Child
Development Associate (CDA) Credential
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
is a nationally awarded and recognized credential in the field
of early care and education.
To obtain a CDA, an individual must complete 120 hours of
training in 8 major competency areas and successfully completed
a CDA assessment. The credential demonstrates that an individual
is able to meet the specific needs of a child and work with
parents or other adults to nurture the physical, social, emotional,
and intellectual growth of a child.
The Credential is awarded for three child care settings: 1)
Center-based, for which Candidates receive endorsements to
work with infants and toddlers or preschool children; 2) Family
Child Care; and 3) Home Visitor. Bilingual CDA packets and
observations are available.
As a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, Child Care Connection
is an approved entity to deliver contact training hours for
the CDA credential and all of our trainings can be applied
for this credential. *Not all early childhood training in
the community will count towards the CDA credential. Please
contact us if you have questions
about a specific training opportunity.
CCC has CDA Advisors available for candidates who are close
to achieving their 120 clock hours. CDA Advisors can provide
technical assistance, guidance, and completion of the Formal
Observation Instrument to help candidates complete the CDA
process. CDA Advisors must meet the education and experience
requirements as defined on the Council’s web site listed
below.
You may purchase a CDA packet from Child Care Connection for $20.00
or you can contact the Council for Professional Recognition
to order an application packet for $20.00 + $4.00 shipping.
The CDA assessment fee is $325.00 payable to the Council for
Professional Recognition. Information about possible financial
assistance to help candidates pay this fee is available from
Child Care Connection.
For more information or if you have questions, please contact
us or contact the CDA Council at (800) 424-4310 or www.cdacouncil.org.
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Child
Development Associate