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Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

In the Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education occupation, workers instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth. You may also need to teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills. The strongest interest signal is Social (7.0 of 7), then Artistic (4.0) and Conventional, which gives it the code SAC. Plan on one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree; O*NET labels this medium preparation. Strength in speaking, instructing, and learning strategies helps most here. If you want helping, teaching or caring for people, keep it on your list. If you need leading, persuading and making business decisions, it may feel thin.

What they do

Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

Main tasks

  • Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
  • Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
  • Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
  • Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
  • Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, and changing their diapers.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Instructing
  • Learning Strategies
  • Active Listening
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Reading Comprehension

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You get energy from helping other people move forward.
  • You want room to make something in your own way.
  • You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and instructing.

May not suit you if

  • You find a full day of dealing with people draining.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 2.5 out of 7 here.
  • You need to start within a few months, with no training period.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code SAC takes the three highest, and Social comes first here.

Preparation

Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Child Development Teacher
  • Early Childhood Teacher
  • Group Teacher
  • Infant Teacher
  • Montessori Preschool Teacher

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.