What is a CDA Credential?

Many of you are hearing a lot about the CDA credential, and many employers are now requiring that their employees have this CDA credential as a criteria for employment. Hopefully, this fact sheet will help you understand a little better!

What is  CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential?

A person with a CDA Credential is an individual who has successfully completed a CDA assessment.  The Council for Professional Development, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., operates the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program.  This Credential means he/she is able to meet the specific needs of children and works with parents and other adults to nurture children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework.  This individual has demonstrated competence in his/her ability to meet the CDA Competency Goals through his/her work in a center or family child care program.

Who is eligible to apply for CDA Credential?

     The following criteria must be met by individuals applying for this credential:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Hold a High School diploma or GED
• Have 480 hours of experience in working with children within the past five years
• Have 120 clock hours of formal child care education within the past five years.

Do my workshop hours count toward these 120 clock hours?

While the Council for Professional Development prefers credit courses; both credit and non-credit will satisfy this requirement. However, these clock hours must be issued through an agency or organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation.  PLEASE NOTE: Conference clock hours do not count toward these required training hours.

Can my clock hours be taken in any subject area?

The 120 clock hours must be documented, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the following content areas:

1. Planning a safe, healthy environment to invite learning
2. Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development
3. Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development
4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families
5. Strategies to manage an effective program operation
6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
7. Observing and recording children's behavior
8. Principles of child growth and development

It is important that you get training in all of these areas so you will be prepared for the oral and written assessment that you must take when the Council Representative visits you.

Do I need anything else to get this Credential?

CDA Candidates must submit the following documents that verify their competence in early care and education.

• A Professional Resource File: A collection of reference materials of the Candidate's work.
• Parent Opinion Questionnaires: Feedback from parents with children in the Candidate's classroom or family child care home.
• The CDA Assessment Observation Instrument:  Recorded observations of the Candidate's skills while working with children and families as primary caregiver.  Your CDA Advisor will complete this.  This Advisor must meet the Council Criteria for Advisors, and should have participated in a CDA Advisor Training Session. 
• An Oral Interview:  Interview conducted by a Council-trained Representative to evaluate the Candidate's skills and knowledge of good early child care practices. 
• A Written Assessment:  A two-hour, multiple-choice examination administrated by the Council Representative

How much does it cost?

Besides the costs of training, the application packet cost is $15.00 plus $2.75 shipping. The fee for the Assessment is $325.  (There may be scholarship opportunities to help with this cost.)

How do I begin my journey toward my CDA Credential?

          A.  Meet the Candidate requirements

          B.  Request the assessment package from the Council for Professional Recognition ($17.75)

          C.  Meet the educational and experience requirements.

          D.  Prepare for the assessment:

               a.  Identify an Advisor to do the formal observation

               b.  Send out parent questionnaires

               c.  Prepare your autobiography

               d.  Write the six competency statements

               e.  Prepare your resource file

               f.  Complete the assessment application.

          E.  Mail assessment materials to the Council ($325)

          F.  Wait for the Council to call to make arrangements for the verification visit.

Can I use the training I receive working toward my CDA to work toward a Certificate of Proficiency or an Associate of Applied Science Degree?

The credit courses taken may apply toward both the Certificate of Proficiency or an Associate Degree but you will have to check with the community college that you are interested in attending.  The non-credit workshops generally do not apply toward a degree.

Where can I get more information?

You may call the Council for Professional Development at 1-800-424-4310, or write to them at 2460 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009-3575.

(This information is taken from materials distributed through the Council for Professional Development, Washington, D.C.)