Preschool-aged children are just starting to learn things like numbers and letters. They're also learning how to be independent and how to interact with their peers.
To teach children in this age group, you'll need to meet certain requirements. Keep reading for our step-by-step guide on becoming a preschool teacher.
What Does a Preschool Teacher Do?
Preschool teachers are responsible for providing guidance, instruction, and supervision to the youngest learners, usually children ages three through five.
The job duties of a preschool teacher often include:
- creating activities for students
- developing lesson plans that engage students
- helping students develop socially
- meeting with parents to discuss student progress
- monitoring and tracking student progress
- teaching students basic concepts like letters, numbers, colors, and shapes
A large percentage of teachers work in private daycare centers and preschools, but some also work for public schools or religious institutions.
Depending on their place of work, preschool teachers may work year-round or they may have summers off, like other types of school teachers.
Steps to Becoming a Preschool Teacher
To become a preschool teacher, you'll need experience with children and you'll need to complete a program for early childhood education.
You may also be required to obtain a license or certificate in early childhood education. This varies by state, so be sure to check what your state requires.
Below, we've outlined the basic steps to becoming a preschool teacher.
Step 1: Gain Experience Working with Children
Most employers prefer to hire preschool teachers who have a lot of experience working with young children.
This age group can be particularly challenging as they discover their sense of self and start pushing boundaries, so experience helps you learn how to navigate this.
You can start gaining experience in working with children while in high school and even middle school by babysitting. Nearly every parent needs a babysitter at some point, so they're often in high demand.
If you're nervous about babysitting, you can start off by offering to babysit for family or neighbors. Starting with children you know well can make babysitting easier.
You can also look for opportunities through community or religious organizations. For example, many churches provide childcare during services and other events.
This can be great if you're just starting out, as you're often working with other staff members and the parents are in the building if you need anything.
You may be able to get entry-level jobs in daycare centers and preschools once you start your early childhood education program.
Step 2: Complete an Early Childhood Education Program
At a minimum, preschool teachers need to have an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field. Associate degrees are two-year undergraduate degrees.
However, some employers may require a bachelor's degree, which is an undergraduate degree that takes four years to complete.
Early childhood education programs usually cover how to teach children from infancy up through third grade.
These programs often cover topics like:
- classroom management
- infant and toddler needs
- lesson planning
- teaching literacy
- teaching using technology
While in your early childhood education program, you'll likely have typical classroom learning, as well as hands-on experience in a childcare setting.
This helps prepare you to work with children and may also go toward fulfilling any experience requirements your state may have.
To maximize your job options, you'll want to look for programs that meet your state's requirements for teacher licensure.
Step 3: Become Licensed or Certified as a Preschool Teacher
As mentioned above, licensure and certification requirements vary by state. All states require public school teachers to be licensed, but not all states require licensure for private schools.
State licensure requirements often include things like:
- a background check
- a certain amount of supervised classroom experience
- passing a state exam or a PRAXIS exam
PRAXIS exams are a type of standardized test distributed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). They offer core tests and subject tests.
Most states require teachers to pass the core tests: mathematics, reading, and writing. You may also be required to take the early childhood education and/or early childhood assessment exams.
For teachers who do not need to be licensed, some states may still require the Child Development Associate certification offered by the Council for Professional Recognition.
To earn this credential, you'll need to complete at least 120 hours of formal early childhood education training. You'll also need to have 480 hours of professional work experience with children.
Additionally, you'll need to send in documentation of your work experience and have a professional development specialist visit your classroom for an assessment.
Finally, you'll need to pass an exam to receive your Child Development Associate certification. Once you do that, you'll need to periodically renew your credential.
Again, requirements to become a preschool teacher are different from state to state, so it's important to check what your specific state requires.
Become a Preschool Teacher
To work as a preschool teacher, you'll need experience, education, and possibly a license or certification. By following the steps above, you can start your path to becoming a preschool teacher today.
