New Hampshire

Overall Policy Lever Score

3

Child care licensing minimally requires that directors have a minimum of a CDA with 4,500 hours of experience in a licensed child care program, and 3 semester hours of college credit in administration or early childhood leadership and supervision. The competency-based director credential, at the base level, requires a minimum of 24 semester hours in early childhood education and 1 or more years of experience in administration. It does not require any additional business or administration coursework. New Hampshire offers Licensed Plus, a two level QRIS that does not require any additional qualification standards for directors.  Elementary principal licensure requires a master’s degree and teaching experience, but pre-K content and experience are not required. New Hampshire does not have a state funded pre-K program. There are two universities that offer early childhood leadership degree programs.

Interesting Facts: New Hampshire

  • There are more child care center directors (470) than family child care providers (153) in New Hampshire.

  • Rivier University offers a master’s degree in early childhood administration.

  • New Hampshire is one of only seven states with a licensing requirement of college coursework in early childhood administration or leadership.