CDA Certification CDA Article
What is a CDA?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is a professional certification issued by the Council for Professional Recognition. It allows early childhood educators to demonstrate their skills, abilities, and knowledge in child development and education.
Candidates earn the credential by completing training, building a professional portfolio, writing competency statements, and undergoing an observation and assessment process.
Why Earn a CDA?
The CDA Credential is a recognized standard for advancing careers in #early-childhood education. It is designed for professionals working with children aged birth to five in various settings, such as preschools, family child care, and #home-visitor programs.
Benefits of a CDA Credential:
- Demonstrates your skills and commitment to the field.
- Qualifies you for roles in early childhood education across the U.S.
- Enhances job security and career advancement opportunities.
- Many states require a CDA Credential to qualify for certain roles in early childhood education. Earning this certification ensures you meet state standards, boosting your job security and career potential.
Start Your CDA Training Today
Benefits of Online Training with CDACertification.com:
- Self-Paced Learning: Access courses anytime, anywhere.
- Portfolio Support: Resources to help you develop a professional portfolio.
- Multilingual Options: Training available in over 40 languages.
- Community Connection: Join the CDA Club- Peers & PD Specialists, our Facebook group for networking, resources, and updates.
Training Areas Offered by CDACertification.com:
The following CDA trainings include the required 120 hours of formal early childhood education training.
How to Earn Your CDA Credential
Earning your CDA involves several key steps:
Prepare
Preparation is the foundation of your CDA journey. You’ll need to gather documentation and fulfill the prerequisites to demonstrate your qualifications.
- Proof of Education: Provide evidence of a high school diploma, GED, or higher education (e.g., college transcripts).
- Work Experience: At least 480 hours working directly with children ages birth–5. Volunteer hours are accepted, but informal settings like babysitting or Sunday school programs do not qualify.
- Training Requirements: 120 hours of formal training, with at least 10 hours in all 8 CDA Subject Areas.
Apply
After completing your preparation, you can apply for the CDA Credential.
- Competency Standards Book: Choose the book that matches your CDA setting (e.g., Infant/Toddler, Preschool, Family Child Care, Home Visitor, or Birth to Five).
- Application Process: Apply online. You’ll need your email, worksite details, director’s email (if applicable), and a PD Specialist ID.
- Portfolio Development: Build a portfolio with documentation, competency statements, and resources demonstrating #developmentally-appropriate care.
Demonstrate
- Verification Visit: A Professional Development (PD) Specialist will observe you in your work environment and assess your ability to meet CDA standards. The visit typically lasts about four hours and provides a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities. The visit includes:
- Portfolio Review: The PD Specialist will review your professional portfolio to evaluate your preparation and understanding of early childhood education.
- Observation: The PD Specialist observes your teaching and interactions with children in your care to assess competency.
- Reflective Dialogue: A discussion with the PD Specialist to reflect on your teaching practices and strategies for improvement.
- CDA Exam: Designed to assess your knowledge of best practices in early childhood education, as outlined in the CDA Competency Standards and Functional Areas.
- The exam is conducted at a local Pearson VUE testing center.
- No advanced computer skills are needed—basic point-and-click navigation is sufficient.
- You can schedule the exam online or by phone. Testing times and locations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Earn Your CDA
The Council for Professional Recognition evaluates your performance based on exam results and PD Specialist feedback. If you meet all standards, you’ll earn your CDA, valid for three years.
Types of CDA Credentials
-
NEW The Birth to Five CDA Credential offers flexibility for educators who work across the full birth-to-five age span (infants, toddlers, preschoolers).
- Key Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED (or high school junior/senior in ECE).
- 120 hours of formal training, with 10+ hours in all CDA subject areas.
- 480 hours of work experience, including 160 hours per age group (infants, toddlers, preschoolers).
- A portfolio covering all three age groups.
- Assessment:
- A multiple-choice exam (1 hour 55 minutes).
- Verification Visit with observation of either 3+ children under age 3 or 6+ children ages 3–5.
- Notable Changes:
- Starting in 2025, candidates take the exam before scheduling their Verification Visit.
- Key Requirements:
- Center-Based Infant/ToddlerFor professionals working with children from birth to 36 months in state-approved child development centers.
- Center-Based PreschoolFor educators working with children aged 3 to 5 years in state-approved preschool settings.
- Family Child CareFor individuals providing care to children in home-based settings, working with at least two children under 5 years old who are not related to the caregiver.
- Home VisitorFor professionals conducting home visits to support parents in fostering their children’s #health, development, and #school-readiness.
Renewing Your CDA
Renew every three years:
- Training: 4.5 CEUs, a 3-credit course, or 45 clock hours of training.
- Work Experience: 80 hours of recent professional experience.
- Recommendation: From a qualified early childhood professional.
- Safety Verification: Updated background check.
- First Aid/CPR: No longer required for renewal as of 2025.
If you hold both Infant/Toddler and Preschool CDA Credentials, you may renew into Birth to Five.
Special Options
- Bilingual Credentialing: Available for bilingual educators using both languages daily.
- Scholarships: Many states and organizations fund CDA fees, including Birth to Five.
Renewal CDA training online
CDACertification.com’s CDA online classes are offered in the following areas. Each of the renewal CDA trainings is 45 hours.
Try CDACertification.com’s Free CDA Introduction Training
Learn more about the CDA process and how this credential can advance your career. Explore training, portfolio development, the Verification Visit, and exam preparation with CDACertification.com.
Get started today to take the next step in your early childhood education journey!
- CDA Family Child Care Credential with Portfolio Review
- Birth to Five CDA Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Family Child Care
- CDA Bridge Bundle: Family Child Care without Portfolio Review
- CDA Family Child Care Renewal
- CDA Home Visitor Credential Birth to 5
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Brain Development and Gene Expression
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Stages of Development
- CDA Infant/Toddler Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Preschool Credential with Portfolio Review
- Unlock Your Future: Online CDA Certification
- Unlock $100 Off Your CDA Certification: The Largest Savings on Our 120-Hour Course!
- I completed my CDA training. Do I have a CDA Credential now?
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- How a CDA Certification Transforms Careers & Shapes Young Minds
- CDA Certification: Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Build a Winning Professional Portfolio for Your CDA Certification
- The Impact of CDA Certification on Early Childhood Education
- ChildCareEd Makes CDA Certification Renewal Process Super Easy!
- The Golden Ticket: CDA Certification
- Finding the Perfect CDA PD Specialist for Your Certification Journey
- Kickstart Your Early Childhood Career: Dive Into the CDA Certification Today!"
- Boost Your Career with CDA Certification: Portfolio Review and All You Need to Know!
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- Earning Your CDA Certification in Texas
- CDA Certification: Benefits and Requirements for Early Childhood Educators
- CDA Portfolio Checklist: A Guide for CDA Candidates
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