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Parent educator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a parent educator. Parent educators usually study psychology, social work, or human development. 64% of parent educators hold a bachelor's degree, and 17% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,590 real parent educator resumes to see exactly what parent educator education sections show.
The most common colleges for parent educators are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online parent educator courses to help get the education required to be a parent educator.
There are certain parent educator certifications that you should consider. These parent educator certifications include Certified New Parent Educator (CNPE) and Certified Family Life Educator (NCFR).
What education do you need to become a parent educator?
What degree do you need to be a parent educator?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 14%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a parent educator?
- Psychology, 17%
- Social Work, 13%
- Other Majors, 54%
Most common colleges for parent educators
| Parent educator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 16.56% |
| Ashford University | 9.20% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 6.75% |
| Southeast Missouri State University | 5.21% |
| Missouri State University | 4.29% |
Best majors for parent educators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 16.5% |
| 2 | Social Work | 13.2% |
| 3 | Human Development | 9.0% |
| 4 | Early Childhood Education | 7.1% |
| 5 | Human Services | 7.1% |
Best colleges for parent educators
The best colleges for parent educators are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Boston University.
A parent educator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for parent educators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become parent educators.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
2. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
3. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Enrollment
13,871
4. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
6. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Enrollment
34,637
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Enrollment
31,321
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for parent educators
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1. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
2. Health, Housing, and Educational Services
Course 5 discusses policies in four areas: housing, education, healthcare, and immigration, with an optional fifth module in child protection. This course addresses issues of power, oppression, and white supremacy. -First we’ll look at housing policy, with its contrasting supports for homeowners and renters. -Then we’ll interpret the structure that provides education and examine debates about its future. -The third module will differentiate the issues in the U.S. healthcare system and develop...
3. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)
Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...
4. Parenting Teens with Confidence: Certified Practitioner
The Ultimate Parenting Teens Course: Accredited Certification and Practical Strategies for Navigating Adolescence...
5. Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing
Everyday Parenting gives you access to a toolkit of behavior-change techniques that will make your typical day in the home easier as you develop the behaviors you would like to see in your child. The lessons provide step-by-step instructions and demonstrations to improve your course of action with both children and adolescents. Among many techniques, you will learn how even simple modifications to tone of voice and phrasing can lead to more compliance. The course will also shed light on many...
6. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher
Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...
7. Parenting Skills to Raise Responsible, Mature Children
Positive Parenting Parenting Skills Loving Home Parenting Techniques Positive Discipline Family Communication...
8. Mindful Parenting Diploma Happy Positive Children
Earn Your Certification in Mindful Parenting and Positive Psychology and Improve Your Family's Well-being...
9. School Health for Children and Adolescents
Children and adolescents spend so much of their time in school regardless of where they live in the world. Health and learning are closely connected in the school setting, where good health and healthy practices create the optimal conditions for students’ academic success. And the contrary is also true: poor heath and unhealthy practices build tall barriers to student learning.\n\nThe courses of this specialization are designed to equip learners to manage common health conditions including...
10. Music Education for Teachers
In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...
11. Autism Awareness Course for Parents - Autism Training
Training Helps Parents Reduce Challenging Autism Behavior Learn to Understand & Manage Autism and Autistic Children...
12. Neuroscience for parents: How to raise amazing kids
Parenting to help your children develop a healthy brain, self esteem and trust. nurture their talents and bond with them...
13. Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education
This course provides those involved in educating members of the health professions an asynchronous, interdisciplinary, and interactive way to obtain, expand, and improve their teaching skills. These skills can then be applied within their own professional context, with a variety of learners, extending across many stages. After completing this course, learners will: 1. Understand educational theory as it relates to health professions education 2. Match instructional methods with desired...
14. Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role
This course will help you understand and address the challenges parents and families face regarding schooling after a cancer diagnosis. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families can be overwhelmed learning about and managing this new and frightening reality. As they adjust to the new normal of ongoing treatment, school may be the farthest thing from their mind. However, as their oncology health care provider, you have a critical role in starting conversations about schooling. Even for...
15. Positive Parenting - Dealing with Power Struggles
No I Won't and You Can't Make Me!...
16. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
17. Seth Godin on learning and education
Build the future of community, culture and possibility...
18. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...
19. Introduction to Child Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Learn about child behaviour, parenting styles, relationships and socialising, cognitive development, counselling & more!...
20. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
Top 10 most affordable universities for parent educators
The most affordable schools for parent educators are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - fullerton.
If the best universities for parent educators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for parent educators.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
4. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
9. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
10. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for parent educators
The hardest universities for parent educators to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Boston University.
Some great schools for parent educators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for parent educators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions rate
40%
SAT average
1,376
10. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for parent educators
The easiest schools for parent educators to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and university of north texas at dallas.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a parent educator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for parent educators.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
4. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
5. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
6. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
7. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
8. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
Average parent educator salary by education level
| Parent educator education level | Parent educator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $43,507 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $38,505 |
| Doctorate Degree | $47,399 |
Parent educator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025