Childcare Center Director / Virginia
2026 data Virginia board official source

Virginia 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.

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Manages childcare facilities providing care for young children.

What the Virginia data shows for Childcare Center Directors

Becoming a licensed childcare center director in Virginia means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 49 training hours, no state exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Virginia regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Education or Training Requirements".

The initial price tag is $96, and renewal costs $76 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.

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

Licensing Ease Score

B-
Licensing Ease Score
67/100
Childcare Center Director · Virginia

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
49 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$96
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B-
$38/yr
$76 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 Virginia

Education / Training Hours
Education or Training Requirements
49 hours
Exam Requirement
Not Required
Initial License Fee
$96
Renewal Fee
$76
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 Virginia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Childcare Center Director in Virginia? ▼
Virginia requires 49 education/training hours, and an initial fee of $96. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Childcare Center Director in Virginia? ▼
Certification as a childcare center director in Virginia means clearing the state's checklist: 49 hours of education. The Virginia licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Childcare Center Director license to Virginia from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for childcare center directors: Not typically reciprocal. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Virginia licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Virginia require a background check for Childcare Center Director licensing? ▼
Yes, Virginia requires a criminal background check as part of the childcare center director licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Childcare Center Director in Virginia? ▼
To stay licensed as a childcare center director in Virginia, plan on 24 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $76.

Related Guides

What to do with this childcare center director license

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

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

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