MO · Show Me Quality
Missouri — CDA & ECE Workforce Credentials
Missouri recognizes CDA on the OPEN/MOPD Career Lattice; Missouri Preschool Program in public-school sites requires state teacher cert with EC endorsement.
Data current as of April 2026.
CDA acceptance & requirements
- Lead teacher requirements: Missouri DESE Office of Childhood child care licensing accepts CDA. CDA recognized at a defined level on the Missouri OPEN (Opportunities in a Professional Education Network) Career Lattice / MOPD Career Lattice.
- Assistant teacher requirements: Minimum age 18, HS diploma/GED, plus required orientation and ongoing PD.
- Director requirements: Missouri Director Credential for ECE administrators.
- State-funded pre-K (Missouri Preschool Program, MPP): Operates through public schools and partner providers; lead teachers in public-school sites require state teacher cert with EC endorsement. CDA does not satisfy in those settings.
- QRIS: Show Me Quality — Missouri's QRIS (intermittently active; redesign efforts underway).
- T.E.A.C.H. & apprenticeship: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Missouri is administered through Child Care Aware of Missouri.
State-specific ECE workforce credentials
- Missouri OPEN Career Lattice (MOPD) — Administered by Missouri Workshop Calendar at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
- Missouri Director Credential for ECE administrators.
- Missouri DESE — Early Childhood Education (B-Grade 3) certification for public-school pre-K; BA + state EPP. CDA does not satisfy.
Notable state context
Missouri's QRIS has been intermittent, with redesign efforts ongoing — meaning workforce-tier scoring varies by region and program. The MOPD Career Lattice continues to provide registry infrastructure regardless of QRIS state.