Childcare Center Director / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Childcare Center Director License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Manages childcare facilities providing care for young children.

What the Tennessee data shows for Childcare Center Directors

Tennessee sets the entry bar for childcare center directors at 45 training hours, with no mandatory exam. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Tennessee's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Education or Training Requirements".

The initial price tag is $91, and renewal costs $72 every 2 years. 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

B-
Licensing Ease Score
69/100
Childcare Center Director · Tennessee

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
45 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C
$91
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B-
$36/yr
$72 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 Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Education or Training Requirements
45 hours
Exam Requirement
Not Required
Initial License Fee
$91
Renewal Fee
$72
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 Tennessee licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Childcare Center Director in Tennessee? ▼
In Tennessee, the license path calls for 45 education/training hours, and a $91 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Childcare Center Director in Tennessee? ▼
To become a licensed childcare center director in Tennessee, you must meet the state's requirements including 45 hours of education. Contact the Tennessee licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Childcare Center Director license to Tennessee 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 Tennessee. Verify the specifics with the Tennessee licensing board.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Childcare Center Director licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the childcare center director licensing process in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee? ▼
Licensed childcare center directors in Tennessee must complete 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $72.

Related Guides

What to do with this childcare center director license

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

  • See how Tennessee'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 Tennessee's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Tennessee overview

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