How to get a daycare job: Requirements and types of child care settings

“Child care is really one of the hardest but also one of the most rewarding jobs,” says Angela Wolfe, owner of Children’s Lighthouse of Prosper, Texas. If that statement excites you, rather than intimidates you, it’s a good sign that a job at a daycare center might be right for you.

But getting a job at a child or daycare center doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Your job search will largely depend on your education, experience, aspirations, preferences and location. Here’s professional advice for turning your love for kids into a career — along with general daycare job requirements, types of settings you may work in and more.

• Daycare job requirements typically include a high school diploma, experience with children and CPR/first-aid certification.
• Background checks are required for most daycare positions.
• Daycare jobs can include roles at child care centers, in-home daycares and before- and after-school care programs, each of which may have varying educational philosophies.
• You can search and apply for daycare jobs online, on local daycare websites and through direct inquiries.

Requirements to work at a daycare

Every daycare is going to have different hiring requirements and preferences, says Wolfe. Before you start, research the specific requirements of your state for the type of daycare position you want. You may also decide to call a few child care centers where you’d like to work, and ask to speak to the director. They may be able to tell you what requirements they’re looking for when hiring.

“Typically the baseline for employment in child care in my area is a high school diploma with two years experience working with children — babysitting, volunteer work or other child care employment, etc.,” says Sabrina Walters, owner and director of Little Bug Learning in York, Pennsylvania.

Here are some general daycare job requirements, including the ones Walters mentions:

• Experience:
  • Time spent working with children: While not always required, experience working with kids is often a plus. This may include babysitting, a job as an au pair or camp counselor, volunteer work or other child care employment.
• Education:
  • High school diploma or GED: Most daycares require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. 
  • Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree/certification: Some daycare positions, especially those with more responsibility, may require or prefer an ECE degree or certification, or a CDA credential. 
  • Continuing education: Depending on the daycare role, you may also be required to do continuing education so you keep learning and growing on the job.
• Certifications and training:
  • CPR and first aid: Many states require child care workers to be certified in CPR and first aid. 
  • Child abuse prevention training: Some states require specific training in child abuse prevention. 
  • Other safety trainings: SIDS and head trauma training may be required as well, says Amy James, franchise owner of Primrose School of Nashville 12 South in Tennessee.
• Other Requirements:
  • Background check: Daycares will likely require a background check. 
  • Immunization: You may need to provide a record of your immunizations. 
  • Age: Some daycares may have a minimum age requirement, often 18. 

Can I get a daycare job with no child care experience?

Looking for a daycare job with no experience? It’s possible.

“You can start as an aide — a teacher who cannot be left alone with children — without the experience, if a program is willing,” says Walters.

Do keep in mind that for some employers, experience could mean volunteering with a youth organization or babysitting. You might also have background that’s relevant. For example, customer service experience shows you can be a team player and communicate effectively with parents, coworkers and kids. Put that on your resume and/or your job application, and it can make you an appealing candidate without experience that’s child-care-specific.

“We do sometimes hire good, loving people without experience if we find they are truly passionate about working with children,” says Wolfe. “In that case, we will put them through training.”

Can I get a daycare job with no formal training?

Sometimes a daycare will let you complete necessary training after you are hired, and some centers will even pay for the training, but hiring preference may be given to candidates who already have completed necessary training or certifications.

What are the requirements for preschool jobs?

If you want to be a pre-K teacher, the requirements will likely be higher. Do a little research into what your state mandates. Many require a certain number of hours in a classroom before becoming a preschool teacher. And certain programs may look for a child development associate (CDA) certificate or higher education, such as an associate degree or even a bachelor’s degree in education. Others will help you earn your CDA.

“If your area has a quality initiative program, like Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program, teacher certification and/or college degrees may be more of an expectation than in other areas,” Walters says.

What about background checks?

Many states and child care centers have strict regulations in place requiring employees to undergo background checks before you can begin working with children. These checks help ensure the safety and well-being of children by screening for any criminal history, prior allegations of abuse or neglect and other factors that might indicate a potential risk. In some states, background checks must be renewed periodically to maintain compliance as well.

Common background screenings may include:

• Criminal history checks (both state and federal, including fingerprinting).
• Sex offender registry searches.
• Child abuse and neglect registry checks.
• Verification of identity and employment history.

Know your daycare options

To find the right daycare center job for you, logistics like your responsibilities, pay rate, benefits and the ages and number of children you’ll be working with are always important to consider. Also, consider what type of organization you want to be a part of, what you’d like to learn on the job and what you’re aspiring to do in the future.

Depending where you live, there may be a variety of different child care settings where you can work. These may include:

Child care center: A typical child or daycare center provides care for babies as young as 5 weeks old up to perhaps preschoolers and even school-aged kids. Some centers are independently owned and operated; others are part of a franchise. Others may be strictly preschools that offer half-day or full-day options. Many extend the hours to early morning and evening to accommodate working parents.

In-home child care: There may also be an in-home daycare looking to hire, but ask carefully about benefits like health care and paid time off, as they may offer fewer than a child care center does.

Before- and after-school care: Before- and after-school care provides supervised, structured activities for kids outside regular school hours, ensuring safety, enrichment and convenience for families. Programs may be privately run or operated by a public school, nonprofit, community organization or child care center. In this type of role, you may not get as many hours — or at least continuous hours — as you would at a full-time child care center.

As you research, you will find many of the centers are similar but vary in teaching styles and philosophies. Here are a few of the types you may come across:

Montessori: A preschool that follows the Montessori method has multi-age classrooms, where students are meant to learn from each other, as well as direct their own learning through specific activities and playthings, with teachers acting as their guide. Usually, teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Without a college education, you may be able to become an associate at the infant and toddler and early education level; however, you’ll have to have Montessori-specific training.

Waldorf: Waldorf (aka Steiner) schools use a curriculum that emphasizes individuality and respect. Kids are encouraged to direct their own play with simple toys. Learning is done through lots of activities and real-world experiences. Teachers must have Waldorf training.

Co-op: Co-op preschools are created by a group of parents who want a similar type of education for their kids. Parents take turns assisting the teacher and run the business of the school. So essentially, the parents would be your employer.

Head Start: Head Start is a government program designed to help lower income families afford preschool and help kids get ready for kindergarten. A preschool that participates in Head Start receives reimbursement for the kids’ tuition. That means that if your employer does participate in Head Start, you may be required to undergo certain training designed to maintain a high quality of care and education.

Religious: Some daycare programs and preschools are run and/or affiliated with religious organizations, such as synagogues and churches. It may not be required that you practice the religion of the institution that runs the school, but part of your job may be participating in religious rituals, such as singing, praying and attending worship services.

Where to search and apply for daycare jobs

Once you’re ready, get your resume in order and start your job search. Online job boards are a good place to start when looking for jobs at a daycare. Also, check local daycare websites. Some of them have extensive websites where they post openings and/or information on how to apply for jobs.

And don’t be afraid of making a direct inquiry. Call a daycare where you’d like to work and ask them if they have openings and/or if you can fill out an application for them to keep on file for when they do. Maybe you’ll catch a director who’s not into posting online or who hasn’t had a chance to do it yet. Plus, you’ll be showing that you’re proactive, which might certainly catch an employer’s eye.