Childcare Center Director / Delaware
2026 data Delaware board official source

Delaware Childcare Center Director License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Manages childcare facilities providing care for young children.

What the Delaware data shows for Childcare Center Directors

Becoming a licensed childcare center director in Delaware means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 66 training hours, no state exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Delaware regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Education or Training Requirements".

Upfront cost is $122, with renewal running $94 on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 24 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For childcare center directors, the reciprocity picture is: Not typically reciprocal.

Licensing Ease Score

C+
Licensing Ease Score
63/100
Childcare Center Director · Delaware

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training B
66 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$122
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$47/yr
$94 every 2 years
Continuing Education C-
12.0 hrs/yr
24 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Delaware

Education / Training Hours
Education or Training Requirements
66 hours
Exam Requirement
Not Required
Initial License Fee
$122
Renewal Fee
$94
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
24 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Childcare Center Director All Delaware licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Delaware licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Childcare Center Director in Delaware? ▼
In Delaware, the license path calls for 66 education/training hours, and a $122 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Childcare Center Director in Delaware? ▼
Certification as a childcare center director in Delaware means clearing the state's checklist: 66 hours of education. The Delaware licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Childcare Center Director license to Delaware from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for childcare center directors nationally works like this: Not typically reciprocal. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Delaware. Verify the specifics with the Delaware licensing board.
Does Delaware require a background check for Childcare Center Director licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for childcare center director licensing in Delaware. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Childcare Center Director in Delaware? ▼
Delaware ties continued childcare center director licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $94 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this childcare center director license

Childcare Center Director in Delaware, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a childcare center director-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Delaware's childcare center director requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Childcare Center Director in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state childcare center director license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Delaware's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Delaware overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Delaware licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.