Child Care Director Qualifications

Child Care Director Qualifications A child care director shall be least 21 years of age and shall have at a minimum: 1. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, child care, special education, psychology (with emphasis on child psychology), or family and consumer sciences (with emphasis on child development), or equivalent degree from another child- related field or course of study. OR 2. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in child development technology which must include a minimum of 480 hours of practical training, supervised by college instructors, in a college operated child care learning laboratory. OR 3. A two-year associate degree from an accredited community or junior college in child development technology or child care and two years paid experience in a licensed child care facility. OR 4. Two years paid experience as a caregiver in a licensed child care facility, and either (1) a current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential from the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CECPR), or (2) a Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development (DECCD) Child Care Director’s Credential or MDHS OCY Child Care Director’s Credential, or (3) 24 semester hours credit with a grade of “C” or better from an accredited college or university in courses specific to early childhood. OR 5. A verified certificate from the licensing agency certifying that the individual was qualified to be the director of a licensed child care facility prior to January 1, 2000 in the State of Mississippi.