Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Illinois child care director requirements for new directors are an associate degree in child development or early childhood education, or 64 semester hours in any discipline with 21 in child development, plus a Gateways Level I Director Credential or 3 semester hours in administration, leadership or management. About 43 of the 64 hours can be general courses.
Under 225 ILCS 10/6.3 (effective 1 July 2027, matching 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2)), a child care director needs an associate degree in child development or early childhood education from an accredited college, or 64 semester hours in any discipline with at least 21 in child development, early childhood education or early childhood special education, plus a Gateways Level I Illinois Director Credential, 3 semester hours in administration, leadership or management, or 3 points of credential-approved training in those areas.
The rule asks for 64 semester hours (21 in child development); plus 3 semester hours in administration, leadership or management, or a credential. The legal source is 225 ILCS 10/6.3.
| Route for a new director | What you need | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Associate degree in child development or early childhood education, from an accredited college | [1] |
| Hours | 64 semester hours, any discipline, with at least 21 in child development or early childhood | [1] |
| Plus (hours route) | Gateways Level I Director Credential, or 3 semester hours in administration, leadership or management, or 3 points of approved training | [1] |
| Interim director | Up to 12 months while finishing, with 2 years as a teacher at the centre and 64 hours | [1] |
| Law in force | 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2) now; 225 ILCS 10/6.3 from 1 July 2027 | [1] |
Illinois Department of Early Childhood (day care licensing, formerly DCFS) decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
Each course below is ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended for college credit. Whether it counts here is the decision of the college and of Illinois Department of Early Childhood (day care licensing, formerly DCFS).
A candidate for the 3 hours in management; NCCRS-recommended. Confirm with licensing in writing
Self-paced online Principles of Management course (Business 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A candidate for the 3 hours in leadership; NCCRS-recommended. Confirm in writing
Self-paced online Foundations of Leadership course (Business 205). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
General hours toward 64; NCCRS-recommended
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
General hours toward 64; ACE-recommended and NCCRS-recommended
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
General hours toward 64; ACE-recommended and NCCRS-recommended
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
General hours toward 64; NCCRS-recommended
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; ask the college in writing which courses it will post, and ask licensing in writing whether they will count.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
| Option | Price | For this rule | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Study PRO | $99 a month, every course | $99 for each month you are subscribed; take as many courses as you finish in that time | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Sophia Learning monthly plan | $99 a month | General hours toward 64 | 15 Nov 2026 |
| StraighterLine membership | $99 a month plus a course fee | Membership plus a one-time fee per course | 15 Nov 2026 |
Illinois community colleges charge per credit hour for the child development courses; check your college's tuition page. Ask Gateways to Opportunity about scholarships for early childhood coursework.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
Ask your Department of Early Childhood licensing representative in writing whether your planned general hours and management course will count, and ask the college in writing which courses it will post, before you enrol.
Illinois day care centres need a qualified director. Public Act 104-0773 puts the education rule for new directors into the Child Care Act as Section 6.3, from 1 July 2027; it matches the existing day care licensing rule at 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130(e)(2). There are two routes.
The first is an associate degree from an accredited college in child development or early childhood education. The second is 64 semester hours in any discipline, with at least 21 in child development, early childhood education or early childhood special education, plus one management item: the Gateways Level I Illinois Director Credential, 3 semester hours in administration, leadership or management, or 3 points of credential-approved training.
On the hours route, 21 of the 64 hours must be in child development or early childhood. That leaves up to 43 hours in any discipline: writing, maths, psychology, sociology, history, business and more. Those general hours are where online courses fit best.
Plan all hours to sit on an accredited college's transcript. Our courses are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended; credit reaches licensing via a college transcript, and the college and licensing decide. UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited.
If you use college credit rather than the Gateways credential, you need 3 semester hours in administration, leadership or management. A course such as Principles of Management or Foundations of Leadership is a likely fit, but licensing decides what counts, so ask your licensing representative in writing before you enrol.
Section 6.5 of the same Act lets a centre that already has a fully qualified director hire an interim conditional director for 12 months while that person finishes the coursework. The interim director needs at least 2 years or 3,120 hours as an early childhood teacher at that centre and 64 semester hours, with 15 or 21 in early childhood, and must finish what is missing within the 12 months. It takes effect on 1 July 2027 and ends on 30 June 2032.
New directors need an associate degree in child development or early childhood education, or 64 semester hours with 21 in child development plus the Gateways Level I Director Credential, 3 hours in administration, leadership or management, or 3 points of approved training.
For directors hired under the current rule and the new law, it is 64 semester hours (or 96 quarter hours), with at least 21 in child development or early childhood. Older 60-hour figures come from earlier versions of the rule.
The 64 hours can be in any discipline, apart from the 21 in child development. General courses count once an accredited college posts them on its transcript. Ask the college and your licensing representative in writing first.
No. We do not offer child development or early childhood education courses, so take the 21 hours at a college. We can help with general hours and with a management or leadership course, if licensing confirms it counts.
Public Act 104-0773 takes effect on 1 July 2027. Until then the day care licensing rule at 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.130 applies; the new law sets the same education levels and adds the interim conditional director route.
Day care licensing, now with the Illinois Department of Early Childhood, reviews staff qualifications. Ask your licensing representative in writing whether a course will count, and keep the reply with your transcripts.
Management, leadership and general courses are on PRO. Ask the college and licensing in writing first.