One of the most important things parents need to consider when searching for preschool programs is teacher qualifications. Why do these matter? Because the quality of care our kids receive is directly related to the qualifications and educational experience their teachers have.
Think about it like this – have you ever been to a doctor’s office without reading about their experience first? Probably not. You likely did your research, read their bios and reviews, and know a bit about their accomplishments. You probably chose them in part due to the quality of their education and background.
Considering how important high-quality child care is for our children’s development, doesn’t it make sense that we do the same kind of research before choosing a preschool program?
Here’s why looking into teacher qualifications is so important.
Teacher qualifications directly influence quality of care
It should come as no surprise that the more qualified a preschool teacher is, the better the quality of care and education they can provide. This care is crucial in the first five years of a child’s life, which is well-recognized as the most important time for their development.
The research on the link between qualifications and quality is pretty clear. Many studies confirm what we already know: high quality care from highly-qualified teachers sets kids up to be successful in school and in their futures.
This fact matters a lot for working parents. For us to be able to balance the demands of work and motherhood, we have to rely heavily on the support of our children’s teachers.
Good support gives us the peace of mind and energy we need for our jobs, our families, and ourselves.
Teacher qualifications are highly variable
When searching for preschool programs, here’s another reason we should be doing our own research into teacher qualifications: there is enormous variability in the qualifications preschool teachers need across different states and settings. It depends on:
- The specific state or territory where the program is located
- Whether the preschool is private or publicly funded
- Teaching role (aide, assistant teacher, lead teacher etc)
Requirements may be even more varied among private preschools, which are considered exempt from state licensure requirements in many states. That means that preschool teachers at private programs may only need specialized certificates or accreditations to teach.
In public preschools, most states have higher minimum necessary qualifications for teachers than private settings. At the very least, preschool teachers in public settings generally need to:
- Complete an approved teacher preparation program – this may include field work, completion of a degree or certification, and completion of a certain number of teaching hours
- Pass the state or national competency exam in early childhood education
- Obtain state licensure or certification through the state board of education
Essentially, whether we’re going public or private, we still need to do our homework into the program teacher’s qualifications; it may be anything from a certification to an advanced early education degree. Knowing this allows us to make the most informed decisions about our child’s care.
The types of qualifications preschool teachers might have
Here’s a breakdown of the range of degrees and certifications teachers may have before they can teach preschool-aged children. Different states and settings require vastly different levels of qualifications and experience.
Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field
This is the gold standard for preschool teachers, and what we would hope for when choosing a program for our kids.
Although preschool teachers are encouraged to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher in early childcare education or a related field, it’s not required in every state or setting. We’re more likely to see this in public preschools or Head Start programs, although some private preschools also have this requirement.
Bachelor’s degree in non-related field
Some states require preschool teachers to have a bachelor’s degree, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be in early childhood education. If this is the case, they may also need to complete a certain number of hours of early childhood education courses and field work before teaching.
Associate’s degree
An associate’s degree is a two-year degree that can be completed through a community college, technical college, or university. Some settings require an associate’s degree in early childhood education or a related field before teaching at the preschool level.
CDA certification
CDA certification refers to the Child Developmental Associate credential. It’s the most widely recognized early childhood certification for professionals working with children from birth through age five. It takes 3-6 months to complete and includes 120 hours of professional development, 480 hours of field experience, and an exam.
Teacher preparation program
A teacher preparation program is a state-approved course of study that prepares individuals to teach in the public school setting. It can be completed at the undergraduate, graduate, or post-baccalaureate level. It’s not a requirement across all states and the completion requirements vary.
High school diploma
Some private preschool settings only need teachers to have a high school diploma and experience working with children before teaching a preschool class.
Experience and course hours
In some settings, completion of early childhood education development coursework hours, general education, and an approved teaching experience is required before teaching a preschool class.
Specialized early childhood education diplomas and certifications
Some private preschool settings may require teachers to have certifications and coursework in a specialized type of early childhood education, such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, or HighScope.
Given the important role preschool teachers play in child development, as well as the fact that there’s no uniform standard of qualification for preschool teachers in the U.S., it’s important for us to do our own research into teacher qualifications before selecting a preschool program.
Sources
“Preschool Teacher Requirements | Early Childhood Pre K Teacher Requirements.” How to Become a Preschool Teacher | How to Become a Pre K Teacher | Early Childhood Education Degrees, 19 Sept. 2014, www.preschoolteacher.org/requirements. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
“Staff Qualifications and Required Training | Childcare.gov.” ChildCare.gov, 2025, childcare.gov/consumer-education/regulated-child-care/staff-qualifications-and-required-training.
“The Relationship between Teacher Qualification and the Quality of the Early Childhood Care and Learning Environment – Campbell Collaboration.” Campbellcollaboration.org, 20 Jan. 2017, www.campbellcollaboration.org/review/teacher-qualification-and-quality-of-early-childhood-care-and-learning/.
“Credentials and Classrooms: Teacher Qualifications’ Impact on Learning Environments.” New America, 17 Feb. 2026, www.newamerica.org/insights/credentials-and-classrooms/. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
“Preschool.” CDA Council, www.cdacouncil.org/en/educator-pathways/preschool/.
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