Child care licensing requires that directors have a minimum of a CDA, 2,000 hours of experience in child care, and completed a course of training in business administration or 1,000 verifiable hours in an administrative position. Nevada does not offer a director credential. Elementary school principals are not required to have pre-K experience; pre-K content is embedded in certification. The state-wide QRIS, at a lowest level requires only valid child care license and signing up for the coaching program, but getting to the next star level requires a significant accomplishment. At the highest level, it requires directors to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours in early childhood education. Administrators of school-based state pre-K programs are required to have principal certification. There are two early childhood leadership degree programs in Nevada, but no early childhood leadership academies. In 2019 Nevada completed a Needs Assessment that explores the resources and gaps in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) system that serves infants, toddlers and their families in the 17 urban and rural counties of Nevada.
