Education & Early Childhood Care

Shape the Future Through Education in the United States

Educational Requirements

Early Childhood Educator (ECE) (e.g., preschool teacher, daycare worker):

• Associate's Degree (AA) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development
• Some positions may accept a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
• Public pre-K teachers usually require a Bachelor's Degree

K–12 Teacher (Elementary, Middle, High School):

• Bachelor's Degree in Education or in a specific subject + teacher preparation program
• Master's Degree preferred or required in some states
• Specialized degrees or certification in Special Education

For international applicants, their degrees must be evaluated by a US credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). They may also need to take additional coursework or complete a US-based teacher prep program. Moreover, foreign candidates must prove fluency in English through TOEFL or IELTS exams.

Certification and Experience

1. Each state sets its own teacher certification requirements, which require them to pass an exam, undergo background checks, and undergo child abuse clearances.
2. Internships, assistant roles, or volunteer experience are highly valued.