You must complete additional requirements and apply to the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC to earn the CDA® Credential. To find out more, please visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website at /credentials/apply-for-cda/preschool. The CDA credential is a great opportunity for beginning early childhood educators to advance their career.
Occupational opportunities include employment in child development programs and child care agencies/centers that include preschool-aged children. Early educators may apply for a CDA credential for center-based preschool settings, center-based infant/toddler settings, and family child care programs. Lecture and clinical practice requirements ensure you’ll get the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to take the National Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (NCECPR) assessment. The CDA credential may be obtained in a center-based setting at a preschool (3- to 5-year-olds) and/or infant/toddler (birth to 3) endorsement or a family childcare (birth through age 5) setting.
The following courses will fulfill the commitment to professionalism, and understanding child development educational component for the Home Visitor CDA® Credential™. The CDA® program consists of 5 courses that can be completed in 4-8 months. Since it is self-paced and fully online, it can be completed around a schedule that meets your needs. CLI Engage houses research-based early learning resources for educators and families of children from birth through kindergarten. ChildCare Education Institute is a certified training provider of the CDA Council Gold Standard Comprehensive program. I’ve taken several of their courses now and whenever I have friends, colleagues, or directors who ask for a recommendation, CCEI is always at the top of my list.
This is a two-page professional philosophy statement about your role as an educator. The specialist will also audit your professional portfolio, which includes physically observing how you work with the children. Then, they’ll review your portfolio and conduct a supervision session where you’ll discuss your strong areas and those that need improvement. Professionalism and Community Building
Exploration of the role early childhood educators play in community building to support the needs of young children and in engaging in courageous and professional leadership.
Children learn social skills, develop trust and loving relationships with caretakers and friends outside their home. They will be introduced to learning in make believe play, story time, song and dance. We help children develop problem solving skills, labeling emotions, and begin to learn colors, shapes and letters through play. We use sensory play daily and utilize the outdoors when at all possible.
Childcare providers list free so parents can find the best daycare and preschools in their area. It costs $500 for a paper application, and there is a discount for online applications of $75 making the cost $425. No matter where a candidate is in their process of earning a CDA®, Professional Development Advisors are available to offer support and guidance. Contact your local Professional Development Advisor for one-on-one assistance regarding goal setting, training verification, and more. A center-based program is an institution with two adults working with at least 10 children.
To find early childhood education (ECE) job opportunities, visit the Job Search page. If you’re in need of the coursework to get a CDA Credential, I’m going to share some of the most important details so that you can understand the process and make the best decision on your path in early childhood education. We now have Career Development Centers in all 10 economic development regions of New York State.
Download Eager-to-Learn’s CDA® Training Requirement Checklist to see current online training options that meet CDA® requirements. Our Workforce Advising Coordinator is available to assist you in determining how many hours of training you need in each CDA® subject area before applying for your CDA®. Prepare to work in private day care programs with our child development degree.
Your professional portfolio must include documentation of your education, CDA training, college certificates, and transcript. You’ll also need a summary of the CDA education cover sheet and other verifications you completed within your 120 hours of training. A specialist will review your professional portfolio and other documents during verification. These include proof of completing your 120 hours of training, 480 hours of working experience and completing your professional portfolio. The council will then notify you to schedule your verification visit.

Courses must be successfully completed by their expiration date in order for the student to receive a certificate. Training can be obtained through a wide variety of organizations — from a single training agency or several training organizations. The organization must have expertise in early childhood education and teacher preparation and must provide official documentation of training completed.
This is a form with questions and answers collected from some of the families of the children you’ve worked with. In response, the specialist will send you an ID number to help you complete and forward your application. The verification sessions are normally held at the center or institution where you work or volunteer to gain work experience. Afterward, you’ll be notified about scheduling your examination and CDA verification visit. To apply for the CDA certification, you can either choose between an online application or an in-person application, where you’ll fill out and submit a CDA Competency Standards form.
The courses are self-paced, meaning the material is completed on your time. The suggested time to complete each of the 5 courses for the CDA program is listed below. Have 480 hours of experience working with children within the last 3 years. This course package contains 45 hours of training that can be used for your CDA Renewal in the Preschool area. Watch the overview video and review the following resources for additional information about the CIRCLE CDA Training Program.
The free CDA tutorial does not offer clock hours or a certificate. Do you work in a child care center and care for preschool age children? Thousands of child care providers working across the US and on US military bases have used our courses toward obtaining their CDA. The CDA Certificate at The CUNY School of Professional Studies is offered in partnership with the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute. This program was created in response to new educational mandates, as well as the need for early childhood professionals to master the knowledge and skills needed to create effective learning environments for children.
This report contains all verified training categorized as Infant, Toddler or Preschool. An individual training (course) can only have one category represented. The Council for Professional Recognition has recognized MiRegistry as an approved state workforce registry. The annual Down Home Derby fundraiser each May raises proceeds to support the CDA’s mission of affording all children in our community high-quality early education.
It costs $500 to submit your CDA application on paper, and after expiration, it costs $150 to renew. The Council for Professional Recognition offers several types of CDA certificates, each with its own set of requirements. The breakdown by course is listed below, and there are scholarships available.
While completing your CDA® coursework at AU, you will have an opportunity to work on most of the required portfolio components. ChildCare Education Institute is one of the few online professional development programs that has taken the extra steps to get this excellence award. So you know that when you get the CCEI Gold Standard Program, you are not getting just another certification (or even the wrong one), but you are getting a CDA certification that will help set you up for success in your career. In addition to the exam, applicants must also complete a CDA Verification Visit. This can only be scheduled once the applicant receives a “Ready to Schedule” notification. Once it is received, the applicant must contact their CDA PD Specialist to schedule.
This opportunity is available to CDA® candidates who are not enrolled in an MNCDA or MNITCDA learning community through Eager-to-Learn or a Child Care Aware of Minnesota district office. Complete the CDA Portfolio Assistance Request Form to receive up to five hours of support from a Portfolio Specialist at no cost. To obtain the CDA certificate, you must train in various CDA-approved subjects, work a designated number of hours with children, and take the CDA exam. The CDA certificate requires you to build a portfolio and complete a verification visit before receiving your certification. Instruct preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center, or other child development facility.

Early Childhood Education: The Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) Coursework

Obtaining the credential highlights a commitment to the field of early childhood education, and communicates an understanding of developmentally appropriate practice. Furthermore, obtaining the credential will help to boost confidence; the families of CDA credentialed educators will have increased confidence and peace of mind, along with an increase in self-confidence for the educator. When educators are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills, their effectiveness in the classroom expands and everyone benefits positively.
Learn to work with students with disabilities in our special education program. Expand your teaching certificate to include P-5 with our certification program. Enhance your human services degree with our community support services minor. This certification offers limitless possibilities and opportunities, letting you stay on top of all early childhood education best practices and advancements. To prepare for the exam, there may be an added expense for the study books and other training materials needed to support your lessons.

Our Pre-K class begins their academic experience through sensory play, science, music, books, dance, letters, colors and nature. They are encouraged to learn through exploration and discovery, all while receiving the encouragement and consistency they need. Students continue to practice using problem solving skills in both an academic and social nature.
Select one in your area and send them a request to facilitate your visit. In the portfolio, you’ll provide all your documentation, competency statements, a philosophy statement, resources, and family questionnaires. Your training hours in the program will count toward the CDA’s formal education requirements. To be eligible for a CDA certificate, you must have a high school diploma or GED.

This tool helps you determine if you should buy or rent your textbooks, based on the total cost of ownership including current sell back value. Search for key information about Programs and Majors across Virginia’s Community Colleges. Browse all Degree types and curriculums offered by Virginia’s Community Colleges. Focus on a specific Program and all possible majors are presented. Focus on a Major and see all the community colleges in Virginia that offer that curriculum.
Students currently employed by a licensed program serving children Birth – 5 years can utilize their place of employment for their fieldwork hours specific to their CDA designation (infant/toddler, preschool or family child care). Students who are not employed by a licensed program will be placed in a site that is agreed upon by the instructor and student. Students are required to complete 480 hours of fieldwork prior to completion of the certificate program. Each state sets their own requirements for training and education needed to work in licensed childcare settings.
This training program provides a new professional development opportunity and career pathway for early childhood teachers. In this training program, teachers will receive all 120 hours of high-quality professional development in the 13 CDA Functional Areas, as well as support to complete the required CDA competency statements and professional portfolio. All CIRCLE CDA professional development, provided through online courses developed by the Children’s Learning Institute, is free to eligible CLI Engage users. CDA®, administered by the Council for Professional Recognition, is a nationally recognized credential for early childhood educators who understand and are able to put into practice core competencies for working with young children. Completing these courses does not give you a CDA® Credential; these courses fulfill the educational component of the national CDA® credentialing program.

The exam has 65 multiple-choice questions, with some containing situational assessments. Health, Safety, and Nutrition in the Early Years

Exploration of culturally responsive strategies, policies and practices for creating, establishing, and maintaining the health, safety, and nutrition of children in the early years. For more information on how a CDA credential fits in to Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Career Pathway, visit the Career Pathway page. Clock hours and CEUs are documented on official Care Courses certificates of completion which are accessed in the My Courses area of your account. To receive the CEUs and Clock Hours for a course, you must adhere to and sign our honor code, follow directions on written assignments and show comprehension of the course content.
While it may not be required, having a CDA communicates a commitment to the field of early childhood education. Due to it being nationally recognized, transferring to a center in another state would be simple with a CDA. The Children’s  Development Academy (CDA) provides affordable early learning programs and childcare for preschool children in the metro Atlanta area. And, our childcare services enable hardworking parents to maintain full-time employment to support their families.
The Council does not accept training provided by individual consultants or from a conference. A trainer is considered an individual consultant if they are providing training independently. A training agency must have two or more instructors in order to not be considered an individual consultant.