CDA Training Initiative has been extended!! - post

Maryland early childhood professionals: the CDA Training Initiative has been extended. If you work in a licensed child care center or a registered family child care home in Maryland and meet eligibility criteria, submit an application now; the process typically takes only a few minutes. ChildCareEd offers relevant courses to support your training pathway, for example the CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $400.00$300.00 and the 30-Hour CDA Preschool Bridge Bundle Buy Now $300.00.

How do I apply to Maryland's CDA Training Initiative?

1. Find your center or home daycare license number
2. Find or create your CDA Council ID number. If you do not already have an account with the CDA Council you can create one by filling out this form. They will send you an email with your new CDA Council ID Number.
3. Complete the application form

In the final question on the application form, you want to select "Approved Training Bundle" 

This is how you will be approved for training. They will automatically send you the CDA Book Bundle voucher so you do not need to apply for that. The New or Renewal CDA Application Fee can be applied for at a later date.

You can watch a step-by-step video that explains the whole process here: How to participate in Maryland’s CDA Training Initiative

What happens after I submit my application?

Applications are typically reviewed within approximately ten business days by both the CDA Council and Maryland Family Network. After you receive conditional approval, expect an email from the CDA Council with the subject line "CDA Completion Agreement & Training Bundle Selection Form"; completing that brief form finalizes your training selection and is usually quick to complete.

The two most important elements are:

• Select your training provider:

As you can see, ChildCareEd (H&H) is 4th in the drop-down #menu.

• Select your ECE Setting. It is important that you make sure to choose the setting that you work in (the setting where you will be observed by the PD Specialist) and where you will have all your training hours to qualify for the credential.

Once you complete the form, it is generally a pretty quick turnaround before your selected training organization gives you access to training.

Double-check that you have been given the right training:

• 120-Hour Initial Training Bundle if you have NOT completed the Maryland 90-hour training. You will be given up to 6 months to complete the self-paced online course. (The deadline to apply for the CDA Application Fee voucher is May and you need to use it by June).
• 30-Hour Bridge Training Bundle if you HAVE completed the Maryland 90-hour training. You have 2 months to complete the course.  
• 45-Hour CDA Renewal Training if you already have your CDA credential but it expires soon. You will have up to 3 months to complete the course.

Who is eligible and what documentation will I need?

Eligibility for the initiative is limited to early childhood professionals working in Maryland-licensed child care centers or registered family child care homes. Before you start the application, confirm the facility or home license number you will enter on the form and create or locate your CDA Council ID. If you do not have a CDA Council account, create one with the Council and retain the ID for the application and for later Council submission steps (portfolio and exam). Confirm all eligibility, voucher, and licensing details with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Office of Child Care or your county licensing specialist; MSDE and your voucher administrator make final determinations about voucher eligibility and deadlines.

If you have received any MSDE training vouchers or conditional paperwork, carefully note the voucher terms and the expiration date on the voucher—those terms determine when you must complete ChildCareEd courses and portfolio steps. ChildCareEd provides Maryland-aligned options that frequently pair with the Initiative, including the 45-hour trainings used by many providers and the CDA Bridge Bundle: Preschool Buy Now $300.00. These courses are structured to satisfy the training portion of the CDA pathway while offering portfolio supports and PD Specialist feedback.

For information about tuition assistance, local grants, and voucher applications, see our Maryland-specific resources: How to get a CDA for free, Free CDA Training in Maryland, CDA Scholarships in Maryland, How can Maryland child care providers pay less for CDA training, Earning Your CDA in Maryland, and Your CDA Roadmap in Maryland. These articles explain voucher workflows, typical timelines, and documentation commonly requested by voucher administrators.

As an extra incentive for completing your training on time, ChildCareEd is holding monthly draws for a gift card to Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa - a nice reward for your hard work!

Which training bundle should I choose: Initial, Bridge, or Renewal?

Decide which training bundle aligns with your prior Maryland training, credential status, and the care setting where you work. Providers who have not completed Maryland’s 90-hour teacher training sequence will typically require the 120-Hour Initial Training Bundle to satisfy the CDA coursework requirement. Providers who completed the Maryland 90-hour sequence (two 45-hour components) generally qualify for the 30-Hour Bridge Training Bundle. If you already hold a CDA and require recertification, choose the 45-Hour CDA Renewal Training.

Select the training that corresponds to the setting where you will be observed and where you accumulate work hours (center-based preschool, infant/toddler room, or family child care). ChildCareEd’s catalog includes targeted options such as the CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now $400.00$300.00, CDA Infant/Toddler Credential Buy Now $400.00$300.00, and bridge bundles for family child care; each option documents completed coursework for your training certificate and—where offered—portfolio review services.

If you expect to use a voucher, confirm whether it requires instructor-led or self-paced completion and the voucher deadline. Contact your selected training provider immediately after conditional approval so the provider can confirm enrollment dates, portfolio review windows, and verification-visit scheduling. ChildCareEd offers portfolio review and PD Specialist supports that many candidates select to ensure their documentation meets Council expectations.

To make your CDA journey easier and more fruitful, ChildCareEd has created the CDA Club - Peers & PD Specialists, a public Facebook group where you can connect with peers and PD Specialists, access resources, and stay informed about logistics and portfolio best practices.

Summary: Should you apply and what are the next steps?

If you are eligible—working in a Maryland-licensed child care center or a registered family child care home—you should apply. #Maryland #CDA Actionable next steps: (1) locate the center or home license number you will enter on the application, (2) create or find your CDA Council account and ID, (3) complete the CDA Training Initiative application, selecting the Approved Training Bundle and your training provider (for example, ChildCareEd), and (4) after conditional approval, submit the CDA Completion Agreement & Training Bundle Selection Form when prompted. Enroll promptly with your chosen provider and verify voucher terms if a voucher was issued.

ChildCareEd offers multiple pathways to satisfy the training portion of the CDA (for example, CDA Preschool Credential with Portfolio Review Buy Now $500.00$400.00, bridge bundles, and 45-hour MSDE-aligned trainings). Confirm all requirements with your voucher issuer or MSDE voucher administrator and with the CDA Council prior to final submission of your credentialing portfolio. For assistance, contact ChildCareEd or the program support contacts listed on the application portal.