University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for early childhood education in Missouri.

What is Early Childhood Education?


Being a Preschool Teacher in Missouri is a job that’s taken seriously by lawmakers such as Margie Vandeven, the Missouri Education Commissioner. One of her goals is, with the support of Missouri Governor Mike Parson, to expand early childhood education, particularly in the early childhood education area. She wants to give all Missouri infants, toddlers, and their families the support they need through funding for high-quality learning opportunities. Although Missouri offers quality early childhood education programs, its public early childhood education programs are underfunded and have a long waiting list. Often students who enter the program are in need of specialized consideration, especially for those large numbers of children who are from low-income families.

For individuals who want to teach in Early Childhood Education or ECE (from nursery school to third grade) under the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, how does one go about it? What educational requirements, exams, and licenses and certifications are necessary to teach in either the Missouri public school system or in one of its many private school settings?

Featured Early Childhood Education Programs

Top Ranked Campus & Online Early Childhood Education Programs in Missouri


1

College of the Ozarks

Score: 79.79

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $21,290
    • Out-of-State: $21,290
  • Net Price: $12,611
  • Acceptance Rate: 21%
  • Retention Rate: 81%
  • Graduation Rate: 63%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,487
  • Undergrad Students: 1,487
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $61,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • College of the Ozarks
2
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $11,988
    • Out-of-State: $28,788
  • Net Price: $14,739
  • Acceptance Rate: 69%
  • Retention Rate: 77%
  • Graduation Rate: 55%
  • Total Enrollment: 15,703
  • Undergrad Students: 10,179
  • Graduate Students: 5,524
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • University of Missouri-Kansas City
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3
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $14,130
    • Out-of-State: $34,338
  • Net Price: $19,889
  • Acceptance Rate: 79%
  • Retention Rate: 89%
  • Graduation Rate: 75%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,304
  • Undergrad Students: 23,745
  • Graduate Students: 7,559
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Missouri-Columbia
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4
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $13,440
    • Out-of-State: $33,432
  • Net Price: $13,211
  • Acceptance Rate: 51%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 52%
  • Total Enrollment: 15,181
  • Undergrad Students: 12,415
  • Graduate Students: 2,766
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • University of Missouri-St. Louis
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5
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $27,166
    • Out-of-State: $27,166
  • Net Price: $26,757
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 83%
  • Graduation Rate: 67%
  • Total Enrollment: 9,959
  • Undergrad Students: 5,809
  • Graduate Students: 4,150
  • Grads Salary: $82,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Maryville University of Saint Louis
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6
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $10,181
    • Out-of-State: $16,623
  • Net Price: $14,197
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 80%
  • Graduation Rate: 54%
  • Total Enrollment: 8,505
  • Undergrad Students: 5,308
  • Graduate Students: 3,197
  • Grads Salary: $71,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • Northwest Missouri State University
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7

Evangel University

Score: 73.23

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $27,192
    • Out-of-State: $27,192
  • Net Price: $20,963
  • Acceptance Rate: 68%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 72%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,868
  • Undergrad Students: 1,246
  • Graduate Students: 622
  • Grads Salary: $61,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Evangel University
8
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,496
    • Out-of-State: $9,496
  • Net Price: $14,519
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 73%
  • Graduation Rate: 56%
  • Total Enrollment: 9,927
  • Undergrad Students: 8,454
  • Graduate Students: 1,473
  • Grads Salary: $68,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 20:1
  • Southeast Missouri State University
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9

Fontbonne University

Score: 70.55

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $28,976
    • Out-of-State: $28,976
  • Net Price: $20,732
  • Acceptance Rate: 94%
  • Retention Rate: 72%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%
  • Total Enrollment: 944
  • Undergrad Students: 684
  • Graduate Students: 260
  • Grads Salary: $67,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Fontbonne University
10
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,024
    • Out-of-State: $17,928
  • Net Price: $17,677
  • Acceptance Rate: 93%
  • Retention Rate: 76%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%
  • Total Enrollment: 22,535
  • Undergrad Students: 18,419
  • Graduate Students: 4,116
  • Grads Salary: $67,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 19:1
  • Missouri State University
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11

Westminster College-Fulton

Score: 68.35

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $34,188
    • Out-of-State: $34,188
  • Net Price: $26,768
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Retention Rate: 64%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 610
  • Undergrad Students: 610
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $69,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Westminster College-Fulton
12
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $9,800
    • Out-of-State: $17,500
  • Net Price: $11,917
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 63%
  • Graduation Rate: 41%
  • Total Enrollment: 4,023
  • Undergrad Students: 3,841
  • Graduate Students: 182
  • Grads Salary: $65,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • Missouri Western State University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
13

Culver-Stockton College

Score: 66.78

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $29,915
    • Out-of-State: $29,915
  • Net Price: $20,522
  • Acceptance Rate: 97%
  • Retention Rate: 65%
  • Graduation Rate: 48%
  • Total Enrollment: 999
  • Undergrad Students: 900
  • Graduate Students: 99
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Culver-Stockton College
14

Park University

Score: 65.72

  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $16,400
    • Out-of-State: $16,400
  • Net Price: $15,858
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 59%
  • Graduation Rate: 23%
  • Total Enrollment: 7,662
  • Undergrad Students: 6,238
  • Graduate Students: 1,424
  • Grads Salary: $80,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Park University
View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings
15
  • Undergraduate Tuition
    • In-State: $6,442
    • Out-of-State: $11,074
  • Net Price: $10,239
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Retention Rate: 67%
  • Graduation Rate: 20%
  • Total Enrollment: 1,084
  • Undergrad Students: 1,084
  • Graduate Students: N/A
  • Grads Salary: $55,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 8:1
  • Harris-Stowe State University
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Steps to Become an Early Childhood Education Teacher in Missouri


Step 1. Earn Your Degree

  • Fill Out the Missouri Educator Profile or MEP
    You must fill out the MEP. It is 192 multiple-choice questions meant to determine your personality and how you would handle a preschool classroom. It’s also the basis for meeting with your ECE counselor before you are admitted to a college’s early childhood education program. The online survey is not scored, and it does not affect your admission to the university or college. You can register for the survey online at the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments. There is a fee to complete the MEP, but you can do so online from anywhere you like.
  • Take the Missouri General Education Assessment or MoGEA
    To be admitted into Missouri’s professional education program, you must take the MoGEA which replaces the College BASE or CBASE test. The test is administered online; covers five subtests - English, math, social science, science, and writing; and contains multiple choice questions plus the writing assignment. You must pass all five subtests. Passing scores are determined by the college or university you attend. You can register for the test online at the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessments.
  • Complete an approved ECE program
    To teach in a public or private school setting, you must complete a state-approved undergraduate teacher educator preparation program in Early Childhood Education. Not only must your education be from an approved institution, but it must also be from an accredited institution. Your courses will include general studies, such as mathematics, writing, and introductory psychology. It will also include focused studies on early childhood education, such as Introduction to Education, Behavior Management, Elementary Math, etc. You must complete a requirement of 60 semester hours of ECE coursework, have an overall GPA of a minimum of 2.75 out of 4.0, and also have a minimum of 3.00 in your early childhood education courses.
  • Obtain a recommendation
    Upon your graduation from the undergraduate ECE program, a recommendation by the official designated for teacher education at your university or college must be obtained to be licensed to teach ECE in Missouri.
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Step 2. Take Your Exams to Become a Preschool Teacher in Missouri

  • Take the Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment or MoPTA
    You will be tested regarding your current teaching environment and workplace plans to determine how prepared you are to teach.
  • Take the Missouri Content Assessments
    You must take the online Missouri Content Assessment tests. It replaced the Praxis II series as the standard for Missouri educators years ago. The test contains 100 multiple-choice questions, and you must pass with a score of at least 220. It can be taken by appointment year-round.

Step 3. Obtain a Missouri Early Childhood Educator Initial Professional Certificate

You cannot apply for an ECE initial professional certificate in Missouri without completing Steps 1 and Steps 2. If you have completed these steps, you are eligible to receive your initial professional certificate to be licensed to teach in an ECE program in Missouri. The initial professional certificate is good for four years.

  • An online application must be completed and submitted to your college or university. Your college or university will then forward it on to the state of Missouri for processing.
  • Your background must be cleared by the state of Missouri before you can teach. The includes a criminal background check as well as fingerprints. To obtain this background check you are required to pre-register online at the State Highway Patrol’s Missouri Automated Criminal History Site or MACHS.

Step 4. Potential Credentials, Requirements and Certifications Needed in Missouri

When your four-year initial professional certificate is complete, you can apply for a Continuous Career Education Certificate or CCEC. This certificate is valid for 99 years. You must satisfy the following to qualify for the CCEC.

  • You must have completed four years of a teaching experience approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE. Your teaching experience must include at least half-time teaching at one of the Missouri public school system or in a Missouri accredited private school. If you substitute teach or work as a teacher’s assistant or aide, that does not qualify.
  • You must have a mentor who is a teacher, assigned by your school district, and that teacher must mentor you for at least two years.
  • You must have at least 30 contact hours of professional development. College credits may be included.
  • Successfully complete a beginning teacher assistance program. The program needs to be offered by a professional teacher organization, Missouri college, or the Regional Professional Development Center or RPDC.
  • Successfully complete in the annual Performance Based Teacher Evaluation conducted by the school that employs you.
  • Create and put into action a professional development plan. This plan must be on file with the school district.

Popular Career Choices:

  • Preschool Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • Elementary School Teacher
  • Special Education Teacher
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Additional Specialization Certifications


  • Physical Education
    A certification is required through the DESE of Missouri.
  • Special Education
    Your undergraduate degree should be Bachelor of Science in Special Education with a focus on early childhood education. You must pass the Missouri Content exams and gain certification.
  • English as a Second Language
    You must obtain advanced education past the undergraduate level. Information can be found at TESOL International Association. You must pass the Missouri Content exams and gain certification.
  • School Administrator
    Three kinds of certifications are granted to qualified applicants including: Initial Administrator, good for four years; Transition Administrator, granted after the four years and when you are enrolled in the required doctoral program; and Career Continuous Administrator, granted after you have completed your doctoral program and ten or more years of employment. To be an Elementary Principal you must complete an approved master’s degree program in educational leadership, pass the necessary examinations, and have at least two years of classroom teaching experience.
  • Teach for America
    This is a low-income focus/specialization. You must satisfy all of the requirements needed by the Teach for America program.
  • Troops to Teachers or TTT
    This is a program for military personnel who are retiring and who want a second career as a public-school teacher. You must satisfy all of the requirements designated by TTT.

Potential Careers and Salaries for Graduates


  • Public Schools
    Public school is free education in Missouri under the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. At least 1,000 children are on the waiting list for the public pre-K program in Missouri and the program is underfunded.
  • Search Programs Offering Early Childhood Education Majors

  • Private Childcare
    Childcare in Missouri for preschool aged children have standards regulated by The Missouri Department of Social Services that providers must follow.
  • Private Schools
    There are over 427 Missouri private schools for preschool aged children. These schools serve over 75,000 children. Private schools range from faith-based to non-religious but most private schools charge a tuition fee.
  • Head Start Programs
    The Missouri Head Start Association runs Missouri’s Head Start program. It is an educational program for low-income children, birth to five.
  • Community Based Programs
    Individuals and organizations at a local level are the foundation of community-based programs. An example of a community-based program that serves children is the Heart of Missouri United Way’s educational offerings.
  • Faith Based Programs
    These are programs in Missouri that have a religious focus for preschool aged children. The majority of these programs are Christian-based. Some require tuition, while others do not.
  • Military Programs
    Military programs are offered nationally to active members of the military from Missouri and across the nation, these include childcare, education, etc.

Early Childhood Education Teaching Salaries in Missouri

Occupation Entry-Level Mid-Career Late-Career
Preschool Teacher $23,700 $21,800 $23,400
Elementary School Teacher $35,900 $35,000 $55,900
School Principal $73,400 $79,100 $86,600
Special Education Teacher $39,800 $44,300 $50,400
School Psychologist $54,100 $61,000 $73,200

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