Child care licensing minimally requires a director to have two years paid experience in a licensed child care facility and a current CDA, Mississippi Department of Human
Services’ Child Care Director’s Credential, or 24 semester hours in early childhood education. Entry-level principals in Mississippi must have a minimum of a master’s degree and pass the administrator’s praxis exam. At the highest level, the state-wide QRIS requires directors to have a bachelor’s degree with at least 18 credits in early childhood education. State pre-K administrators are required to have a graduate degree, however early childhood coursework is not required. There is one early childhood leadership degree program in Mississippi.