CDA Bridge: You Have Your 90 Hours—What Comes Next? - post

Have you completed Maryland’s 90-hour certification and are wondering how to turn that accomplishment into a CDA pathway? Your next step is often the remaining 30 hours, followed by experience documentation, a Professional Portfolio, an exam, and a Verification Visit. The CDA Bridge Bundle: Preschool Buy Now $300.00 can help eligible Maryland providers complete the additional training while building practical knowledge for classroom work and portfolio preparation; providers pursuing another setting can explore the Infant/Toddler or Family Child Care options below.

Finishing 90 hours is a meaningful professional milestone. It represents time spent studying development, curriculum, relationships, and responsive care—knowledge that should not sit unused in a folder. For many Maryland providers, the bridge is the point where prior coursework becomes part of a larger professional plan.

Because requirements and funding opportunities can change, state requirements vary - check your state licensing agency and confirm current guidance with the Council for Professional Recognition before applying.

Why does the 90-hour certification matter?

Maryland providers commonly complete a 90-hour certification through 45 hours of Growth and Development and 45 hours of age-appropriate Curriculum training. According to ChildCareEd’s explanation of using a 90-hour certification to complete a CDA, this prior training may provide the foundation for the CDA education requirement, depending on the candidate’s records and pathway.

The CDA Council generally requires 120 hours of formal early childhood education, including at least 10 hours in each of eight subject areas. Therefore, a provider whose 90 hours align appropriately may need approximately 30 additional hours. Do not assume that every certificate transfers automatically; compare course titles, dates, content, and documentation with current Council guidance.

• Collect both 45-hour certificates and transcripts.
• Confirm that the training identifies the population or curriculum track completed.
• Keep digital and paper copies in a secure professional file.
• Ask the Council or training provider about any gaps before enrolling.

How do you choose the correct CDA setting?

The CDA is not a single, interchangeable credential. Your setting should match the children you teach and the environment in which your competence will be assessed. Common pathways include Center-Based Preschool, Center-Based Infant/Toddler, and Family Child Care.

Choose Preschool if your practice centers on children ages three through five in a qualifying center-based setting. Choose Infant/Toddler if you work primarily with children from birth through 36 months in a center-based program. Family Child Care is designed for providers serving young children in a qualifying home-based setting.

This decision affects more than the course title. It influences your work-experience documentation, portfolio examples, observation context, and preparation for the exam. A thoughtful choice prevents avoidable repetition and helps your professional evidence tell one coherent story.

• Review the age group you serve most consistently.
• Confirm whether your program is center-based or family child care.
• Match your bridge training to your intended CDA setting.
• Discuss mixed-age or changing assignments with the Council before applying.

What does the 30-hour bridge provide?

A bridge course is intended to complete the training gap between an aligned 90-hour certification and the 120-hour CDA education requirement. ChildCareEd’s Preschool Bridge Bundle Buy Now $300.00 describes self-paced online coursework, portfolio supports, an instructional video, and review by certified CDA Professional Development Specialists. The Infant/Toddler Bridge Bundle Buy Now $300.00 offers the corresponding pathway for providers working with infants and toddlers, while the Family Child Care Bridge Bundle Buy Now $300.00 is designed for eligible home-based providers.

These supports can make the transition more manageable because they connect coursework to practical decisions: observing children, designing learning experiences, supporting inclusion, communicating with families, and reflecting on professional practice.

Remember that a bridge course supplies training and support; it does not itself award the CDA Credential. The Council for Professional Recognition awards the credential after all required components are completed.

What must you complete besides the bridge?

The additional 30 hours are only one part of the pathway. ChildCareEd’s Maryland CDA guide identifies several steps that candidates should plan for:

• At least 480 hours of recent professional experience in the appropriate setting and age group.
• A Professional Portfolio with reflective statements, philosophy, resource materials, family questionnaires, and evidence of training and experience.
• An application through the CDA Council and any required assessment fee or voucher.
• A CDA examination scheduled after receiving the appropriate notice.
• A Verification Visit with a CDA Professional Development Specialist, when required by the Council.

Start documenting these elements before your bridge course ends. Track work hours weekly, save lesson plans and observations, and write brief reflections while experiences are fresh. Your daily practice is valuable evidence when it is organized, specific, and connected to children’s development.

How can you prepare efficiently and avoid common mistakes?

The most efficient plan is incremental rather than last-minute. Create one digital folder for certificates, work-hour verification, family questionnaires, reflective writing, and portfolio resources. Use a checklist based on the current CDA requirements, not an old colleague’s experience.

Common mistakes include choosing a bridge track that does not match the intended setting, assuming 90 hours automatically equals 90 transferable hours, postponing the portfolio, and failing to verify current application procedures. Another frequent problem is writing reflections that describe activities without explaining why the choices supported children’s learning, safety, relationships, or inclusion.

Use your director, mentor, or PD Specialist as a thinking partner. Ask for feedback on clarity, confidentiality, developmental appropriateness, and alignment between your written evidence and daily practice.

• ✅ Review requirements before purchasing training.
• 📁 Build the portfolio alongside coursework.
• 🕒 Log experience hours consistently.
• 🔎 Confirm current exam and application instructions through official sources.

What should you do next?

Your 90 hours are not the end of the process; they are a strong platform for the next stage. First, gather and verify your records. Next, select the CDA setting that reflects your work. Then identify whether you need the Preschool, Infant/Toddler, or Family Child Care bridge and begin organizing your portfolio while completing the final training hours.

After coursework, confirm your experience documentation, submit the required application materials, prepare for the exam, and coordinate the Verification Visit if applicable. For exam scheduling information, consult Pearson VUE’s CDA testing page. For credential rules, use the CDA Council’s official website.

Finally, remember why the process matters: a thoughtful CDA journey can strengthen your #practice, clarify your professional identity, and improve the consistency of care children and families experience. The goal is not merely to collect hours, but to connect knowledge, reflection, and responsive action.

Conclusion: What comes after 90 hours?

After a Maryland 90-hour certification, the next step for many providers is a setting-specific 30-hour bridge toward the 120-hour CDA training requirement. The complete pathway also includes appropriate work experience, a Professional Portfolio, application materials, the CDA exam, and typically a Verification Visit. Careful recordkeeping and early preparation make the process more manageable.

Choose training that fits your setting, verify current requirements, and treat every portfolio component as an opportunity to show the intentional work you already do with children. With a clear plan, your 90 hours can become a practical bridge toward deeper professional learning and the CDA process.

Frequently asked questions

Do I automatically qualify for the CDA after completing 90 hours?
Not automatically. You may still need approximately 30 aligned training hours and must complete the Council’s experience, portfolio, exam, and assessment requirements.

Can I use the same bridge for every CDA setting?
No. Select training that corresponds to Preschool, Infant/Toddler, or Family Child Care and confirm the match with current Council guidance.

Does ChildCareEd award the CDA Credential?
No. ChildCareEd provides training and support; the Council for Professional Recognition awards the CDA Credential.

Should I wait to build my portfolio?
No. Begin collecting documents and drafting reflections while completing the bridge so the work remains connected to your current practice.

Can funding cover bridge training?
Funding programs may open or close and eligibility can change. Ask your employer, check current Maryland resources, and verify the offer before relying on it.

Where do I schedule the CDA exam?
After receiving the appropriate notice from the Council, candidates generally schedule through Pearson VUE. Confirm current instructions at the official testing page.

References: 90-hour certification and CDA; Maryland 90-hour pathway; Maryland bridge overview; exam and Verification Visit preparation; CDA Council; Pearson VUE.