Child Development Associate (CDA) Certification
Child Development Associate (CDA) Certification
What is Child Development Associate (CDA) certification?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is a nationally recognized certification in early childhood education that demonstrates you have the skills, knowledge, and professionalism necessary to provide quality care to young children.
Administered by the Council for Professional Recognition, the CDA credential is considered the entry-level qualification for early childhood educators and serves as a stepping stone for career advancement in the field of early childhood education.
CDA competency standards
The CDA credential is based on a core set of competency standards that guide early childhood professionals toward becoming qualified educators. These standards are divided into six competency goals:
Establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning environment
Advancing physical and intellectual competence
Supporting social and emotional development and providing positive guidance
Establishing positive and productive relationships with families
Ensuring a well-run, purposeful program that is responsive to participant needs
Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
Each candidate must demonstrate their competence in these areas through training, experience, and assessment to earn a CDA credential.
How to get CDA certification
Earning your CDA certification involves several steps and eligibility requirements:
Education requirement: Complete at least 120 hours of professional education covering the six CDA competency standards and two additional subject areas. Training programs that meet the education requirement cost $350 to $1,400.
Experience requirement: Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience with children in the age group for your chosen CDA credential type within three years of submitting your application.
Family questionnaires & recommendation forms: Provide questionnaires to families you work with and obtain a recommendation from your program director or supervisor.
Professional portfolio: Prepare a professional portfolio following the guidelines in the CDA Competency Standards book. The portfolio must include specific materials related to your work with children and families, including:
Educational documentation
Family questionnaires
Six reflective statements of competence
Professional philosophy statement
Areas of strength and areas for professional growth
Resource collection
Application: Submit your application and pay the application fee to the Council for Professional Recognition. Applying for CDA certification costs $425 if you apply online or $500 if you submit a paper application by mail.
CDA exam: Schedule and pass your exam at a Pearson VUE test center.
Verification visit: Select a Council-approved Professional Development (PD) Specialist to conduct your verification visit.
CDA exam
The CDA exam is a crucial component of the certification process and evaluates your knowledge of best practices in early childhood education. The exam covers the following subject areas:
Safety and healthy environments
Physical and intellectual development
Social and emotional development
Relationships with families
Program management
Professionalism
Observation and assessment
Child development principles
The exam consists of 65 questions, including 60 multiple-choice questions and 5 scenario-based questions, which you must complete within 1 hour and 45 minutes. You can take the CDA exam at a Pearson VUE testing center.
The Council for Professional Recognition recommends studying the CDA Competency Standards book and reviewing the subject areas covered in your training to prepare for the exam.
CDA verification visit
A Council-approved Professional Development (PD) Specialist conducts a verification visit to observe you working with children in your workplace. The PD Specialist evaluates your ability to demonstrate the CDA Competency Standards in practice.
After the observation, the PD Specialist will review your professional portfolio and conduct a reflective dialogue with you about your understanding of early childhood education principles and practices. The PD Specialist then submits their findings to the Council for review as part of your certification process.
CDA credential types
The Council for Professional Recognition offers four different CDA credential types, also called educator pathways, tailored to specific childcare settings and age groups:
Center-Based Infant-Toddler
The Center-Based Infant-Toddler credential focuses on working with children aged from birth to 36 months in a center-based setting. The training for this pathway emphasizes understanding infant and toddler development, creating appropriate learning environments, and implementing activities that foster development during this crucial early period.
Work experience for this credential must include working with at least 3 children as well as working with all three sub-age groups—young infants (birth to 8 months), mobile infants (9 to 17 months), and toddlers (18 to 36 months).
Center-Based Preschool
The Center-Based Preschool credential is designed for educators working with children ages 3 to 5 years in center-based programs. This pathway focuses on preparing children for kindergarten, developing social skills, and introducing foundational academic concepts through play-based learning.
Family Child Care
This credential is for providers who work with children aged from birth to 5 years old in a family childcare home setting. This pathway acknowledges the unique aspects of caring for mixed-age groups in a home-based environment and the business aspects of running a family childcare program.
Work experience for this credential must include working with at least two children who are not related to the candidate by blood or marriage, and the home setting must meet state and local regulations.
Home Visitor
The Home Visitor credential is for professionals who work with families of children from birth through age 5 in the family's own home. This pathway focuses on supporting parents in meeting their young children's needs and providing resources to enhance child development within the family context.
CDA renewal
The CDA credential must be renewed every 3 years. To renew your CDA, submit your renewal application and pay the fee of $125 (online) or $150 (by mail) up to six months before the expiration date.
To renew your CDA certification, you must meet these requirements:
Professional development
Obtain 4.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), a 3-credit-hour college course, or 45 hours of training specific to the credential type during the three years since the CDA credential was issued or last renewed.
Become a member of an Early Childhood Education (ECE) professional organization.
Select an early childhood professional to review and verify your documentation.
Continued work with children
Complete 80 hours of experience working with children in your credentialed setting within 12 months before applying for renewal.
Select an early childhood professional to verify your 80 hours of work experience and complete a recommendation based on that work.
Safety
Obtain certifications in Pediatric First Aid and Infant and Child CPR.
Benefits of a CDA credential
Earning a CDA credential offers several professional and personal benefits, including:
Job opportunities, wage increases, and career advancement
Deeper understanding of childhood development practices
Improved quality of care you provide to children
Increased confidence and trust from parents
Ability to meet or surpass regulatory requirements for childcare licensing
Academic credit toward a degree in early childhood education
Some states offer scholarships, workforce development grants, or reimbursement for CDA certification costs. Some employers also cover the cost.
FAQs about CDA certification
How long does it take to get CDA certification?
Earning CDA certification takes 6 to 12 months on average, depending on your prior experience, education, and how quickly you complete the requirements. The requirements include 120 hours of professional education, 480 hours of work experience, portfolio development, and an assessment process.
Candidates who already have substantial training and experience may complete the process more quickly, while those starting with minimal background in early childhood education may need more time.
How long does CDA certification last?
A CDA credential is valid for 3 years from the date it is awarded. After this period, you must complete the renewal process to maintain your certification. Each renewal extends your credential for an additional three years, and there is no limit to how many times you can renew your CDA.
What jobs can you get with a CDA certification?
A CDA certification qualifies you for various positions in early childhood education, including:
Preschool teacher in private or public programs
Assistant teacher or lead teacher in a childcare center
Head Start teacher or assistant
Family childcare provider
Nanny or in-home childcare provider
Paraprofessional in elementary school settings
Before and after-school program staff
Early intervention assistant
Childcare center director (in some states, with additional experience)
The specific positions available to you will depend on state regulations, program requirements, and your chosen CDA credential type (Infant-Toddler, Preschool, Family Child Care, or Home Visitor).
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.