How to Become a Preschool Teacher: Degree, Steps & Salary (2026)

Key takeaway: There is no single credential for preschool teaching -- what you need depends entirely on where you want to work, ranging from a Child Development Associate credential at many private centers, to an associate degree in a Head Start classroom, to a bachelor's degree plus state early childhood licensure in public school pre-K. Preschool teachers, except special education, had a median annual wage of $38,140 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median), and the higher-credential settings generally sit at the upper end of that distribution.

Most guides to this career give a single answer about the degree you need. That answer is wrong for at least half of readers, because preschool teaching is not one job with one credential – it is a set of jobs governed by three different regulatory systems that happen to share a title.

A private childcare center is regulated by your state’s child care licensing agency, which sets minimum staff qualifications that in many states start below an associate degree. A Head Start classroom is governed by federal program standards. A public school pre-K classroom is governed by the same state teacher licensure system that covers kindergarten and elementary teaching. The credential you need is determined by which of those you walk into.

This guide maps the steps for each. For the wider view of the field, start with the Online Early Childhood Education Degrees Guide.

Step-by-step: how to become a preschool teacher

Step 1: Decide which setting you are aiming for

Do this first, because it determines everything after it.

• Private childcare centers and preschools. Minimum qualifications are set by state child care licensing regulations and are the lowest of the three. Many states allow a lead teacher role with a high school diploma plus a defined number of early childhood credit hours or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Some states set the bar at an associate degree. A handful require little beyond age, a background check, and training hours.
• Head Start programs. Federal Head Start program performance standards require center-based preschool teachers to hold at least an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field with early childhood coursework, and the program operates under a further requirement that a defined share of teachers hold a bachelor’s degree.
• Public school pre-K. These classrooms are staffed under the state’s teacher licensure system. In practice that means a bachelor’s degree plus a state early childhood teaching license or endorsement – the same structure as elementary licensure, described in step 4.

The pay differences track these tiers, and so do the benefits, the school-year calendar, and the job security.

Step 2: Meet the baseline requirements common to every setting

Regardless of route, you will clear a criminal background check, which in most states now includes fingerprinting and a check against child abuse and neglect registries. You will also typically need to be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and complete health and safety training covering CPR, first aid, and mandated reporting of suspected abuse. Many states require a set number of annual training hours to keep working, independent of your degree.

Step 3: Earn the credential your setting requires

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, the CDA is the entry credential most private centers recognize. It requires 120 clock hours of formal early childhood education training, 480 hours of professional experience working with children in the age group you are seeking the credential for, a professional portfolio, an observation by a CDA specialist, and a written exam. It is renewable every three years. The CDA is a credential, not a degree, and it does not transfer into licensure.

An associate degree in early childhood education. This is the Head Start standard and an increasingly common expectation at higher-quality private centers. It covers child development, curriculum planning, observation and assessment, family engagement, and supervised practicum hours in a classroom. It also transfers toward a bachelor’s if you continue.

A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Required for public school pre-K and preferred in many Head Start and private settings. See the bachelor’s in early childhood education guide. If you want the option of teaching in a public school later, this is the route that keeps it open.

Step 4: Get licensed if you are teaching in a public school

Public school pre-K is a licensed teaching position, and the licensure process is the same one elementary teachers go through:

• Complete a state-approved educator preparation program, usually built into the bachelor’s degree, with an early childhood grade band. States write the band differently – Birth-Grade 3, PreK-3, and PreK-5 are all common.
• Complete supervised student teaching, a full-time clinical placement of roughly a semester.
• Pass your state’s licensure exams. Many states use the Praxis series, including an early childhood content test; others use their own systems such as the TExES in Texas or the CSET in California. Passing scores are set state by state.
• Apply to the state for the initial license, which is time-limited and must be advanced to a professional license within a set period through induction, additional coursework, or in some states a master’s degree.

Licenses do not transfer automatically across state lines. Interstate agreements exist, but they usually require you to meet the receiving state’s testing requirements within a grace period.

Step 5: Start teaching, and know how the ladder works

Entry roles are teacher assistant or assistant teacher, then lead teacher, then in center settings roles like education coordinator or center director. Preschool and childcare center directors had a median annual wage of $59,300, and teaching assistants had a median annual wage of $43,350 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians).

Many people work as an assistant while completing the CDA or a degree, which is a practical way to accumulate the supervised hours the CDA requires. Many states also operate quality rating systems that pay centers more for employing better-credentialed staff, which is part of why the degree affects pay even where it is not legally required.

What degree do you need to be a preschool teacher?

The honest answer is that it depends on the setting, and no single degree is required across the field. Here is what each level buys you:

• No degree, plus a CDA: qualifies you for lead teacher roles at many private centers, subject to your state’s child care licensing rules.
• Associate degree in early childhood education: meets the Head Start center-based teacher standard and opens higher-quality private and nonprofit centers.
• Bachelor’s in early childhood education: required for public school pre-K when paired with state licensure, and the credential that makes the whole range of settings available to you.
• Master’s in early childhood education: typically pursued after entering the field, for license advancement, movement up a district salary schedule, or roles in curriculum, program leadership, and teacher preparation.

If your goal is a public school pre-K classroom, treat the bachelor’s plus licensure as the requirement and plan accordingly. If your goal is a community childcare center, a CDA or associate degree may be sufficient to start, and you can build from there. See what you can do with an early childhood education degree for the full range of roles.

How much do preschool teachers make?

Preschool teachers, except special education, had a median annual wage of $38,140 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median). That figure is the single most important number in any honest discussion of this career, and it sits well below the medians for teaching roles in the grades immediately above.

For comparison, using the same source: kindergarten teachers, except special education, had a median annual wage of $62,680; elementary school teachers, except special education, $63,970; and preschool special education teachers, $64,830. Childcare workers, a related but distinct occupation, had a median annual wage of $34,980 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national medians).

The pattern in those numbers is worth understanding before you choose a route. The roles governed by state teacher licensure and funded through public school systems sit in a different pay band than the roles governed by child care licensing and funded through parent tuition. If earnings are a primary consideration, the licensure-eligible bachelor’s route is the one that reaches the higher band. Work through the tradeoff on is an early childhood education degree worth it.

How long does it take to become a preschool teacher?

The range is wide because the credentials are so different.

• CDA route: roughly six months to a year. The 120 training hours can be completed in a few months, but the 480 hours of professional experience with children usually take longer and are often accumulated while working as an assistant.
• Associate degree route: about two years full time, longer part time, including the supervised practicum.
• Bachelor’s plus public school licensure: about four years from a standing start, covering the degree, the preparation program, and a full-time student teaching semester, plus several weeks to a few months for exams and license processing.
• Career changer with a bachelor’s in another field: roughly one to two additional years through a post-baccalaureate licensure certificate or a master’s with initial licensure.

These are ranges, not promises. Placement availability, exam retakes, part-time enrollment, and state processing times all shift the finish date.

Frequently asked questions

What degree do you need to be a preschool teacher?

It depends on the setting. Many private childcare centers accept a Child Development Associate credential or a high school diploma plus early childhood coursework, under state child care licensing rules. Head Start requires at least an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field. Public school pre-K requires a bachelor’s degree plus a state early childhood teaching license.

How long does it take to become a preschool teacher?

Roughly six months to a year for the CDA route, about two years for an associate degree, and about four years for a bachelor’s degree with state licensure for public school pre-K. Career changers who already hold a bachelor’s typically need one to two more years to add licensure.

How much do preschool teachers make?

Preschool teachers, except special education, had a median annual wage of $38,140 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 OEWS national median). For comparison, kindergarten teachers had a median of $62,680 and preschool special education teachers $64,830, so the setting and licensure level you work under have a large effect on pay.

Do you need a degree to be a preschool teacher?

Not always. In many states you can hold a lead teacher role at a private childcare center with a high school diploma plus a Child Development Associate credential or a set number of early childhood credit hours. You do need a degree for Head Start, which requires at least an associate, and for public school pre-K, which requires a bachelor’s plus licensure.

Do preschool teachers need a teaching license?

Only in some settings. Public school pre-K teachers need a state teaching license with an early childhood endorsement, the same credential structure elementary teachers hold. Private center and Head Start teachers generally do not, though they must meet their state’s child care licensing staff qualifications and complete required training hours.

What is a CDA credential and is it worth getting?

The Child Development Associate is a national entry credential requiring 120 hours of formal early childhood training, 480 hours of professional experience with children, a portfolio, a classroom observation, and a written exam, renewable every three years. It is the fastest way into a lead teacher role at many private centers. It is not a degree and does not count toward a teaching license, so it does not open public school classrooms.

Related guides

• Online Early Childhood Education Degrees Guide – the field overview and degree levels
• Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education – the degree that keeps public school licensure open
• What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Degree? – roles across settings
• How to Become an Elementary School Teacher – the licensed path in the grades above
• How to Become a Special Education Teacher – including the preschool special education endorsement

Wage figures on this page are national medians from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Staff qualification rules for child care settings are set by state licensing agencies, teacher licensure rules are set by state education agencies, and Head Start standards are federal; all three change, so confirm current requirements with the relevant agency in your state.

Data verified: August 12, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

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