Early Childhood Director Credential

What is it?

The Missouri Early Childhood Director Credential validates competencies achieved by early childhood professionals through education and experience.  Those individuals receiving credentials demonstrate their ability in center-based or group home leadership and management for programs serving children aged birth to kindergarten entry.  As part of its mission to foster excellence in early childhood systems and programs through advocacy, education, and professional development, the credential is issued by the Missouri Association for the Education of Young Children.

REVISED in JUNE 2024

Many revisions were made to the MOAEYC Early Childhood Director Credential in 2024 to better align it to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies.   Using the  NAEYC) Professional Standards and Competencies (Standard 6) and the Kansas and Missouri Core Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals (Standards VII and VIII) to provide the basis for the credential’s criteria, all efforts were made to also align and reflect the work that has been done by the Power to the Profession Task Force to build a Unifying Framework for the ECE community.

One of the revisions included adding a third level to the Credential which now includes:  

  • Level I  –  Provisional Credential 
  • Level II –  Full Credential
  • Level III – Lifetime Credential  

As in the previous version, the Provisional Director Credential is an interim step to recognize the competency of emerging program directors as they aspire to the higher standards set forth in the Full and Lifetime Director Credential criteria. Both the Level I and Level II credentials have a term of three years before they must be renewed, and as the name implies, Level III never needs renewing.  With advancement in education, the Level I Credential may be renewed once while Level II can be renewed every three years if requested.

Each Level has specific requirements for General Education, Early Childhood Education, Administrative Coursework, and Experience in the ECE field. All Levels share several other requirements including: 

  • Professional Organization Membership
  • Clean Background Check
  • CPR and First Aid Training
  • Medication Training  (provided online) 
  • Sleep Training   

For the first time in the Credential history, Level II and III may have some credit for prior learning considered in their application process, within the designated criteria, through documentation, as outlined in the Credential information packet.  

The Credential Document goes into greater detail regarding:

  • General Education
  • Coursework in ECE or Child Development
  • Coursework in Administration
  • Experience
  • Approved Professional Organization

All classes identified in the last version of the Credential as meeting the “9 hour block of ECE Leadership and Management classes” are still accepted in this revised version of the Director Credential. Additional options are included in the revised version.   

The application process can be completed online or in hard copy. 

Payment can be made through the online store. 

Director’s Credential Application and Additional Information   

Reference Pieces from previous version

Health and Safety Documentation:

Most of the Health and Safety Documentations required for the Director Credential can be found through the Missouri Professional Development System, here.  

From your Professional Development log-in screen, search for courses by topic in the PD System –Course Catalog  (link is also in upper right hand side of the PD screen) 

  • Safe Sleep Training:   ABC’s of Safe Sleep: How to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths
  • Medication Training:  Medication Administration
  • CPR and First Aid: American Heart Association First Aid, CPR for Infant, Child and Adult

Completion of these training may include passing a final quiz to obtain your certificate.  

Make sure your trainings are recorded in your training records, and/or print out or taking a screen shot of any certificates to verify completing of the trainings.