Your Guide to Michigan’s CDA Certification: Requirements, Training, and Career Pathways - post

If you’re working—or planning to work—in early childhood education in Michigan, earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential can be a valuable step. This article explains how the CDA credential works in Michigan: what it is, how it’s recognized under state licensing, how you earn it, and why it matters for child-care providers in Michigan.

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What Is the CDA Credential

The CDA is a nationally recognized credential awarded by Council for Professional Recognition. It is designed to demonstrate that an early childhood educator has met certain standards of knowledge and skill and is capable of providing quality care and education to young children.

To earn a CDA credential, typical requirements include:

• 120 clock hours of formal training in early childhood education (often covering eight subject-area competencies), and

• 480 hours of experience working with children in a relevant setting (such as a licensed child care center, family child care home, group child care, etc.). 

Once you meet these requirements — along with building a professional portfolio, passing the CDA assessment, and undergoing a verification visit — you become eligible to receive your CDA credential.

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How Michigan Recognizes the CDA

In Michigan, the CDA credential is formally recognized under the licensing rules for child care centers. The state’s licensing authority — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) — defines the CDA as a valid qualification for certain teaching or director roles. 

For lead teachers or center directors

• For a “school-age” child-care program director (serving school-age children), the CDA can count as a qualifying credential — provided the candidate also has 12 semester hours in a child-related field and 480 hours of experience. 

• For an early childhood program director (serving infants, toddlers, preschool, etc.), a CDA can also qualify — but additional requirements apply: namely 18 semester hours in early childhood or child development and 960 hours of experience. 

In both cases, if a director is qualified based on a CDA, they must maintain a valid, current CDA to remain qualified. 

In short: a CDA can serve as a recognized credential under Michigan’s child-care licensing rules — either for lead teachers, home-based providers, or program directors — depending on additional education and experience criteria.

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Why CDA Matters in Michigan

Earning a CDA in Michigan offers several important benefits for early childhood educators:

• Recognized qualification: Because Michigan’s licensing rules explicitly call out the CDA as an accepted credential, having one helps meet licensing or qualification requirements for many child-care positions.

• Flexibility: The CDA credential doesn’t require a full degree — the combination of training and experience can qualify you for teaching or director roles. This is helpful for people who want to advance in early childhood education without committing immediately to a college degree.

• Pathway toward further education: Many community colleges in Michigan offer CDA-preparation programs that can also count toward an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. 

• Support through state-level initiatives: Programs like MiEarly Apprentice help prospective early childhood educators in Michigan earn their CDA — with support, guidance, and sometimes financial assistance. 

Thus, for many early childhood professionals in Michigan — especially those working in licensed child care centers or family child-care homes — the CDA offers a practical, recognized credential that can open doors without requiring a college degree upfront.

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How to Get a CDA in Michigan

If you want to earn a CDA credential in Michigan, here is a general overview of the steps:

1. Complete 120 clock hours of formal training — through a college, community program, or approved training provider.

2. Gain 480 hours of experience working with children in a relevant setting (licensed child care center, family child-care home, group care, etc.).

3. Prepare a professional portfolio according to the guidelines of the Council for Professional Recognition.

4. Submit application to the Council, complete the competency exam, and have a verification visit.

5. Once awarded, maintain the credential (renewal every few years as required by the Council).

In Michigan, many community colleges offer CDA training programs that meet licensing requirements. For example, Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) provides CDA classes that satisfy the 120-hour training requirement — and those credits can also apply toward an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

In addition, statewide initiatives — such as MiEarly Apprentice — offer structured pathways for paraprofessionals, classroom aides, and associate teachers to earn a CDA credential, as well as support for further education (associate or bachelor’s degree) and lead-teacher certification. 

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Using Online Training Providers (like ChildCareEd)

If you want flexibility — for instance, working full-time while training — online training can be a good option. A provider like ChildCareEd offers courses that align with CDA requirements.

• ChildCareEd’s course catalog typically includes training hours that satisfy the 120-hour training requirement for the CDA.

• For Michigan educators pursuing CDA — or renewing — such online options may ease the burden of balancing work and study.

• ChildCareEd can also be used to support credential renewal or continued professional development once you have your CDA.

If you’re ready to explore, you can start with one of their training offerings: [ChildCareEd CDA training page] (for example, their general CDA credential course).

You may also find helpful resources and guidance on their site for planning your training or tracking your progress.

An example of their resource pages: [ChildCareEd Michigan-appropriate resource listing].

They also publish helpful articles about early childhood credentials — you might find their article on career pathways with CDA especially useful.

Stay up to date and get resources by connecting with ChildCareEd on social media, for instance on [X (formerly Twitter)].

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What CDA Allows You to Do in Michigan

Depending on your education, experience, and the setting in which you work, having a CDA in Michigan can help you qualify to:

• Serve as lead teacher in a licensed child care center or family child-care home (if your credentials meet state requirements).

• Serve as program director (either in a center serving school-age children, or in an early childhood program) — provided you meet the additional semester-hour and experience requirements described in licensing rules.

• Begin working in early childhood education without a college degree, but still with a nationally recognized credential that shows professional standards.

• Use CDA as a stepping stone toward further education — many community-college CDA training programs accept credits toward associate degrees in Early Childhood Education.

Additionally, state-wide programs like MiEarly Apprentice help educators grow — possibly advancing from paraprofessional to lead teacher, while obtaining their CDA and beyond. 

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Things to Know — Limitations & Additional Requirements

While the CDA is a strong credential, there are some caveats in Michigan:

• For some director roles — especially early childhood program directors — simply having a CDA is not enough. Additional education (semester hours in early childhood/child development) and more experience are required. 

• Not all training or work with children counts as qualifying experience. Experience must be in a licensed or regulated child-care setting (internship, supervised volunteer work, licensed family or group child care home, center employment, etc.). According to Michigan licensing guidance, activities like babysitting, foster parenting, or informal care (like nannying) usually are not accepted. 

• If you aim for a long-term career (lead teacher, director, etc.), many employers or programs may expect more — such as an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or additional credentials beyond CDA.

So while CDA is a recognized credential and a solid foundation, depending on your career goals, additional training or education may eventually be needed.

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Next Steps: How to Start Your CDA Journey in Michigan

If you’re ready to begin:

1. Explore CDA-preparation programs at local community colleges (many offer evening, weekend, or part-time classes). For example: Northwestern Michigan College.

2. If you prefer flexible scheduling, consider online training through ChildCareEd.

3. Check if you qualify for support through state initiatives such as MiEarly Apprentice — especially if you are working in child-care and need financial or guidance support.

4. Once you complete training and hours, prepare your professional portfolio and apply through the Council for Professional Recognition.

5. If you plan to work as a lead teacher or director, confirm what additional education/experience you’ll need under Michigan licensing rules, and consider planning ahead (for credits, CEUs, or degree programs).

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Conclusion

For early childhood educators in Michigan, the CDA credential offers a practical, recognized pathway to professional qualification — whether you aim to be a lead teacher, work in a family child-care home, or eventually become a director. Because it’s accepted under Michigan’s licensing rules (with certain conditions), CDA can help you begin or advance your career without immediately needing a college degree.

At the same time, many educators use CDA as a stepping stone — combining it with further education, experience, or specialized credentials to expand their opportunities.

If you want a flexible, accessible route into quality early-childhood education work, exploring CDA training (online via ChildCareEd) could be a smart move.

Start today by exploring training options and planning out your path — your next steps could open the door to meaningful work shaping children’s early learning experiences.

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