The Iowa Department of Education underscores the collective duty of the community in providing a solid foundation for every child’s development. The pivotal role in this endeavor is entrusted to committed and highly qualified educators, and this is where your journey begins. As someone possessing the ideal disposition and expertise to unlock the distinct capabilities of each child within a classroom setting, you have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the education of forthcoming generations of Iowans.
| University/Institution | Featured Program |
|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University | B.S or M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education |
| Walden University | Online Early Childhood Studies Programs |
| Arizona State University – Online | Early Childhood Education, Med; Early Childhood Education (Teacher Certification), MEd |
| Rasmussen University School of Education | Associate’s and Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education |
| University of Phoenix | Associate of Arts with a concentration in Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Education / Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Education/Early Childhood Education |
| WGU | B.A. Elementary Education (Leads to initial teacher licensure); Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary Education (Leads to initial teacher licensure) |
Early Childhood Iowa (ECI), the state’s early childhood system, delivers services throughout all of Iowa’s 99 counties via a network of 38 local ECI boards. Its central mission is to synchronize a range of state-level early childhood programs focused on boosting the health and educational success of children below six years old.
A key element of this initiative is the statewide voluntary preschool program accessible to all four-year-old children in Iowa. By broadening preschool availability statewide, the Iowa Department of Education aims to give young learners a foundational boost in their educational path, a strategy supported by numerous studies showing beneficial results.
While the process of becoming a preschool teacher in Iowa may have its unique requirements and steps, it’s also valuable to explore how to become a preschool teacher in Colorado, as these two states may offer different opportunities and guidelines for aspiring educators.
Step 1: Fulfill Degree and Educator Preparation Requirements
To become a preschool teacher in Iowa, one must navigate several educational steps to be eligible for a teaching license. The first step is obtaining a bachelor’s degree from an institution with regional accreditation and completing a teacher preparation program approved in Iowa. A detailed list of these accredited programs can be found online. The degree should focus on Early Childhood Education, equipping you to teach children from birth to third grade within the state.
For those who have completed their teacher preparation program outside Iowa, obtaining a state teaching license is still possible if the program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), as acknowledged by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
In Iowa, there are additional educational requirements beyond the degree and teacher preparation program:
- Completion of a board-approved course in human relations, addressing diverse lifestyles and dynamics of interpersonal and intergroup relations;
- A course focused on exceptional learners, encompassing education for gifted students and those with disabilities;
- Adherence to the Board’s recency requirement, which can be fulfilled either by completing six college credits or accumulating 160 days of teaching experience within the last five years.
Your educational journey will encompass a Professional Education Core, including specialized courses tailored to Early Childhood Education. The core curriculum covers a range of topics:
- Instructional planning and diverse learners;
- Understanding student learning;
- Various instructional strategies;
- Effective communication techniques;
- Classroom management and learning environment;
- Educational foundations and professional development;
- Assessment methods;
- Reading program preparation and integration of reading strategies;
- Teaching methods;
- Use of computer technology in instruction;
- Collaboration, ethics, and professional relationships;
- Student teaching in your preferred grade level or subject area.
In addition to the core curriculum, your Early Childhood Education concentration will include:
- Understanding child growth and development;
- Implementing developmentally appropriate curricula and learning environments;
- Ensuring health, safety, and nutrition;
- Collaborating with families and communities;
- Professionalism in early childhood education.
Prior to embarking on your final student teaching segment, it’s essential to engage in pre-student teaching fieldwork. This involves accumulating a minimum of 100 clock hours of experience in diverse educational settings, catering to three distinct age groups. These experiences should be spread across various environments, both urban and rural. When it comes to student teaching, it should last at least 12 weeks and be conducted in two different classroom environments. These classrooms must provide exposure to a wide variety of children, including those with and without disabilities, and span three age levels: infant and toddler, preprimary, and primary.
Step 2: Complete Preschool Teacher Exams in Iowa
In the state of Iowa, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners does not keep records of teacher test scores. As an aspiring teacher, you are expected to have completed the necessary skill and content examinations during your educator preparation program. These examinations are conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Pearson.
Prospective preschool teachers in Iowa are required to pass the following examinations:
- Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): Early Childhood (with a minimum score of 160);
- Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (minimum score of 174);
- Early Childhood: Content Knowledge (minimum score of 169);
- edTPA: Elementary Literacy or Mathematics or Combination (your educator preparation program will select from these three options) (minimum score of 41);
- edTPA: Early Childhood (minimum score of 41).
Test centers in Iowa are available in the following cities:
- Coralville;
- Bettendorf;
- Cedar Falls;
- Decorah;
- Sioux City;
- Fort Dodge;
- West Des Moines.
Step 3: Applying for Your Iowa Preschool Teaching License
If you have successfully met the educational and examination prerequisites mentioned earlier, it’s time to proceed with your application for an Iowa preschool teaching license. This license, known as the Initial License, is valid for a duration of two years.
Here’s what you need to do:
For Graduates of Iowa Educator Preparation Programs (Iowa Institution):
- Complete Section I of the Application for Licensure;
- Sign and date the application;
- Attach official sealed college transcript(s);
- Enclose a check or money order for $85 made payable to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners;
- Ensure all your teaching experience is accurately verified.
Once you have finished the aforementioned steps, kindly submit the application package to the educational institution where you successfully concluded your teacher training program. It is essential for them to fulfill their part of the application and subsequently transmit the entire package to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, located at the Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0147.
For Graduates of Out-of-State Educator Preparation Programs (Non-Iowa Institution):
In addition to the aforementioned steps, if you graduated from an out-of-state educator preparation program, you should also:
- Complete the fingerprint packet information and include the appropriate fee;
- Include verification of passing any out-of-state teacher licensure tests;
- Enclose copies of any valid teaching licenses from other states.
After accomplishing these steps, dispatch the application package to the institution where you finished your teacher education program. Direct them to subsequently transmit the fully completed application packet to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, situated at the Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146.
Step 4: How to Maintain and Advance Your Iowa Teaching License
Congratulations on becoming an Iowa preschool teacher and acquiring your Initial License! To ensure that you successfully maintain and upgrade your license, adhere to the following guidelines.
Transition from an Initial License to a Standard License
As a holder of the Initial License for a duration of two years, it is obligatory for you to partake in your school’s mentoring and induction program. Additionally, you must amass a total of two years of teaching experience while meeting or surpassing Iowa’s teaching standards to qualify for a Standard License. To advance your license status, please submit the Application for Conversion from an Initial to a Standard License, ensuring that your school administrator completes Section II. Once completed, forward the application to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Licensure, located at the Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-0147.
Your Standard License remains in effect for a duration of five years, within which it is incumbent upon you to satisfy the continuing education prerequisites for renewal.
Ongoing Education for Iowa Preschool Teachers
To successfully renew your Standard License every five years, you are required to complete a total of six continuing education credits. These credits can be obtained through various avenues, including:
- Iowa licensure renewal courses approved by the Board of Educational Examiners;
- Accredited college courses that enhance your expertise in your endorsement area;
- Accredited college courses that contribute to a graduate degree you are pursuing;
- Accredited college courses that are relevant to an additional endorsement you are working towards;
- Up to four credits earned from National Board of Professional Teaching Standards certification.
It is essential to renew your Standard License online and maintain documentation of your continuing education credits for submission during the renewal process.
Regulations for Iowa Child Care Providers
In Iowa, preschool education for four-year-olds is provided by the Department of Education, requiring qualified, degree-holding Early Childhood Education teachers. For those working in non-Department-affiliated preschool or child care settings, the following regulations apply:
- Non-Registered Home: Caregivers must be at least 18, clear Iowa child abuse and criminal background checks, and a national criminal records check. These homes are not inspected, have unexamined records, and can accommodate up to 5 children;
- Child Development Home A: Caregivers must be 18, pass the required checks, and undergo annual inspections. Maximum capacity is 8 children;
- Child Development Home B: Caregivers must be 20, pass all checks, and have either two years of experience with a high school diploma/GED or one year of experience with a child-related degree. Annual inspections are conducted with a capacity of 12 children;
- Child Development Home C (2 providers): Caregivers must be 21, clear all checks, and have either a high school diploma/GED with five years of experience or a child-related degree with four years of experience. Annual inspections are performed, with a maximum capacity of 16 children;
- Child Development Home C (1 provider): Same requirements as the two-provider variant, but with a maximum capacity of 8 children;
- Licensed Center: The lead teacher must be at least 18, pass all required checks, possess a high school diploma/GED, and have a blend of experience and education. These centers undergo annual inspections, and their capacity varies based on licensing.
Salary for Iowa Preschool Teachers and Administrators
The future is bright for preschool teachers and early childhood education administrators in Iowa. According to projections by Iowa Workforce Development, there will be a 12.2 percent increase in education administrator positions by 2026, offering around 70 job openings annually. Preschool teachers can anticipate a significant 11.4 percent job growth within the same timeframe, resulting in approximately 480 openings each year. These opportunities arise not only from new job creation but also due to the normal turnover as current educators retire.
The demand for special education teachers at the preschool level is also on the rise, with a 7 percent increase expected and an average of 230 openings each year.
Fueled by both state and federal funding initiatives, including Head Start and the Iowa Department of Education’s Every Child Reads program, these roles are accompanied by competitive salaries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following salary ranges for various early childhood education (ECE) roles in Iowa in 2018 (median, top 25%, and top 10%):
- Preschool Administrators: $36,810 – $47,340 – $61,170;
- Preschool Teacher: $24,680 – $30,530 – $38,280;
- Preschool Special Educator: $48,660 – $64,620 – $75,500.
Below, locale-specific salaries are given for those same ranges, together with some of the largest preschool employers in Iowas major cities.
Des Moines-West Des Moines
Des Moines and West Des Moines have a lot of preschool options from public schools to high-priced private academies to religious preschools. Some of these include:
- Des Moines Public Schools;
- La Petite Academy;
- McKee Education Center;
- West Des Moines Community Schools;
- Woodlawn Education Center;
- Principal Child Development Center;
- Hope Lutheran Preschool;
- Bergman Academy;
- Cadence Academy Preschool;
- Montessori Children’s House.
In the greater Des Moines area, preschool teachers and administrators can anticipate earning salaries in the following ranges:
Preschool Administrators
- Median Salary: $39,740;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $50,730;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $70,530.
Preschool Teachers
- Median Salary: $24,480;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $28,570;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $31,500.
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids presents a unique opportunity for preschool teachers, as they can earn a median salary nearly equivalent to that of a school administrator. However, the disparity in rates becomes more noticeable when you look at the top 25 percent in either role.
- Cedar Rapids Community School District;
- La Petite Academy;
- Cedar Valley Montessori School;
- Lily Pad Childcare & Preschool;
- Trinity Lane Preschool;
- KinderCare;
- Kids Kampus;
- Cedar Rapids Day School.
Schools and learning centers in Cedar Rapids offer preschool teachers and administrators salaries that fall within these ranges:
Preschool Administrators
- Median Salary: $30,700;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $48,000;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $69,100.
Preschool Teachers
- Median Salary: $28,230;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $34,720;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $39,310.
Iowa City
Iowa City features several preschools in the area that employ preschool teachers and administrators:
- Iowa City Community School District;
- Stepping Stones Preschool;
- La Petite Academy;
- Cadence Academy;
- Discovery Cottage Preschool;
- Good Shepherd Center;
- Our Redeemer Preschool;
- Little Angels Learning Center.
At both public schools and private programs in Iowa City, preschool teachers and administrators can expect to earn salaries within these ranges:
Preschool Administrators
- Median Salary: $29,110;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $34,360;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $45,840.
Preschool Teachers
- Median Salary: $21,910;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $24,270;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $27,440.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls
In the Waterloo-Cedar Falls region, which is a smaller urban area, school administrators enjoy a higher median salary than their counterparts in the Des Moines area.
- Waterloo Community School District;
- Cedar Falls Community School District/Tri-County Head Start;
- Happy Time Preschool;
- Sonrise Christian School;
- Small World Preschool;
- Clover Patch Preschool;
- Farmstead Preschool;
- Immanuel Lutheran Preschool.
Preschool teachers and administrators in the greater Waterloo-Cedar Falls area can expect to earn salaries within these ranges:
Preschool Administrators
- Median Salary: $41,600;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $48,570;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $60,850.
Preschool Teachers
- Median Salary: $25,270;
- 75th Percentile Salary: $33,840;
- 90th Percentile Salary: $50,440.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a preschool teacher in Iowa is filled with opportunities for academic and professional growth. With the right qualifications, knowledge, and dedication, you can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Iowa’s children, ensuring they get the best possible start to their education.