To become a child care director in Massachusetts, you need an EEC Director I or Director II certification. You must be at least 21, meet the Lead Teacher requirements, and add a few extra credits in child care administration. Director I also needs 6 more months of experience.

By our editors · Facts checked October 18, 2026 · Source: EEC director eligibility page

Disclosure: Treehouse Learning Center, which runs childcare and therapy programs in Massachusetts, publishes KidBrief. When we point you to child care, we send you to the state’s official list of every licensed program, and we always label ours. How we make money.

The short version

  • EEC has 2 director certifications: Director I and Director II.
  • You must be 21 or older.
  • You must meet the Lead Teacher education and work requirements, but you don’t need to hold a Lead Teacher certificate first.
  • Everyone needs 2 college credits or 3 CEUs in Child Care Administration (Category of Study 13), plus a little more coursework for the level you want.

Education you need

  • Both levels: the Lead Teacher education requirements, plus 2 college credits or 3 CEUs in Category of Study 13: Child Care Administration.
  • Director I: add 2 college credits or 3 CEUs in any Category of Study from 1 to 12.
  • Director II: add 2 college credits or 3 CEUs in Children with Special Needs, or in any Category of Study from 8 to 13.

Watch out: EEC accepts CEUs only from CCEI, MAEYC or NAEYC. From CCEI, it only accepts the infant-toddler certificate and the Director’s certificate. Professional Development Points and workshop attendance sheets don’t count.

Work experience you need

  • Director I: the Lead Teacher work experience, plus 6 more months working as an early childhood educator.
  • Director II: the Lead Teacher work experience. No extra months.
  • Permanent substitute teaching counts. That means 50 hours or more within 4 weeks.
  • If you work 12 or more hours a week, 4 weeks at one program counts as 1 month. If you work less, it takes more weeks.

What experience counts

  • Work at a group child care center, a family child care home, or an equivalent state-licensed program EEC accepts.
  • Out-of-state work counts if that state’s early education agency, or an equivalent one, certifies the program.
  • Experience with children with disabilities from birth to 16 counts.
  • Work outside the U.S. and StrongStart classes don’t count.

Who can sign off on your hours

Your supervisor must be an EEC-certified Lead Teacher, Director I or Director II, or be licensed by the state education department (DESE) for Pre-K, or be qualified in another U.S. state that meets EEC standards. After you apply online, your supervisor verifies your experience online.

Documents to gather

  • A copy of the front and back of an official transcript showing the school name and logo, the registrar’s signature, course names and credits, and your degree if you have one.
  • For CEUs, a copy of each certificate showing your name, the date, the number of units and the CEO’s signature.

How to apply

  1. Check that you meet the age, education and experience rules above.
  2. Gather your transcripts and CEU certificates.
  3. Apply online through EEC. The steps are on Get an EEC Professional Certification.
  4. Ask your supervisor to watch for the request to verify your hours.

Questions? Call the EEC Professional Qualifications Certification Unit at (617) 988-6600, or read EEC’s certification FAQ.

From our publisher: Treehouse Learning Center in Lynn is hiring teachers and assistants. See open positions (this is our own program).