Do I have to go to college to work at a Daycare?

Question

Do I have to go to college to work at a Daycare?

Answer 1

No, you don't. I worked at a daycare when I was younger, and had virtually NO experience. I had no a clue what I was doing. Now that I am a mother, I can't believe that they hired me to care for other's people children all day long. Not only that, I was immediately put in the infant room and was responsible for caring for 5-8 babies under the age of 12 months. It's just lucky that I was an honest, caring person. However, they wouldn't have known whether or not that was the case when they hired me.

Unfortunatley, it all comes down to money. Parents can't afford to pay much more in daycare costs than they already do. Daycares can't afford to pay their employees more money, and college educated people are usually more expensive per hour.

Just like teachers, this is an extremely underpaid and undervalued job.

Answer 2

u should, but unfortunately no.

Answer 3

Vo-tech classes only!

Answer 4

no you can take ROP, but you have to have the 12 ece.

Answer 5

Dear Foxy

No you don't need a college education to work at most day care agencies.  But with out that

college degree you also may not be a Teacher, just an aide to assist the teacher.

My wife has taught 2 yr olds for 30 years  Most of the none college grads are aides.  The Teachers have BA's in Early Childhood Education.  

Check your state's Dept. of Education and the State Health Services for their requirements before you decide.

Answer 6

No you do not need a college DEGREE to be a daycare provider. But you do need UNITS. So you do have to go to college to obtain the proper number of units to be a daycare provider. Many of my friends in California are Daycare Teachers and they don't have a college degree. Ask the daycares you're interested in how many units you need to qualify as a daycare teacher. It's usually only 12-16 units. And the classes are child development, etc. I really hoped this helped you. :)

Answer 7

No, you don't have to go to college to work at a daycare.  Althought, I'm pretty sure that each daycare has different policies on whether you need college courses to begin working there.  At the daycare I'm working at, you do not need any college courses to begin to work there.  However, they do encourage you too take the courses.  Where I work pays for my education and i'm taking courses and working.  They like most to have a level one in early childhood.

Answer 8

I am very suprised at the answers above! Here in Canada, all daycare workers need a college diploma in Early Childhood Education. I for one, would not hire an inexperienced person to teach my child.

Answer 9

NO Daycares do not require youto be a certified teacher. The exception to this is that state run or public school preschools. They only allow those with a BA to be teacher, but the aides typically don't have degrees.

I don't know why you are asking, but hopefully you are looking to work with kids and take on this job while you go to school. Preschool/daycare work is not always easy it's manual labor, and does not pay well. If your looking for a career get your education and then you can be a teacher where at least the pay is a little better!

Answer 10

Each state will have different requirements so check what's needed for your area.  I can only tell you what the requirements are in my state (Maryland).  You do not need a degree unless you are working in a State Dept. of Educ.  approved program or as a program director.  To work as a classroom teacher you do need to take certain classes to meet state qualifications.  The classes and number of credits needed are different depending on the ages of the kids you are working with.  To work as an assistant you don't need anything.

Answer 11

no but it helps