Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Conveniently YOURS, our program can be completed through multiple modalities (e.g. Blended, Online and/or Remote Learning). Ask your local authorities for complete information, e.g., zoning application fees.
We suggest you start the process of renewing with the CDA Council about six months before your credential expires. Child care provided to school-aged children ranging in age from 5 through 16 years. A SAC program can also be incorporated into an established child care center or operate separately as a before- and after-school program. A plan in a child care facility that identifies potential operational risks to children and staff, specifies ways to reduce or eliminate the risks and establishes procedures to be followed in an emergency or crisis involving an individual or the community of the child care facility. A guide to the education levels required for many different positions in the Early Care and Education field.

The federal law that governs the provision of early intervention and special education services and the rights of parents of a child with a disability. IRRC then considers economic impact, public health and safety, reasonableness, and clarity. The Commission also acts as a clearinghouse for complaints, comments, and other input from the General Assembly and the public regarding not only proposed and final regulation, but also existing regulations. A term used to refer to those children and their families who rely on a second or other language. Care in lieu of parental care for part of a 24-hour day to children under 16 years of age, away from their own homes (62 P.S. §§1001 and 1070). A document issued to a legal entity permitting it to operate a specific type of facility or agency, at a given location, for a specified period of time, and according to appropriate departmental program licensure or approval regulations (55 Pa Code §20.4).
DHS oversees the Offices of Child Development and Early Learning; Children, Youth and Families; Developmental Programs; Income Maintenance; Long Term Living, Medical Assistance Programs, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Social Programs issues in the Commonwealth. For additional information, please visit Pennsylvania Department of Education. For additional information, please visit Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund. For additional information, please visit the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative.

CDA® State Fact Sheet: Pennsylvania

Before you apply, you’ll need at least 120 hours of formal early childhood education training. Within six months of applying, you’ll need to put together a professional portfolio of your work. A CDA Professional Development specialist will also need to observe you in your workplace. Demonstrate your skills and knowledge and you’ll be on your way to register for the CDA exam. If you’d like to enhance your knowledge beyond Online CDA credential prep, we offer several other relevant programs of study.
Next, you should contact your regional OCDEL office to register and attend an in-person orientation. You’ll need a certificate of occupancy before beginning the license application process, and you can obtain one from your local municipality. The certificate of occupancy proves that your facility is in the right zone for a daycare business.
A document issued by DHS to a legal entity permitting the legal entity to operate a specific type of facility at a specific location for a specific period of time not to exceed two years from the date of issue, according to applicable departmental regulations. A certificate of registration approves the operation of a facility subject to Article X(c) of the Public Welfare Code (62 P.S. §§1070 – 1080; 55 Pa Code §3290.4). A type of performance assessment that uses tasks that are as close as possible to real-life practical and intellectual challenges where the child completes the desired behavior in a context as close to real life as possible.
The Pennsylvania Office of Early Learning and Development (OCDEL) is the primary partner in PA Promise. A Statewide organization which supports the efforts and initiatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education and builds the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services. Promotes sustainable, high-quality out-of-school youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania’s children, youth, and families. PSAYDN’s mission is that all children and youth deserve access to high quality out-of-school time programs that promote positive youth development and support the successful transition to adulthood. A quality improvement system in which all early learning programs and practitioners are encouraged and supported to improve child outcomes.
An integrated information system used by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning’s staff, providers and grantees. The information system automates and supports OCDEL’s early learning programs and providers under a single management information system. The PA Children’s Trust Fund is dedicated to funding community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs. Keystone STARS, a tiered quality rating and improvement system, is a system of continuous quality improvement for child care and other early learning providers.
Weekly field observations and experiences are required throughout the course work in this program. All participants will be assigned an @manor.edu email address for access to the materials and our LMS, so students must have some form of digital learning device (laptop or tablet) to access materials. The Allegheny County Family Resource Map provides caregivers of young children the opportunity to locate available supports closest to them, including food, housing, new parent, and employment resources. Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 are partnering with the Early Childhood Education PDO at PASSHE to provide community-based CDA programming.
A CDA Credential is the most widely recognized credential in the early childhood field and is a key stepping stone on the path to career advancement. The credential enables professionals to work in Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, in addition to early learning programs across the United States, and provides opportunities for increased pay. Initiatives from the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning have made a shift toward stackable credentials and degree achievement for early care and education providers. In fact, thousands of dollars are available to current childcare workers seeking their CDA. Read more about how you can prepare to earn your CDA credential through our Early Childhood Education degree or workforce development training program and join our wait list today!

Child Development Associate Certificate

OCDEL evaluates providers according to best practices in early learning. A one through four STARS is awarded based on fulfilment of program standards, with STAR 4 being the highest award. The Early Learning Network (ELN) is Pennsylvania’s electronic data system for gathering information on early childhood programs and for studying the development of children in those programs. ELN combines information about the program including the quality and experience of the staff, with information on your child’s development over time. This information is then used to build and maintain high quality early childhood programs. The purpose is to improve communication between the Department of Education, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), and the school districts offering full-day kindergarten programs.
Premises in which care is provided at one time for more than 6 but fewer than 16 older school-aged children (see §3280.4, relating to definitions) or more than 6 but fewer than 13 children of another age level who are unrelated to the operator. A GCCH must comply with the regulations at 55 Pa Code Chapter 3280 and have a DHS certificate of compliance in order to legally operate. Within the framework of outcomes reporting, PA early learning programs select an OCDEL approved vendor assessment instrument. Outcomes from the selected tool are translated into age-specific Early Learning Outcomes reporting frameworks within the PELICAN system based.
A program which provides children with at least a 5-hour school day for a minimum of 180 days or 900 hours per year, during which children are transported to and from school, fed a hot lunch and participate in special subjects such as Art, Physical Education and Music. DRA is a division within OCDEL’s Bureau of Certification Services that is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, analyzing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating regulation, policy procedures and operations relating to the certification and registration of child care facilities. The premise on which care is provided at any one time for seven or more children unrelated to the operator.
The CONNECT staff identifies the correct county Early Intervention program or local preschool Early Intervention program and makes referrals on behalf of the family. An OCDEL bureau which oversees the Infant/Toddler and Preschool Early Intervention programs and Early Intervention Technical Assistance (EITA). For additional information, visit the PA Bureau of Early Intervention Services. A developmental and social-emotional screening for children from one month to 51⁄2 years.
Your lessons may refer you to the Ashworth College Central Network as you prepare to graduate and take new steps in your career. After you earn your diploma, you’ll retain your account so you can sharpen your Ashworth College Central Network anytime you need to. You need a childcare license to start and operate a daycare business in Pennsylvania if you intend to care for three or more children unrelated to you. If you provide care to your children or a relative’s children, you’re legally exempt, according to state regulations. Starting a daycare business in Pennsylvania could be the right choice if you love working with children. Before opening for business, you’ll need to take steps to obtain a license and ensure you meet all provider requirements.
Please contact a workforce development specialist for any additional questions you may have. National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) provides industry-based credentials and partner industry certifications for students enrolled in career and technical education programs. Teacher Prep/Early Childhood (TP/EC) students will learn the stages of child development, safety and first aid in caring for children, day care and preschool regulations, planning and presenting information to children, nutrition, guidance and discipline techniques, and personal care of children. A program which provides a home visitor to help parents learn how to read to and play with their children in a way that promotes early learning and builds a positive parent-child bond.
NITCCI collects and disseminates information on infant/toddler child care supply, investments, and initiatives; produces materials and resources; and responds to requests for information and technical assistance related to infant/toddler child care. Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth to age 5.

Students registering for hybrid courses should be computer savvy and have access to a computer with reliable internet access. We work with institutional partners to offer a wide array of practice tests that will help you prepare for your big exam. No matter how niche your field of interest might be, we’re here to help you prepare for test day. Once you apply for this credential, you’ll have six months to put together a professional portfolio of your work.

Pennsylvania CDA Credential Training Care Courses

But we need to expand our perspective, according to pediatric surgeon, social scientist and mom Dana Suskind. We are offering two free CDA classes in the Fall 2022 semester starting in November. For more information on how a CDA credential fits in to Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway, visit the Career Pathway page. The program is fully online with a qualified instructor, and they can progress through the three-part course in any sequence. See how PA Bureau of Career and Technical Education SOAR Programs of Study taken at the High School level may transfer into participating postsecondary institutions and technical centers. Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.
The models are Early Head Start, Healthy Families America, Nurse-Family Partnership and Parents As Teachers. Kindergarten, Here I Come and Kindergarten, Here I Am Activity Guides help families support their children’s learning as they prepare for and enter Kindergarten. Simple materials found within the home provide the basis for activities and experiences that children and parents can do together that are linked to Pennsylvania’s Learning Standards for Early Childhood. This program, for existing Head Start grantees, provides state funds to supplement federal allocations to expand high quality pre-kindergarten Head Start services for eligible children throughout Pennsylvania. Head Start Programs may enroll additional three or four year old children and/or expand full day and full year service opportunities for children and families. Operated by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) and provides consultation to the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and practitioners in the field regarding national best practices for health and safety in child care settings.
The purpose of the Stakeholders is to advise OCDEL about the Keystone STARS program including performance standards, operations, and program design. The Pennsylvania Standards Aligned System identifies six elements which, when used together, provides a common framework for continuous student achievement. Clear Standards, Fair Assessments, Curriculum Framework, Instruction, Materials and Resources, and Interventions are the six elements high achieving programs have in common. Integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math into the daily curriculum in which children address real-word issues and attempt to solve real-world problems. A STEM environment is one in which children are free to explore and investigate, ask open-ended questions and one that offers new discoveries.
You can contact your local municipality through the PA Business One-Stop Shop website. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts provides high quality pre-kindergarten services to at risk three and four year olds. For additional information, please visit PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning. For additional information, please visit National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The Council on Accreditation (COA) partners with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards.

The PA Early Learning Keys to Quality System is implemented in collaboration with the Office of Child Development and Early Learning through the PA Key and five PA Regional Keys. MIECHV is a federally-funded initiative that supports services to pregnant woman and young children. In Pennsylvania four evidence based programs receive expanded funding to support vulnerable families.
Keystone STARS is an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning to improve, support and recognize quality child care and early learning programs in Pennsylvania. Sponsored in part by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Better Kid Care is operated by Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, and Cooperative Extension. It provides educational materials, learning experiences and programs to child care practitioners and parents in Pennsylvania. This is accomplished in several ways, including its website, satellite workshops, training workshops, video learn-at-home units, on-site training and a toll-free telephone help line. (2)  A Pennsylvania school-age professional credential is equivalent to 9 credit hours from an accredited college or university in elementary education or child development and 1 year of experience with children.