Criteria Related to Staff Qualifications | National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC Academy

Overview || Candidacy Staff Quals || Criteria Staff Quals

Educational Qualifications FAQs

MYTH:

Programs cannot earn NAEYC Accreditation unless 75% of their teachers have bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education.

FACT:

Criteria 6.A.05 and 6.A.06 address teaching staff qualifications and are always assessed criteria, but are not required. A program may still become accredited even if they do not meet these two criteria if they are able to demonstrate that they meet the following:

Eligibility and Candidacy Requirements
All required criteria
At least 80% of the criteria upon which they are assessed within each of the ten standards, with no one classroom falling below 70% across all standards.

See below for more information about criteria 6.A.05 and 6.A.06, which relate to teaching staff qualifications. To view these and other criteria, please utilize the TORCH Criteria Search.

Criterion 6.A.05 for Teachers states:

All teachers have a minimum of an associate’s degree or equivalent. At least 75% of teachers have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree or equivalent in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special education, and this training encompasses child development and learning of children birth through kindergarten; family and community relationships; observing, documenting, and assessing young children; teaching and learning; and professional practices and development.

Note: Criterion 6.A.05 is always assessed but is not a required criterion. This criterion will be phased in between 2006 and 2020, with variations by program size. Refer to the Time Line for Meeting Teacher Qualifications.

Criterion 6.A.06 for Assistant Teachers/Teacher Aides states:

Assistant teachers–teacher aides have a high school diploma or GED and

a. 50% of assistant teachers–teacher aides have at least a Child Development Associate credential (CDA) or equivalent.

b. 100% of assistant teachers–teacher aides who do not have at least a CDA are enrolled in a program leading to a CDA or equivalent, are actively participating in the program, and are demonstrating progress toward the CDA or equivalent.

If there is only one assistant teacher–teacher aide, then either of the requirements can be met.

Note: Criterion 6.A.06 is always assessed but is not a required criterion.

What qualifications does NAEYC require teaching staff to have in order for a program to become accredited?

The Candidacy Requirements include the minimum staff qualifications that a program must have in order to be accepted as a Candidate and receive a site visit.