Investing in the future starts with investing in our children. Early childhood education plays a pivotal role in shaping young minds, fostering their social, emotional, and intellectual #development. For aspiring #early-childhood #educators, obtaining a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is a significant step toward a rewarding #career. This nationally recognized credential demonstrates your commitment to excellence in nurturing young learners.
What is a CDA Credential?
The CDA Credential, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition (CDACouncil), is a competency-based credential that acknowledges the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively work with young children, typically from birth to age five. Earning a CDA Credential signifies your dedication to providing high-quality care and education in early childhood settings.
Who Issues the CDA Credential?
The CDACouncil, a nationally recognized organization established in 1972, is solely responsible for issuing the CDA Credential. They set the standards, oversee the credentialing process, and ensure the ongoing quality and relevance of the CDA program.
Requirements to Obtain a CDA Credential
The path to earning a CDA Credential involves fulfilling specific criteria set by the CDACouncil. Here's a breakdown of the key requirements:
- Education: You must possess a high school diploma, GED, or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.
- Training: Completion of 120 hours of professional #early-childhood-education (ECE) training specific to your chosen age group (infant, #toddler, #preschool, or family child care). This training equips you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to work effectively with young children.
- Experience: You must document a minimum of 480 hours of work experience in a qualified childcare setting relevant to the age group you're pursuing your CDA Credential in.
- Professional Portfolio Development: Creating a comprehensive professional portfolio is a crucial step. This portfolio showcases your knowledge, skills, and experiences through documented observations, #lesson-plans, and self-reflections.
- Verification Visit: The final stage involves undergoing a Verification Visit conducted by a qualified CDA Professional Development Specialist (PDS). This visit ensures you meet the established competency standards for the specific age group you're seeking your CDA Credential in.
- Exam: This is a 65-question, computer-based exam taken at a Pearson VUE testing center.
Benefits of Obtaining a CDA Certification
Earning a CDA Certification offers numerous advantages for both #early-childhood-educators and the children they care for. Here are some key benefits:
- Enhanced Job Prospects and Career Advancement: Possessing a CDA Certification makes you a more competitive candidate in the job market. Many childcare centers and early childhood education programs prioritize hiring qualified professionals with CDA credentials.
- Increased Confidence and Professional Development: The CDA Certification process equips you with valuable knowledge and skills, fostering confidence and competence in your role as an educator.
- Higher Earning Potential: Studies indicate that #early-childhood-educators with CDA certifications often command higher salaries compared to their non-credentialed counterparts.
- Improved Quality of Care: With a foundational understanding of child development and best practices, CDA-certified educators contribute significantly to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for young learners.
Why Choose ChildCareEd for Your CDA Training?
ChildCareEd is a leading provider of high-quality, affordable CDA training programs designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in your early childhood education career. Here's what sets ChildCareEd apart:
- Flexible Learning Options: ChildCareEd’s online self-paced courses allows you the flexibility to take your CDA training on your own schedule.
- Experienced Instructors: ChildCareEd's CDA training programs are created by qualified and experienced early childhood education professionals who are passionate about supporting your professional #growth.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: The curriculum covers all the essential areas of early childhood development, aligned with the CDA competency standards. You'll gain in-depth knowledge of child development, best practices in curriculum planning, effective teaching strategies, and creating a #safe and nurturing learning environment.
- Support Throughout the Process: ChildCareEd offers ongoing support throughout your CDA journey. Their dedicated team is available to answer your questions, provide guidance, and assist you in completing your professional portfolio for your CDA certification.
- Financial Assistance Programs: ChildCareEd understands the financial commitment involved in obtaining a CDA Certification. They offer information on scholarships and financial assistance programs to help make your CDA training more accessible.
Investing in Your Future
Earning a CDA Certification is an investment in your future as an early childhood educator. It demonstrates your dedication to providing high-quality care and education to young children. With ChildCareEd's comprehensive CDA training program, you will be well on your way to obtaining the CDA certification.
Courses & Classes related to Alabama
Online Trainings
- 1,2,3, Eyes on Me: Classroom Safety
- 1-Hour Abuse and Neglect Training
- 45-Hour Coaching and Mentoring
- 45 hour Growth and Development Birth-age 12 ONLINE
- 45-Hour Infant and Toddler Curriculum
- 45-Hour Preschool Curriculum
- 45-Hour School Age Curriculum
- 45 Hours Director-Administration ONLINE
- 9 Hour Communication Course
- A Better Space for All
- Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Reporting
- Access for All: Inclusion and the ADA
- ACEs and Resilience in Child Care
- A Closer Look into Developmental Theories
- Admin as Mentors in Early Education
- Administering Basic Health and Safety ONLINE
- Administration of Medicine
- A Great Place for Education Includes All ONLINE
- A Guide to Effective Communication
- Allergies and Medication in Childcare
- Anxiety: Signs & Strategies
- Appropriate Precautions in Transportation of Children
- A Thoughtful Approach to Children's Mental Health
- Autism Awareness in Child Care
- A Watchful Eye: Supervision in Early Childhood
- Baby Play: Planning Infant and Toddler Activities
- Baby Steps to Milestones ONLINE
- Balance Act: Teacher & Child ONLINE
- Balancing Act: Record Keeping & Supervision
- Balancing Act: Schedules and Routines
- Basics 101: Coaching & Mentoring
- Beautiful Junk: Using Recycled Materials in the Classroom
- Behind the Scenes: Baby Routines ONLINE
- Be Loud, No Bullying Allowed
- Bienvenido! Welcoming All Families
- Brain Building
- Brain Injury Awareness in Young Children
- Bridging Intent and Response: Communication
- Brighter Futures: Social Emotional Development
- Building a Community of Families
- Building and Physical Premises Safety
- Building Early Science Foundations
- Building Equity: Inclusionary Practices in Preschool
- Business Planning: Family Child Care
- CDA: A Closer Look at Assessments
- CDA: Approaches to Learning
- CDA: Communication: Keep It Simple
- CDA: Creating the Outdoor Classroom
- CDA: Curriculum Alignment & Materials
- CDA: Essential Tools for Record Keeping
- CDA Family Child Care Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Family Child Care Renewal
- CDA Home Visitor Credential Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 1 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 1 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 1 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 2 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 2 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 2 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 3 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 3 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 3 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 4 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 4 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 4 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 5 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 5 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 5 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 6 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 6 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 6 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 7 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 7 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 7 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 8 Part 1 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 8 Part 2 Birth to 5
- CDA Home Visitor Subject Area 8 Part 3 Birth to 5
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requisites
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Benefits to Observing
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Brain Development and Gene Expression
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Classroom Setup
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Health and Safety
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Importance of Consistent Care
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Individualized Learning and Inclusion
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Lesson Planning Made Easy
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Smart Nutrition & Feeding
- CDA Infants/Toddlers: Stages of Development
- CDA Infant/Toddler Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Infant/Toddler: Parent Relationships
- CDA Infant/Toddler Renewal
- CDA Introduction
- CDA Preschool Credential with Portfolio Review
- CDA Preschool Renewal
- CDA: Special Needs: Understanding the Whole Child
- CDA: Stand With Respect and Professionalism
- CDA Subject Area 1
- CDA Subject Area 2
- CDA Subject Area 3
- CDA Subject Area 4
- CDA Subject Area 5
- CDA Subject Area 6
- CDA Subject Area 7
- CDA Subject Area 8
- Character Development for Childcare Professionals
- Chef's in the Classroom
- Child Care Administration
- Childcare Management
- Child Care Orientation
- Childhood Obesity
- Children at the Wheel ONLINE
- Children's Keepers: Building Childhood Resilience
- Classroom Arrangement: The Second Teacher
- Classroom Designers ONLINE
- Classroom Management is Collaboration!
- Classroom Positivity
- Classroom Setup for Child Care
- Classroom Tools for Emergent Literacy
- Coaching and Mentoring Techniques
- Coaching/Mentoring DEI
- Collaboration for the Win
- Communication in Coaching and Mentoring
- Community and Family Engagement in Childcare
- Community Partnerships
- Conduct Disorders in Early Childhood
- Confidentiality Is a Must!
- Coordinating with Community in Child Care
- Creating an Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Plan
- Creating the Natural Outdoor Classroom
- Cultures in the Classroom
- Curriculum Planning
- DAP for Family Child Care
- DAP for Preschool
- Day 2 Day: Provider Responsibilities
- Designing Your School-Age Classroom ONLINE
- Developing a Successful Workshop
- Developing Program Tranquility
- Developmental Screening in Early Childhood
- Diverse Perspectives in Child Care
- Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Program Administration
- Early Emotional Wellness
- Early Learning with Infants and Toddlers
- ECE Programs Through History
- Effective Coaching & Mentoring in ECE
- Elijah's Law: Allergy Awareness Training
- Emergency and Disaster Preparedness- Online
- Emergent Learning & Development
- Engaging Indoor Activities for Inclement Weather
- Engaging Parents in the Montessori Toddler Classroom
- Enhancing Life and Development
- Enhancing STEM Education for Infants and Toddlers
- Enriching Education: Field Trips
- Ethical Responsibilities for Trainers
- Evaluating Performance
- Expect the Unexpected: Infants and Toddlers
- Family (or Parent) Conferencing: Developing Trust ONLINE
- FAS in Early Childhood
- Financial Assistance for Child Care
- Food Preparation and Nutrition
- Fragile X Syndrome in Young Children
- Getting on the Right Path to Teaching
- Going Head-to-Head with Challenging Behavior
- Grow with Me: Child Development for Mixed Ages
- Guiding School-Aged Children
- Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
- Healing Young Hearts: Stress and Grief
- Health and Nutrition
- Health and Safety Orientation
- Health & Safety Requirements for Childcare Providers
- Healthy Habits from the Start
- Heart-to-Heart Communication: Challenging Behaviors
- Hemophilia in Young Children
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Depression in Young Children
- How Preschoolers Develop
- How To Keep A Healthy Class for Infants/Toddlers
- How To Keep A Healthy Class: Six Tips for Germ Control
- How to Manage Chronic Illness with Infants/Toddlers
- Identifying ADHD in Child Care
- IEPs and IFSPs in Family Child Care
- Illness, Medication, and Allergies in Child Care
- Implementing the Montessori Curriculum
- Inclusive Lessons for Preschoolers
- Inclusive Montessori: Supporting Diverse Learners in the Classroom
- Individual Needs & IEPs for School Age
- Injury Prevention: Their Safety Is In Your Hands
- Intentional Safety for Infants/Toddlers
- Introduction to Coaching & Mentoring
- Intro to Cerebral Palsy
- Intro to Montessori: Philosophy, Principles, and Practices
- It's All About the Timing
- Keeping Them Safe: Infants & Toddlers
- Key Elements of an After School Age Program ONLINE
- Leadership Through Mentorship
- Lesson Planning for Preschoolers
- Lesson Planning to Meet School Age Needs
- Let’s Talk: Effective Communication
- Letter & Number Planning in Child Care
- Mandated Reporters
- Mastering Observation Techniques in the Montessori Classroom
- Matchmaking for Mentors
- Math Foundations in Early Childhood
- Meaningful Lesson Planning for Infants/Toddlers
- Meeting Adult Learners' Needs
- Mental Health in Early Childhood
- Mentoring Professional Etiquette in Child Care
- Milestones: By Leaps & Bounds
- Mind's Medicine: Music in Early Childhood
- Montessori Assistant Training
- Montessori Essentials: Mixed-Age Mastery
- Montessori Foundations
- Montessori in Context: Decoding Educational Theories
- Montessori Unveiled: Demystifying the Method for Parents
- More than One Way to Look at it: Types of Early Childhood Education Programs
- Moving About the Classroom: Effective Transitions for Everyday
- Mysteries of Challenging Behavior Solved
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Child Care
- No Such Thing as Boring Math
- Observations And Goal Setting in Childcare
- Observing & Assessing in Child Care
- On My Plate: Children's Nutrition
- Open Ears: Listening in Child Care
- Open Heart, Open Art
- Opportunity for Growth: Emotional Development
- Ouch! Biting & Hitting Hurts
- Pillars of Health and Safety in Child Care
- Playful Spaces for Infants & Toddlers
- Playing with a Purpose: Infant/Toddler Lesson Planning
- Play, Learn, Grow Online Version
- Play Safe, Think Big: Literacy Through Play
- Positive Attention: Infants and Toddlers
- Positive Attention: Interactions & Supervision of Infants & Toddlers
- Potty Training Made Simple
- Power of Art: Bldg Self-Esteem & Positive Behavior for ALL Abilities ONLINE
- Preschool Assessments & Observations
- Presentation Strategies & Training Techniques
- Preventative Health and Safety
- Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases
- Prevention of and Response to Allergic Reactions
- Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma
- Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Use of Safe Sleep Practices
- Professional Integrity in Child Care
- Professional Partnerships & Practices
- Project-Based Learning for Children
- Raising Peaceful Learners: The Montessori Advantage
- Requirements of Trainers
- Resources: Building Blocks to Excellence
- Responding to Emergencies
- Roadmapping Preschool Curriculum
- Role of Play in Learning
- Rooted in History: Early Childhood
- Safeguarding Young Lives: A Comprehensive Guide to Child Care Safety
- Safe Sleep Training
- Safe Supervision in Child Care: Birth to School Age
- Self-Regulation & Change: Helping Children Cope
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Shifting Gears to Respect
- Shoo, Germs! Don't Bother Me!
- SIDS: Saving Babies: A Change of Position, A Change in Tradition
- SMART Goals in Coaching & Mentoring
- Solutions NOT Punishments
- Spaces that Support Discovery
- Special Babies
- Special Needs: From Referral to Inclusion
- Spicing Up the Classroom: Learning Centers
- Staff Supervision, Observation & Feedback
- Stay Alert! Steps to Emergency Prep Online Version
- Staying Positive: Guidance for Preschoolers
- Strength in Differences: Cultural Diversity
- Student Success: Expectations & Independence
- Success in Safety for Babies
- Super Special School Agers ONLINE
- Supervision with Intent for Admin
- Supporting Breastfeeding Practices In Child Care
- Supporting Children's Independence
- Supporting Children with Hearing Loss
- Supporting Little Hearts: Divorce and Separation in the Child Care Setting
- Supporting School Age Development ONLINE
- Supporting Skill Development: Children with Special Needs
- Supporting Social Learning: Creating Classrooms that Care
- Tailoring Instruction to Children's Needs
- Teacher/Child Interactions in the School-Age Classroom
- Teacher Mentoring in ECE
- Teacher & Me Playtime
- Teachers, Assemble! Building Up Staff in Child Care
- Teach with Respect ONLINE
- Technology as a Classroom Tool
- The Balancing Act for Administrators: Managing Responsibilities
- The Best Promotion is Play
- The Ethical Code of Child Care
- The First Year: Feeding Infants
- The Foundations of Coaching & Mentoring
- The Montessori Assistant's Toolkit
- Theories on How I Grow
- Theory of Learning
- Theory of Mentoring and Coaching in Early Childhood
- The Prepared Environment: Montessori Class Design
- The Right Kind of Influence for Young Children
- The Super Hero in Us All
- Toddlers and Theories
- Tomorrow's Einsteins: Infant and Toddler Science
- Training Guide for Families from Diverse Language and Cultural Backgrounds
- Transportation Safety
- Typical & Atypical Development in ECE
- Understanding Developmental Disabilities
- Understanding Montessori's Approach to Child Development
- Understanding Print Knowledge in Preschool
- Understanding the Coach's Role
- Universal Language of Coaching & Mentoring
- Using AI Language Models for Trainers
- Using Toys to Support Learning
- Viewing Guidance in a Positive Light
- Watch Me Grow: School Age Development ONLINE
- Ways to Serve: Leadership
- Working Together: Teachers & Preschoolers
- Working With Mixed Age Groups
- Writing Training Goals & Objectives
- Writing Workshop Proposals & Assessments
- You're Not My Friend Anymore: Learning Conflict Resolution
In-person/blended trainings
- 45 Hour Child Growth and Development
- 45-Hour Director-Administration
- 45 Hour Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials
- 45 Hour Preschool Methods and Materials
- 45 Hour School Age Methods and Materials
- A Better Space For All
- Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Reporting
- Access for All: Inclusion and the ADA
- Active Supervision: A Strategy That Works
- Addressing Bullying Among School Age Children
- Administering Basic Health and Safety Overview
- A Great Place for Education Includes ALL
- An Introduction to Child Development Theorists
- Are They Ready for Kindergarten?
- Art from the Heart for Preschoolers: Open Ended Art Projects that Build Self-Esteem
- Assessing through Observation
- Authentic Montessori in Action
- Baby Steps to Milestones
- Balancing Act: Teacher & Child
- Basic Science in Early Childhood
- Beautiful Junk: Using Recycled Materials in the Classroom
- Behind the Scenes: Baby Routines
- Best Practice: Supervising Children
- Bridging Intent and Response: Communication
- Building Bridges for Dual Language Learners
- Business Planning: Family Child Care
- CDA Preparation: From Training to Application
- Child Care Orientation
- Childhood Basics: Discipline, Curriculum and Development
- Children at the Wheel: Emergent Curriculum
- Classroom Arrangement: The Second Teacher
- Classroom Designers
- Classroom Positivity
- Classroom Tools for Emergent Literacy
- Cooking up Success in the Preschool Curriculum
- Creating Routines for Love and Learning
- Curriculum Planning
- DAP for Family Child Care
- DAP for Preschool
- Designing Your School Age Classroom
- Developing Program Tranquility
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education
- Effective Supervision in Child Care
- Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
- Emergent Learning & Development
- Engaging Families During a Pandemic
- Engaging Indoor Activities for Inclement Weather
- Enhancing Life & Development
- Exceptional Children and Early Intervention
- Facilitating Learning in the Preschool Classroom
- Family (or Parent) Conferencing: Developing Trust
- First Aid & CPR: RSV
- From Stress to Wellness
- From Tantrums to Triumphs: Equipping Preschoolers with Self-Regulation Skills
- Health and Nutrition
- Healthy Habits From the Start
- Help Me Sleep Safety: SIDS/SUID Prevention
- How To Keep A Healthy Class: Six Tips for Germ Control
- Including All Children and the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Key Elements of an After School Program
- Know Me For My Abilities
- Let's Talk: Skills for Effective Communication
- Look What I Can Do! Developmental Disabilities Overview
- Making Families Welcome
- Management Basics: Leadership, Planning and Budgeting
- Mandated Reporters
- Marketing Your Family Child Care
- Milestones: By Leaps & Bounds
- Montessori Made Simple: For Today's Teachers
- More than one Way to Look at it: Types of Early Childhood Education Programs
- Moving About the Classroom: Effective Transitions for Everyday
- Nurture Me: Child Development for Young Children
- One World, Many Cultures!
- Ouch! Biting & Hitting Hurts
- Our School Age Family Tree: Children, Staff, & Parents
- Playful Learning: Infant & Toddler Activities
- Playful Spaces: Designing the Infant & Toddler Classroom
- Play, Learn, Grow
- Positive Attention: Interactions & Supervision for Infants & Toddlers
- Potty Training Made Simple
- Power of Art: Bldg Self-Esteem & Positive Behavior for ALL Abilities
- Quality Care...Supporting Families with Integrity
- Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Risk Reduction: Infants and Toddlers in Family Child Care
- Safe Haven: Health & Safety in Family Child Care
- School Age Regs and Professionalism
- Seeing All of Me: Overview of Autism and ADHD
- Setting the Stage: Story Time
- Shifting Gears To RESPECT
- SIDS: Saving Babies: A Change of Position, A Change in Tradition
- Staff Supervision, Observation & Feedback
- Stay Alert! Steps for Emergency Prep
- Stressbusters: Stress Management for Childcare Providers
- Success in Safety for Babies
- Super Special School Agers
- Supporting Little Hearts: Divorce and Separation in the Child Care Setting
- Supporting School Age Development
- Supporting Social Learning: Creating Classrooms that Care
- Teach the Montessori Way: A Practical Guide
- Teach with Respect!
- Team: Together Everyone Achieves More
- The Balancing Act for Administrators: Managing Responsibilities
- The Best Promotion is Play
- The Montessori Classroom: Theory to Practice
- Theories on How I Grow
- The Subtle Teacher: Nonverbal Communication in the Classroom
- Toddlers and Theories
- Training Guide for Families from Diverse Language and Cultural Backgrounds
- Transportation and Field Trip Safety
- Turning Behavior Around for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Using AI Language Models for Trainers
- Watch Me Grow: School Age Development
- What Makes Me Special: An Overview of Autism and ADHD
- Wings of Independence