Permanent recruiting for preschools and child care centers across Tennessee.
Tennessee VPK lead teachers need a state teaching license with an early childhood endorsement, or a waiver through TNCompass. Each classroom also needs an educational assistant with a CDA, an ECE technical certificate or associate, or one working toward it, and community partner sites need a DHS license at the top Star-Quality rating of three stars.
TNPAL is where DHS tracks staff training, and every educator has a TNPAL ID. TECTA offers free orientation, CDA support and tuition help, and we point candidates to it so cost isn’t the reason they say no.
Tennessee’s child care licensing rules (1240-04-01) were updated effective February 8, 2026. Center directors need at least 24 training hours a year and center educators need 12, so it’s worth checking your staff plan against the current rules.
Tennessee has the 20th-largest child care center workforce in the country.
Private centers with paid staff across the state.
Average annual pay per child care employee in 2025, including part-time staff (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
We recruit for every role in Tennessee centers, from lead and assistant teachers and floaters to cooks, assistant directors and center directors. Every hire is a permanent placement on your payroll.
Anywhere in the state. Recent searches have included Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Spring Hill, Nolensville, Hendersonville and Gallatin.
On roles we have recruited for in Tennessee, posted teacher pay has ranged from about $14 to $22.50 an hour, and assistant director pay from $40,280 to $52,800 a year. Pay depends on the role, credentials and the school.
Directors must be 21, with a 4-year degree; 36 credit hours or the Tennessee Early Childhood Administrator Credential plus 2 years; or a high school diploma, the TECTA Administrator Orientation certificate and 4 years of experience. Tennessee revised its rules in 2026, so confirm current requirements with the state. See the full Tennessee director rules.
Teaching staff must be 18, and educators who are alone with a group need a high school diploma or equivalent. Everyone completes state preservice training, then 12 hours of training a year. See the full Tennessee teacher rules.
Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-04-01-.22, ratios are (max group size in parentheses): 6 weeks to 15 months 1:4 (8); 12 to 30 months 1:6 (12); 24 to 35 months 1:7 (14); 3-year-olds 1:9 (18); 4-year-olds 1:13 (20); 5-year-olds 1:16 (20); school age 1:20. Mixed-age groups follow a separate chart.
Tennessee's quality rating system, run by the Department of Human Services, is required for licensed centers open at least a year. Programs get quarterly visits scored out of 100 on health and safety and teacher-child interactions, and scores of 80 and up earn a 5 to 10% bonus on subsidy certificates.
We contact you within 24 hours of your request, and our sourcing team starts after a short intake call. Book a call to talk through your open roles.
We handle the search so you can run your school. From single classrooms to multi-site networks, we find the people who fit.