Child care licensing minimally requires that directors have three years of experience in the field and 16 clock hours of training annually. The Montana Early Childhood Program Director Credential is a three-tiered credential with a minimum requirement of a CDA plus 20 semester hours of early childhood education credit, 45 clock hours of approved program management training and one year of experience working in an early childhood program; one year must be in program management. Elementary principals are required to have a master’s degree. No pre-K content or pre-K experience is required. At the lowest level, the state-wide QRIS does not require any college credits. Administrators in state pre-K programs are required to have a principal license and a master’s degree. There are no early childhood leadership degree programs or leadership academies in Montana.
