USA Career Guide-Preschool Teachers
Education needed to be Preschool Teachers
Education to become Preschool Teachers ranges from a high school diploma and certification to a college degree , requirements vary based on settings and state regulations.
In childcare centers, preschool teachers generally are required to have a least a high school diploma and a certification in early childhood education. However, employers may prefer to hire workers with at least some post-secondary education in early childhood education. Preschool teachers in Head Start programs must have at least an associate’s degree.
In public schools, preschool teachers are generally required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field.
Certification
Some states and employers require preschool teachers to have a nationally recognized certification such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) offered by the Council for Professional Recognition. Requirements to earn the CDA include a high school diploma, experience in the field, and coursework.
Some states recognize the Child Care Professional (CCP) designation offered by the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation. Requirements to earn the CCP include a high school diploma, experience in the field, and continuing education courses.
Work Experience
Some states require preschool teachers to have some work experience in a childcare setting. The amount of experience necessary varies by state. Preschool teachers often start out as childcare workers or teacher assistants. Licenses
Many states require childcare centers to be licensed. To meet licensure requirements, their staff must pass a background check, have a record of immunizations, and meet a minimum training requirement.
In public schools, preschool teachers must be licensed to teach early childhood education, which covers preschool through third grade.
Advancement
Preschool teachers can work their way up from assistant teacher to teacher to lead teacher (who may be responsible for the instruction of several classes) to director of the preschool.
Pay of Preschool Teachers
The median annual wage of preschool teachers was $25,700 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,200, and the top 10 percent earned more than $46,830.
In 2010, the median annual wages of industries employing the most preschool teachers were as follows:
Elementary and secondary schools $39,470
Religious, grant making, civic, professional,
and similar organizations $ 25,200
Child day care services $23,520
Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition
Job Prospects of Preschool Teachers
Employment of preschool teachers is expected to grow by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.
The population of children ages 3 to 5 is expected to increase which in turn will increase the demand for preschool teachers.
Workers who have post-secondary education, particularly those with a bachelor’s degree, should have better job prospects than those with less education. In addition, workers with the Child Development Associate (CDA) or Child Care Professional (CCP) credential should have better prospects than those without these certifications.
The following are the growth rates from 2010 to 2020 for the industries employing the most preschool teachers:
Preschool Teachers Employment Growth Rates from 2010 to 2020
Child day care services 30%
Religious, grant making, civic, professional,and similar organizations 17%
Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private 12%
Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition
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Industrial Overview of Preschool Teachers
Preschool teachers held about 456,800 jobs in 2010. The following industries employed the most preschool teachers in 2010:
Child day care services 58%
Religious, grant making, civic, professional, and similar organizations 17
Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private 15
Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition
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