Discounts on CDA Training
Prepare for a career in childcare with ChildCareEd’s online Child Development Associate (CDA) training! Our courses cover all of the CDA's eight subject areas: Take our FREE CDA Introduction Buy Now $0.00 Course to learn more about the requirements of obtaining your CDA Credential, or begin a full 120-hour course such as the CDA Preschool Credential
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$400.00$300.00 to complete the full training requirement.
Buy Individual CDA Trainings or purchase a CDA Plus subscription which includes unlimited online training PLUS all CDA online training course requirements!
ChildCareEd offers flexible purchasing to fit different budgets and timelines. You can buy individual CDA courses to assemble the required training hours, enroll in one complete 120-hour credential course (for example, the CDA Preschool Credential Buy Now
$400.00$300.00 or the CDA Infant/Toddler Credential), or choose a subscription when you plan to take multiple courses or renew frequently. Subscriptions sometimes include discounted bundles or portfolio review options; check the CDA Plus subscription details for current savings, portfolio supports, and eligibility for portfolio review services.
ChildCareEd's coursework covers the CDA Council's eight subject areas and issues a training certificate after coursework and any required portfolio review are completed. Important: the Council for Professional Recognition still awards the CDA credential. Candidates must separately meet Council requirements such as the required work hours, digital portfolio submission, exam, and (when applicable) a Verification Visit. ChildCareEd courses like the CDA Family Child Care Credential Buy Now
$400.00$300.00 and the Bridge Bundles provide structured training and portfolio guidance that can help you prepare, but confirm acceptance of any portfolio documents with the Council and your local registry before applying.

Choose the CDA pathway aligned to the age group and setting where you work. Typical options include:
If you already hold partial training recognized by your state (for example, a 90-hour certificate in some states), small bridge bundles can complete the remaining hours; see ChildCareEd's 30-hour Bridge Bundles for state-specific pathways.
Start building your Professional Portfolio early and align submitted artifacts to the CDA competency statements. Practical steps:
For role-specific guidance and state steps, read related ChildCareEd articles such as What are the benefits of getting a CDA credential?, How to Become Certified to Work with Preschoolers, and regional roadmaps like Your CDA Roadmap in Illinois to verify state procedures and workforce registry expectations.
Acceptance can vary by state, registry, employer, and the candidate's role. Confirm with your state registry or licensing specialist whether online, self-paced coursework from ChildCareEd is accepted for credit in your jurisdiction and whether portfolio review offered by a provider is admissible. Helpful ChildCareEd articles that describe state-specific pathways include How to Get an ECE Certificate in Texas and How to Get an ECE Certificate in North Carolina. If in doubt, contact your state early childhood licensing office or registry for explicit approval requirements before submitting training certificates.
State regulations determine whether a training provider, a specific course, or a self-paced online module counts toward registry or licensing requirements. Some states accept online, self-paced coursework from national providers; others require approved providers, in-person verification hours, or specific topic coverage and documentation. Practical steps to ensure acceptance: 1) Verify whether your state accepts online/self-paced training and whether the provider or each course must be pre-approved by the state registry or licensing agency. 2) Confirm the allowed delivery formats (online, blended, in-person) and whether portfolio review completed by a vendor is admissible. 3) Check whether your role, program type, and age group served impose additional training requirements (e.g., infant/toddler specialization, center director orientation). 4) Retain certificates and module descriptions that show clock hours and learning objectives; registries commonly ask for course syllabi or competency mappings. 5) If your state requires approved provider IDs or course approval numbers, request that information from the vendor before enrolling. For Texas, Illinois, and North Carolina, consult the linked state roadmaps above and contact your state licensing agency or workforce registry to confirm the specific regulatory citations, approval steps, and any role- or program-specific variations. For practical, state-specific steps see our ChildCareEd guides such as How to Get an ECE Certificate in Texas and Your CDA Roadmap in Illinois. For a broader look at teacher qualifications that employers expect, also see What qualifications do preschool teachers need to succeed?. Always confirm acceptance with your state registry or licensing specialist before relying on a course for credential or licensing credit.
ChildCareEd offers the full 120 hours of CDA training as one course as well as the 45 CDA Renewal course. But we also offer individual courses that can be combined to fulfill the training requirement. This option gives providers the flexibility to choose individual coursework that interests them while at the same time, covering required CDA subject areas.
Visit ChildCareEd today to see a full list of training courses and get started on advancing your career today.
Take the next step by deciding whether to assemble individual courses or enroll in a full 120-hour pathway. If you prefer guided portfolio support, consider a credential course with portfolio review. Popular starting points include the free CDA Introduction Buy Now $0.00, the full CDA Preschool Credential
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$400.00$300.00, or a short preparation workshop like CDA Preparation: From Training to Application Buy Now $25.00. Remember to verify acceptance with your state registry or employer before finalizing your pathway.
Choose a path that aligns with the age group you teach and the credentialing steps you must complete. Use ChildCareEd's full credential courses for a single-course solution, individual courses or bridge bundles to fill specific needs, and portfolio review options when you want detailed feedback. For state-specific licensing nuances, consult the linked ChildCareEd articles and your state registry. Enroll in a course today and begin documenting portfolio artifacts as you learn.