Licensing may be required to work in a daycare facility. To obtain a license, you will need to fill out an an application along with a self assessment explaining your career choice. There is an application fee, which will varies from state to state and a background check for any criminal activities will need to be conducted. Once the application has been submitted and the background check verified, the application for licensing will either be approved or denied.
Some daycare facilities may require applicants to either have a college degree in child development or completed a minimum number of college courses. The types of courses applicable to a daycare environment will vary from school to school. Some schools may offer courses in child nutrition, daycare safety, classroom management or parent-child relations. Regardless of what the daycare facility or the state requires as far as course load is concerned, it is beneficial to be academically well-rounded when working with children.
Some daycare facilities will accept a Childhood Development Credential Associate, CDCA, certification in lieu of college courses. While it is not a college degree, you can get college credit upon completion of this program. It covers approximately 120 hours of training, as well as observation sessions. Those seeking a CDCA certification are required to pass a written and oral exam.
Depending on your long-term career goals, you may want to consider taking additional courses in education or business. Business courses come in handy in terms of managing the classroom and taking a leadership role when it comes to instruction. Other courses you may be required to take -- that are not necessarily offered at your school -- might include CPR and First Aid. While not all states or daycare facilities require this skill, it helps to put the parents at ease knowing that you can provide emergency care.