Do You Need a Degree to Open a Daycare?

“How will I open a daycare when I don’t have a relevant degree?” Is this what you’re thinking? 

But do you really need a degree to open a daycare? 

The answer is no. You don’t need a relevant degree to start a daycare business, but your daycare teachers should be trained and experienced. 

We have sorted out all the training and educational requirements for both the owner and the teachers. After reading the article, you’ll know exactly what qualification you should have to start a daycare business. 

Educational Requirements for Starting a Daycare

If you’re starting a daycare business, you should have the minimum education your state recommends. 

A lot of daycare teachers get themselves registered with the government. In these cases, it’s vital to fulfill all their requirements, including the educational ones.

As a daycare teacher, you don’t need a relevant degree to start a daycare, but there are still some educational requirements. You should be graduated from high school or have an equivalent diploma. This requirement can vary from state to state, so check your state’s regulations and conditions. 

Fun Fact: Daycare teachers can’t work in school, but actual teachers having degrees in child education work in daycare centers. They’re in the educational programs, not just in babysitting. 

What Certifications Do I Need to Open a Home Daycare?

You don’t need a relevant degree, but you’ll need a lot of certifications to start a home daycare. The most important is the license. And to get that, you’ll need many 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. 

Why Don’t You Need a Degree to Open a Daycare Center? 

Childcare is a sensitive department, and to operate a daycare, you need the government’s permission (in the form of a license). Why don’t you need a relevant college degree for such a critical field? 

Let’s first see how we want daycare teachers and operators to be. We want them to be able to handle kids. They should know how to calm a crying baby, stop them from doing something wrong, and ensure their learning according to their age. 

All this is something that comes with practice and experience. Plus, loving this job is totally intrinsic. Short training programs are more effective in this case than a traditional 4-year college degree. 

Does that mean there’s no point in early childhood education and related degrees? No, don’t get us wrong. Educator and childcare provider are 2 separate roles. We’re talking about caregivers and not teachers and educators. 

Will Not Having a Degree Impact My Daycare Business? 

Let’s get ourselves in your customers’ shoes. Parents want their kid’s caregivers to be experienced. They should know their work in and out so that parents can trust them to leave their kids with them. 

They’re not looking for a degree. They’re looking for experience and compassion. So if you appoint experienced or trained teachers in your daycare, you won’t have any problem. 

Your task is to build trust. Once the parents trust you and they’re happy with your services, your business won’t have any negative effects.

Tip: Always tell the parents that your daycare teachers are experienced and trained professionals. It’ll help develop trust. 

Wait, Bachelor’s Degree Is a Requirement in Some States

Until now, we were mainly talking about the teachers, the people dealing with kids. However, in some states, the management and superior positions of the daycare, like director and owner, are required to have a college degree. Not a relevant one but any bachelor’s degree. 

So check your state’s requirements before starting your daycare business. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What degree do you need to open a daycare center?

As discussed, you don’t need a degree to start a daycare business. If you’re really into kids and want to pursue your education in the same area, then an early childhood education degree is the best. 

A lot of early childhood educators open up their own daycare. Their qualification gives them a slight edge over the others. 

2. What do you need to work in a daycare?

To work in a daycare, you must be 18 plus and a high school graduate. Then you’ll need training, certifications or a little bit of 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. 

3. How can I know If my state requires a degree to open a daycare center? 

You can know all your state requirements for starting a daycare business just by visiting their site. You can find all the details, rules and regulations you need to know there. 

Conclusion

Let’s summarize what we’ve discussed. 

Do you need a degree to open a daycare? No. There’s no need to have a relevant degree, but some states want the director and owner to have bachelor’s qualifications (in any domain).

Teachers and caregivers also don’t need a relevant degree. They should be trained in taking care of kids and should have certification. Plus, they should have graduated from high school. It is the minimum education most states recommend, and it’s a must. 

We hope everything’s clear to you now. Thank you for reading.