Minnesota CDA Renewal Courses: A Simple Guide for Early Educators - post

Renewing your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is an important step in maintaining your professional status in #early-childhood-education. In Minnesota, early educators must renew their CDA every three years to stay current with best practices and meet licensing requirements. This article explains what CDA renewal is, what Minnesota requires, and how you can complete approved CDA renewal courses — including online options like those offered at ChildCareEd.

What Is a CDA Renewal?

The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is a nationally recognized credential for #early-childhood professionals. It shows your knowledge and skills in supporting young children’s #development. Once you earn a CDA, it’s valid for three years, and you must renew it before it expires to keep your credential active and recognized. 

Renewal helps ensure that you stay up to date with changes in early childhood theory, child development research, and best practices. It also shows your ongoing commitment to quality care and professional growth.

Minnesota Requirements for CDA Renewal

Minnesota has specific expectations for CDA renewal, and you should be familiar with them before enrolling in renewal training. Here’s what you need to know:

Core Renewal Requirements

To renew your CDA credential, you typically must provide proof of:

• Continuing Education Units (CEUs): At least 4.5 CEUs in #early-childhood-education topics relevant to your CDA setting.

• Practiced Experience: A record showing at least 80 hours of work with children in the setting of your credential (for example, #preschool or infant/ #toddler). 

• Professional Membership: Current membership in a recognized early childhood professional organization. 

• Recommendation: A letter of recommendation from an early childhood professional (director, mentor, or reviewer). 

Note: The official renewal process is managed by the Council for Professional Recognition, and you may begin your renewal application up to six months before your CDA expires. 

Minnesota Support and Reimbursement Opportunities

Minnesota offers financial assistance to help early educators with the cost of CDA training and renewal:

CDA Awards and Reimbursement

Child Care Aware of Minnesota provides CDA Awards — including scholarships and training reimbursements — to help cover the costs of your application fee and approved training, including renewal coursework. These reimbursements can include:

• Reimbursement of the CDA renewal application fee up to a set amount.

• Reimbursement for training costs (e.g., professional development coursework required for renewal). 

These supports make CDA renewal more accessible — especially for educators paying out of pocket.

Approved CDA Renewal Courses for Minnesota

When pursuing your renewal, you must complete Minnesota-approved training that counts toward your CEUs. One convenient option is online training from ChildCareEd, which offers Develop-approved courses recognized in Minnesota’s registry. 

Popular Renewal Courses

Here are some CDA renewal courses available online from ChildCareEd that meet renewal training requirements:

• CDA Family Child Care Renewal — designed specifically for professionals in home-based settings. 

• CDA Preschool Renewal — tailored to educators focusing on the #preschool-age group. 

• Infant/Toddler Renewal Courses — similar options are available to support infant and #toddler-setting renewals through ChildCareEd (search our course catalog).

👉 You can explore and enroll in these training courses here:
🔗 ChildCareEd CDA Renewal Courses

Benefits of Online CDA Renewal Training

Online renewal courses offer several advantages:

• Self-paced learning: Complete coursework on your own schedule.

• Minnesota-approved credit: Training is approved for CEUs in the Minnesota Develop Registry. 

• Easy access: No travel needed — study from home or work.

• Comprehensive content: Courses cover all required CDA competency areas.

Tips for Successfully Planning Your Renewal

Renewing your CDA is more than just taking classes — it’s about planning ahead and staying organized. Here are some helpful tips:

Before You Start

• Check your expiration date: Start renewal 6 months before your CDA expires to avoid lapses. 

• Review Minnesota licensing rules: Minnesota may have additional ongoing training expectations beyond CDA renewal for specific roles (e.g., family child care licensing). 

• Log your CEUs in Develop: Ensure your training hours are entered into your Develop Learning Record for Minnesota registry credit.

During the Renewal Process

• Gather documents early: Collect proof of CEUs, recommendation letters, membership records, and employment hours.

• Stay in contact with registry support: If training hours aren’t showing up, follow up with the training provider to verify your Develop #attendance.

Additional Resources and Reading

To help you stay informed and prepared, check out these additional resources:

• 📄 Guide on how to renew your CDA credential: Renewing your CDA Credential with ChildCareEd — This article from ChildCareEd walks through key steps and requirements for renewal. 

• 📘 ChildCareEd Training Catalog: Search all available Minnesota-approved courses and CEU opportunities. 

• 🧠 Minnesota CDA Fee & Training Reimbursement Program: Learn about financial supports for CDA training and renewal. 

Stay Connected

Professional growth doesn’t stop with your CDA. Stay inspired and informed with community support and updates:

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