CDA Certificate | Benifits, Eligibility and Application Process

CDA Certificate: CDA (Child Development Associate) certificate is given to the individuals who are early educators, as a professional development opportunity, who are working with children aged upto 5 years. CDA National Credentialing Program gives certification to the person who can demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities of the children, in the early childhood education field.

CDA certificate is issued when a candidate has completed the certification course and passed the exam. They will be working in early childcare settings such as daycare, preschool, etc. This course can be taken by distance learning, online learning or at a community college. Here the candidate will be having four areas of study: Preschool, Infant Toddler, family child care and home visitor.

Students can find more about Certificates, explore the types used for academic purposes, professional purposes and more.

Eligibility Criteria for CDA Credential

  • Candidate should have high school diploma or high school junior or senior in an education/child development Career and Technical Program
  • Candidate should have completed 120 hours of professional education that cover the 8 CDA subjects
  • Before 3 years of applying candidate should work with young children for complete 480
  • Candidate have to prepare a portfolio or a resume as per the requirements mentioned for CDA credentials

Benefits of CDA Certificate

  • Candidates can use the certificate for their career advancement
  • To get jobs as per the requirements
  • It’s a reinforcement of your commitment to the early childhood
  • Helping parents to get peace of mind
  • Develops your confidence and interpersonal skills

Applying for CDA Certificate

Applicants have to complete 120 hours of early childhood education training. This training should cover the growth of children who fall under the age category of 0 to 5 years. They should complete 10 training hours for each of 8 CDA subjects, such as:

  • Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
  • Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development
  • Supporting children’s social and emotional development
  • Observing and recording children’s behavior
  • Understanding principles of child development and learning
  • Building productive relationships with families
  • Managing an effective program operation
  • Maintaining a commitment to professionalism

How to Get a CDA Certificate?

  • Make sure to match with all the eligibility criteria and training requirements
  • Buy a CDA Competency standard book to learn working with children
  • Complete your portfolio and family questionnaires
  • Submit the CDA application form with required application fee
  • Candidate have to give the CDA exam at local Pearson Vue test center
  • Candidates profile will be verified with the PD specialist

Selection of CDA Credential

The CDA credentials are available here for individuals who want to apply for certification courses. Choose the best settings that suits best for you and describe your work with children.

Preschool: Candidates will be observed in a center based preschool setting working with children (in a group of eight). The preschool is a state-approved child development center. Where children from 3 to 5 years are given education.

Infant-Toddler: Candidates here have to work with children under 3 years. This will also be a state-approved child development center.

Family Child care: This is a family child care setting where candidates will be observed working with at least two children of 5 years old. These children are not related to the candidate by blood or marriage.

Home Visitor: Home visitor program is a program for families having children of age 5 years or more than 5 years, to support parents to meet the requirement of their children

FAQ’s on CDA Certificate

Question 1. 
What is a CDA certificate?

Answer:
CDA certificate is given to the individuals who are early educators, as a professional development opportunity, who are working with children aged upto 5 years.

Question 2.
What is the full form of CDA?

Answer:
CDA stands for Child Development Associate

Question 3. 
How many working hours are required to get a CDA certificate?

Answer:
Candidates must complete 480 hours of early childhood education training to get a CDA credential.

Question 4.
How to prepare for CDA credentials?

Answer:
Candidates who want to apply for a CDA certificate have to buy a CDA Competency Standards book to learn how to work with children. Also, Young Children textbook and Essentials Workbook are available to prepare more efficiently.

Question 5. 
What is the application fee to apply for a CDA certificate?

Answer:
For online application, it will take $425 and for offline application the fees $500.

Question 6. 
What is a center-based program?

Answer:
A center-based program has at least 10 children and two caretakers working with the children on a regular basis.