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What is a National CDA?
A National CDA (Child Development Associate) is a national credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition. It is received after completing the National CDA assessment.
Who is eligible?
Candidates seeking to apply for CDA assessment must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Hold a high school diploma or GED
- Have 480 hours of experience working with children within the past five years
Steps to Earn a CDA Credential
- Complete 120 hours of child care training in 8 content areas (a minimum of 10 hours needs to be completed in each content area). The CDA training areas are:
- Planning a safe, healthy environment to invite learning;
- Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development;
- Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development;
- Strategies to establish productive relationships with families;
- Strategies to manage an effective program operation;
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism;
- Observing and recording children's behavior; and
- Principles of child development and learning.
While the formal education hours can be credit or noncredit, the hours must be through an agency or organization with expertise in early childhood teacher preparation. Classes offered by CCR&R are categorized by CDA training area, so you are able to complete the 120 hours simply by taking classes out of our catalog. Online classes are also available through Eager to Learn.
- Purchase an Application Packet
The Application Packets contain ALL of the documents Candidates will need to apply for CDA assessment. Each packet is customized for the selected child care setting:
- The Preschool Packet is for Candidates working in a center-based setting with children 3-5 years old.
- The Infant/Toddler Packet is for Candidates working with children from birth to 36 months of age.
- The Family Child Care Packet is for Candidates working with one or all age groups in a family child care home.
- The Home Visitor Packet is for Candidates working with the parents of young children.
The cost of the packet is $18.00 plus shipping and handling. Order your packet from the Council for Professional Recognition Bookstore (click on "CDA Assessment Materials").
- Secure an advisor. To locate a CDA Advisor in your area, contact the Council for Professional Recognition at 1-800-424-4310. You are responsible for contacting, interviewing, and making a final decision about selecting your Advisor. The Advisor will observe you for a minimum of three hours. The purpose of the observation is to provide evidence of your actual hands-on skill working with children.
- Prepare a Professional Resource File. Detailed instructions for this are included in your Application Packet.
- Distribute Parent Opinion Questionnaires to the parents of the children in your care. The questionnaires with instructions are included in your Application Packet.
- Apply for assessment. The application is included in your Application Packet, and needs to be submitted to the Council for Professional Recognition along with verification of the completed training and a $325 assessment fee (see financial aid available).
- Verification Visit - Upon receipt of your Application Form, the $325 assessment fee, and documentation of training, the Council for Professional Recognition will schedule a Verification Visit. The Council Representative will contact you to arrange the date and place for the visit. During the Verification Visit the Council Representative will:
- Administer the Early Childhood Studies Review—a two-hour, multiple choice examination taken by the Candidate;
- Conduct the Oral Interview to evaluate the Candidate’s skills and knowledge of good early childhood care and education practices.
- Check the content of the Professional Resource File prepared by the Candidate;
- Collect documents from the Candidate to mail to the Council
Details about all of these procedures are included in the Application Packet.
A CDA Credential is valid for three years from the award date, after which it may be renewed for five-year periods. For details about the renewal process, visit the Council For Professional Recognition.
To Receive Guidance on the Credentialing Process
Contact Resources for Child Caring at (651)641-6653 or Bemidji State University at (218)755-3779.
Financial Aid Available
Minnesota CDA Support Project
The Minnesota CDA Support Project offers financial support and guidance to child care professionals who are working toward their National Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). Candidates my apply for financial support (up to $300) to pay for the services of a qualified CDA advisor.
To apply for financial support, contact the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network at (651)290-9704, ext. 108.
TEACH Scholarships
T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education And Compensation Helps) Early Childhood® MINNESOTA seeks to improve education and compensation for child care providers, while reducing turnover rates. The program was developed to increase the level of education among child care providers.
TEACH offers scholarships to child care providers who want a CDA, an Associate's Degree, or a Bachelor's Degree.
TEACH covers 85% of the CDA Assessment Fee, and up to 80% of the cost of tuition and books for Associate's and Bachelor's degree students seeking a degree in child development or early childhood education.
Benefits of a CDA
- Possess the knowledge and skills needed to meet the specific needs of children in order to nurture their physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework
- The CDA is a respected, national credential
- Opportunities for advanced education and/or career advancement
- Eligibility to participate in the REETAIN program and earn an additional annual grant
- Eligibility to receive higher reimbursement rate from Child Care Assistance
| For more information, contact the Council for Professional Recognition at (800)424-4310 or visit www.cdacouncil.org |
