How to become certified to teach preschool with a bachelors in early childhood..what else do I need?

Question

I live in NJ..If I get my bachelors degree in early childhood then what else do I need to get..

thanks

Answer 1

Wow, I taught preschool for 10 years and have never heard of anyone having to be certified to teach that level. A bachelor's in early childhood would be great, but you'll need to check with your state certification board to see if anything else is needed, or if they even certify teachers for preschool.

For state licensing purposes, most preschools want teachers to have a certain number of early childhood college credits--I taught in Kansas, and they were looking for at least 12. If you would want to move up into an assistant director or director position in the future, you would need more, so the degree is a great idea.

Also, you may want to check into Montessori certification, if you would like to teach using the Montessori method in that type of school. There are several certifying bodies for Montessori training, some can be done online. In my experience, teaching at a Montessori school pays more and provides a challenging curriculum to teach.

Answer 2

You would have to be licensed by the state. Call a local school and ask for information. Many Universities help you get your Teaching Certificate after you graduate.

Answer 3

You would have to meet the requirements for certification in NJ. Contact State Ed. You can be pretty sure you will have to student teach and it is unlikely you will be able to do it at the preschool level. Find out what you need to do to make sure your certification includes preschool but don't be surprised if they make you take some Elementary Ed. classes.