The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential stands as a cornerstone for professionals dedicated to nurturing young minds. This globally recognized credential is a testament to a child care provider’s expertise and commitment to fostering the holistic development of children from birth to five years old. Earning your CDA Credential is not just a qualification; it’s an investment in your skills, confidence, and career trajectory within the early childhood education sector. It signifies your profound understanding and practical abilities to support the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social growth of young learners.
Administered by the esteemed Council for Professional Recognition (the Council) in Washington DC, the CDA Credential holds nationwide recognition across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. This widespread acceptance underscores its value and the high standards it represents in early childhood education.
For the most current and detailed information about the CDA Credential, prospective candidates are encouraged to visit the official CDA website at www.cdacouncil.org. This resource provides comprehensive guidelines, updates, and valuable tools to navigate your CDA journey successfully.
Tailoring Your CDA Credential to Your Expertise: Setting Options
The CDA Credential offers specialized settings to align with your professional environment and the age group you work with, ensuring focused and relevant professional development:
- Preschool Setting: Designed for educators in center-based programs working with children aged 3 to 5 years. This setting focuses on the unique developmental needs and learning styles of preschool-aged children.
- Infant/Toddler Setting: Ideal for caregivers specializing in the care of children from birth to 36 months. This credential emphasizes the crucial developmental milestones and nurturing care required during infancy and toddlerhood.
- Family Child Care Setting: For professionals operating in a home-based child care setting, catering to a mixed-age group or specific age ranges. This setting addresses the diverse needs and dynamics of family child care environments.
- Home Visitor Setting: Focused on professionals who work directly with parents of young children in their homes, providing guidance and support for early childhood development. It’s important to note that CDA training and assessment fees for the Home Visitor setting are not eligible for EIP scholarships.
Comprehensive CDA Training: Building a Foundation for Excellence
A fundamental requirement before applying for the CDA Credential is the completion of 120 hours of formal early childhood education training. This training must be meticulously documented and encompass a minimum of 10 hours in each of the eight CDA Competency Standards and Functional Areas. This structured training ensures that CDA candidates develop a well-rounded skill set and a deep understanding of child development principles. The core competency areas include:
- Creating Safe and Healthy Learning Environments: Mastering the essentials of health, safety, and nutrition to establish secure and stimulating spaces for children.
- Advancing Children’s Physical and Intellectual Development: Implementing strategies to promote gross and fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, and language development.
- Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Development: Fostering self-esteem, emotional literacy, social skills, and positive interactions among children.
- Building Productive Relationships with Families: Establishing open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect with parents and families to support children’s development.
- Managing an Effective Program Operation: Understanding the principles of program management, organization, and daily routines to ensure smooth and enriching experiences for children.
- Maintaining a Commitment to Professionalism: Adhering to ethical standards, engaging in continuous professional development, and advocating for the early childhood profession.
- Observing and Recording Children’s Behavior: Developing skills in observation and documentation to understand individual children’s needs, interests, and developmental progress.
- Understanding Principles of Child Development and Learning: Gaining a comprehensive understanding of child development theories, milestones, and effective learning approaches for young children.
Numerous training organizations and colleges offer CDA training programs specifically crafted to meet these rigorous requirements. Prospective CDA candidates are encouraged to thoroughly research available programs to identify the best fit for their learning style and professional goals. Selecting a program that aligns with your needs is a crucial step towards successfully achieving your CDA Credential.
It’s worth noting that training hours acquired through a CDA Credential program may also be applicable towards your state-mandated training requirements for child care professionals. For specific guidance on utilizing CDA training to fulfill regulatory obligations, it is recommended to consult with your Licensor or Registrar at the NYS OCFS or your local child care regulatory agency. Conversely, any training undertaken to meet state regulatory requirements may also contribute to fulfilling the 120-hour CDA training prerequisite.
Navigating the Path to Your CDA Credential: Requirements and Steps
Embarking on the journey to obtain your CDA Credential involves a structured process with clear milestones. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the requirements and procedures effectively:
Pre-Application Essentials (Complete before submitting your Initial CDA Application):
- Create a CDA Council Account: Begin by setting up an account on the CDA Council website at www.cdacouncil.org. This account will be your central hub for application processes and updates.
- Meet Age and Education Criteria: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and possess a high school diploma or GED. Alternatively, high school juniors or seniors enrolled in an early childhood education career and technical program are also eligible.
- Complete 120 Hours of CDA Training: Ensure you have completed and documented 120 hours of formal early childhood education training across the specified competency areas.
Experience Requirement (To be completed within 3 years of application submission):
- Accumulate 480 Hours of Child Care Experience: Gain practical experience by working 480 hours with children in the setting and age group corresponding to the CDA credential type you are pursuing. This hands-on experience is crucial for applying your training in real-world scenarios.
Portfolio and Verification Visit Preparation (To be completed within 6 months of application submission):
- Develop Your CDA Professional Portfolio: Compile a professional portfolio showcasing your skills, knowledge, and experiences related to the CDA competencies. This portfolio serves as a tangible representation of your professional growth and abilities.
- Identify and Contact a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist: Locate a qualified CDA PD Specialist to conduct your CDA Verification Visit. Establish contact to arrange the visit at a suitable time after your application is processed.
Submitting Your Initial CDA Application and Assessment
Once you have fulfilled all the prerequisites – 120 hours of CDA training, 480 hours of work experience, a completed professional portfolio, and identified a PD Specialist – you are ready to submit your Initial Application and Assessment. Utilize your CDA Council account to complete the online application process.
Upon review of your application, the Council will issue a “checkout” email, confirming the completeness of your application and indicating that payment is due. This email is a crucial step in moving forward with your assessment.
Applying for the EIP Scholarship for Financial Support
After receiving your checkout email from the Council, signaling the approval of your assessment application, you become eligible to apply for an EIP scholarship. Submit your EIP scholarship application along with a copy of the checkout email and other required supporting documents.
If your EIP application is approved, you will receive an award notification email. Carefully review and accept your EIP award as instructed.
Simultaneously, you will receive a voucher number from the Council via email. Log in to your CDA Council account and utilize this voucher to cover the application payment.
Note: For candidates opting for a paper application to the Council, it is essential to include a copy of your EIP award documentation with your application submission. However, online applications are the preferred method for a streamlined process.
Receiving Your Ready to Schedule Notice and Scheduling Assessments
Following application approval and voucher redemption or payment processing, the Council will send you a Ready to Schedule Notice. This notice empowers you to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with your chosen PD Specialist and to book your CDA Exam at a conveniently located Pearson VUE testing center.
It is imperative to complete both the Verification Visit and the CDA Exam within 6 months of receiving the Ready to Schedule Notice. Timely scheduling and completion of these assessments are key to progressing towards earning your CDA Credential.
The Final Determination: Credential Award or Next Steps
After the Council receives and reviews the results from your CDA Verification Visit and your CDA Exam score, a final decision regarding your CDA Credential will be made. You will be officially awarded the CDA Credential if you meet all requirements, and your official certificate will be sent to you by mail. In the event that your application is not successful, the Council will provide detailed information regarding the necessary steps to take to achieve the Credential in the future.
The CDA Verification Visit: Demonstrating Your Competence
A critical component of the CDA assessment process is the Verification Visit, conducted by a qualified Professional Development (PD) Specialist. It is essential to identify and select a PD Specialist before submitting your application to the Council. Once your assessment application is approved and payment is processed, the Council will issue the Ready to Schedule Notice, enabling you to arrange the Verification Visit.
During the CDA Verification Visit, the PD Specialist will comprehensively review your professional portfolio, training documentation (transcripts/certificates), and family questionnaires. They will also observe you interacting with children in your care setting. Following the observation, a reflective discussion will take place, focusing on your strengths and areas for growth identified during the observation and through the review of your portfolio and family feedback.
The PD Specialist will directly submit the results of your Verification Visit to the Council for evaluation. To locate a PD Specialist in your vicinity, utilize the online directory available on the CDA Council website: www.cdacouncil.org.
The CDA Exam: Assessing Your Knowledge Base
The CDA Exam is a crucial assessment component, administered at Pearson VUE testing centers. The exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions, including 60 standard questions and 5 scenario-based questions that present a brief narrative and a related photograph. Candidates are allotted a total of one hour and 45 minutes to complete the exam. Pearson VUE directly transmits your exam scores to the Council for processing.
Eligibility to schedule the CDA Exam is contingent upon submitting your CDA assessment application and receiving the Ready to Schedule Notice. Exam scheduling can be conveniently done online or via telephone. To find a Pearson VUE testing center near you, please visit http://www.pearsonvue.com/cdaexam/.
Maintaining Your CDA Credential: The Renewal Process
The CDA Credential is valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance. To maintain your credential, you can initiate the renewal process as early as six months before the expiration date. For detailed information regarding renewal requirements and procedures, please consult the CDA Council website: www.cdacouncil.org.
EIP scholarships can also be utilized to cover expenses associated with CDA renewal, including renewal training and the renewal application fee. To apply for EIP scholarship support for renewal, ensure you have completed your renewal application with the Council and have received your checkout email confirmation.
EIP Scholarship Eligibility: Financial Assistance for CDA Candidates
EIP scholarships are a valuable resource to help cover the costs of CDA training, the Assessment application fee, and the Renewal fee. To be eligible for an EIP scholarship, candidates must:
- Fulfill all general eligibility requirements outlined in the General Information section, with the exception that income is not a factor in determining scholarship eligibility for the Assessment Application Fee or Renewal Fee.
- Have accumulated a minimum of 240 hours of experience working with children in a child care setting.
EIP scholarships are applicable only to training activities that commence and conclude within the 2025 calendar year. Scholarship applications must be submitted by December 1, 2025, to be considered for funding.
Please note that EIP scholarships cannot be used to cover the cost of the CDA application packet itself.
Scholarship amounts for trainings conducted by Verified Trainers or Content Specialists, or for asynchronous distance learning trainings, are capped at $30 per training hour.
For trainings provided by Professional Development Specialists in Early Childhood and/or School-Age, scholarships are awarded at a rate of up to $35 per training hour.
It’s important to be aware that if a candidate does not successfully pass the CDA assessment, the full amount of the CDA Assessment scholarship must be refunded to EIP.
The maximum annual scholarship amounts available are:
- Up to $2,500 for credential training expenses.
- Up to $500 for the CDA assessment fee.
- Up to $150 for the CDA renewal fee.
- Up to $500 for a second setting fee, if applicable.
Breakdown of CDA Activities and Associated Costs
| Activity | Cost | Eligible for EIP funding? |
|---|---|---|
| CDA Preparatory Training | Varies depending on organization | Yes |
| CDA textbook and training materials | Varies depending on item | No |
| CDA Initial Application Packet | $25 per setting plus shipping and handling | No |
| CDA Formal Observation | Paid by the CDA Council to the PD Specialist | No |
| CDA Assessment Application Fee | $425 online application $500 paper application | Yes |
| CDA Renewal Application Packet | $15 | No |
| CDA Second Setting Fee | $425 online application $500 paper application | Yes |
| CDA Renewal Fee | $125 online renewal $150 paper renewal | Yes |
Essential CDA Resources
The Council for Professional Recognition (The Council) www.cdacouncil.org 800-424-4310
- Explore comprehensive information about the CDA Credential.
- Request necessary application forms and materials.
- Contact The Council directly for inquiries regarding your candidacy and the CDA process.
