How Can I Obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential?
If you currently work in early childhood education, learn about how you can earn a child development associate (CDA) credential, which is a great way to boost your career.
For early childhood educators who work with children under the age of five, a child development associate (CDA) credential is essential.
The CDA credential is recognized nationwide and issued by the Council for Professional Recognition (CPR).
With a CDA, you're officially recognized as a competent early childhood educator.
Earning a CDA Credential
Many states require early childhood educators in state-licensed institutions to hold a CDA credential.
Read on for more details on what it takes to obtain this valuable credential and how it can benefit you.
<h3 id="section---EducationAndTraining">Education and Training</h3><p>The CPR requires CDA candidates to have a high school diploma plus at least 120 clock-hours of professional early childhood education.
</p><p>Going through a program accredited by the CPR ensures that you have the education necessary to qualify for this credential.
</p><p>The CPR offers CDA credentials in five different settings, so you can focus on the one that works best for you.
</p><p>Once you've completed your education, you'll need at least 480 hours of experience working with children.
</p><p>The age group of the children you work with and the setting where you work needs to match the setting in which you'll get your CDA.
</p><h3 id="section---WorkEnvironment">Work Environment</h3><p>CDA credentials are available for early childhood educators in five different settings.
</p><p>Center-based educators work in state-licensed child development centers. Two different credentials are available in this setting.
</p><p>Family childcare candidates work with children from birth to five years of age in a family childcare home.
</p><p>Home visitor candidates support parents in meeting the needs of children under the age of five in their own homes.
</p><p>Finally, military school-age candidates work with children over the age of five who live on military bases.
</p><h3 id="section---JobOutlookAndAveragePay">Job Outlook and Average Pay</h3><p>The BLS projects overall employment of preschool teachers nationwide to increase by 15% from 2021 to 2031.
</p><p>This growth rate is much faster than the national average for all occupations.
</p><p>States with the highest concentrations of job openings include Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, New Jersey, and Minnesota.
</p><h2 id="section---HowToBecomeAChildDevelopmentAssociate">How to Become a Child Development Associate</h2><p>If you're interested in earning your CDA credential, follow the steps below.
</p><h3 id="section---Step1GetYourHighSchoolDiplomaOrTheEquivalent">Step 1: Get Your High School Diploma or the Equivalent</h3><p>The CPR requires CDA candidates to have at least a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/How_Do_I_Earn_a_High_School_Diploma.html">high school diploma or the equivalent</a>.
</p><p>If you're still in high school, taking early childhood education classes through a trade school can make you eligible sooner.
</p><p>Getting experience working with children while in high school will also help you decide which setting and age groups you prefer to work with.
</p><p>For example, if your high school has a daycare center, that can give you experience in center-based early childhood education.
</p><h3 id="section---Step2Complete120HoursOfEducation">Step 2: Complete 120 Hours of Education</h3><p>The CPR requires <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Teaching_and_School_Administration_FAQs.html">formal training or education</a> from a program approved for CDA training.
</p><p><b>Your 120 hours of education must include at least 10 training hours in each of the following CDA areas:</b>
</p><ul><li>planning a safe and healthy environment
</li><li>advancing children's physical and intellectual development
</li><li>supporting children's social and emotional development
</li><li>building productive relationships with families
</li><li>managing an effective program operation
</li><li>maintaining a commitment to professionalism
</li><li>observing and recording children's behavior
</li><li>understanding the principles of child development and learning
</li></ul><p>Document your training with the name of the training agency and the specific courses you took, as well as the credits awarded.
</p><p>You'll need to submit this documentation when you apply to take the CDA certification exam.
</p><h3 id="section---Step3ChooseYourDesiredSetting">Step 3: Choose Your Desired Setting</h3><p>The CPR offers five different CDA credentials. Before you start getting your required experience, decide which setting you want to work in.
</p><p>Your experience should be with the appropriate age group and in the same setting as the one you apply for a CDA in.
</p><p><b>The CPR offers CDA credentials in the following settings:</b>
</p><ul><li>center-based infant-toddler, working with children from birth to 36 months
</li><li>center-based preschool, working with children from ages three to five years old
</li><li>family child care, working with children from birth to five years
</li><li>home visitor, working with families of children from birth to five years
</li><li>military school age, working with school-age children on military bases
</li></ul><h3 id="section---Step4Gain480HoursOfWorkExperience">Step 4: Gain 480 Hours of Work Experience</h3><p>Once you've chosen your preferred setting, find a <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Becoming_a_Teaching_Professional.html">job working with children</a> of that age group in that setting.
</p><p>If you work with other children or in another setting, those hours won't count toward the 480-hour requirement.
</p><p>Document all of this experience for your portfolio, which you'll submit when you apply to take the certification exam.
</p><p>Your portfolio also includes reference letters from the professionals who've supervised your work.
</p><h3 id="section---Step5TakeTheCDACertificationExam">Step 5: Take the CDA Certification Exam</h3><p>Submit your portfolio with your documentation of your training and experience when you apply to take the CDA certification exam.
</p><p>As part of your final assessment, a CDA professional development specialist will conduct a verification visit.
</p><p>During this visit, the specialist will observe you working with children in your chosen setting.
</p><p>If you're approved by the specialist, you'll be eligible to sit for the certification exam.
</p><p>Once you've passed the certification exam, you'll be awarded your CDA credentials.
</p><h2 id="section---EarnYourCDACertificationToday">Earn Your CDA Certification Today</h2><p>If you work in early childhood education, pursue CDA certification to help advance your career and qualify for more high-paying positions.</p>