Childcare Center Director / Massachusetts
2026 data Massachusetts board official source

Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts data shows for Childcare Center Directors

To practice as a childcare center director in Massachusetts, the state licensing board requires 76 documented education or training hours, no mandatory state exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Massachusetts's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Education or Training Requirements".

Budget $136 to get started, plus $104 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

On reciprocity, childcare center directors should know: Not typically reciprocal.

Licensing Ease Score

C+
Licensing Ease Score
61/100
Childcare Center Director · Massachusetts

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
76 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$136
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C-
$52/yr
$104 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 Massachusetts

Education / Training Hours
Education or Training Requirements
76 hours
Exam Requirement
Not Required
Initial License Fee
$136
Renewal Fee
$104
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 Massachusetts licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Massachusetts licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Childcare Center Director in Massachusetts? ▼
In Massachusetts, the license path calls for 76 education/training hours, and a $136 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Childcare Center Director in Massachusetts? ▼
To become a licensed childcare center director in Massachusetts, you must meet the state's requirements including 76 hours of education. Contact the Massachusetts licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Childcare Center Director license to Massachusetts from another state? ▼
Childcare Center Director licenses generally reciprocate as follows: Not typically reciprocal. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Massachusetts licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Massachusetts require a background check for Childcare Center Director licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the childcare center director licensing process in Massachusetts. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Childcare Center Director in Massachusetts? ▼
Massachusetts ties continued childcare center director licensure to 24 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $104 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this childcare center director license

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

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Massachusetts 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.