Start programs require an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. Head Start is an early education program for underserved children. At least 50% of the teachers who teach at Head Start will need a bachelor’s degree. 

To teach at a public school, you’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. If you have a degree in another field, you’ll need to get experience teaching preschool children.

Programs may include courses on classroom management, teaching methods, educational psychology, reading instruction and behavior assessment. Most programs also include an internship in the classroom so you get hands-on experience with young children.

Next up is licensing and certification. 

Depending on the state or school where you plan to teach, you may need to pass a certification exam, get your state teaching certificate, get your teaching license or all of the above. (A license is required for public school preschool teachers.)

Other certifications may be required or will open up new opportunities. The most common is the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential offered by the Council for Professional Recognition. Another is the Child Care Professional (CCP) credential. 

To understand the rules in your state, explore this PreSchoolTeacher.org list of preschool teacher education requirements by state.

An associate degree takes two years. A bachelor degree takes four years. 

Continuing education is ongoing. For example, a licensed preschool teacher must maintain that license, and a CDA credential must be renewed every three years. 

Definitely! The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 63,100 job openings each year from 2021 to 2031. That’s about 15% employment growth, much faster than growth for most other careers. 

Successful preschool teachers tend to share certain personal attributes. They are:

• Patient
• Calm in a variety of situations
• Creative
• Good communicators 
• Good collaborators
• Organized
• Physically able to keep up with energetic young children