Earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is the best way to advance your #career in the field of #early-childhood-education. The CDA is a national credentialing program for early #educators working with children ages birth to 5 years old. The credential program is designed to assess #early-childhood education professionals through training, an exam, observation, and a professional portfolio. By earning a CDA credential educators demonstrate a commitment to supporting the #growth-and #development of young children.
The CDA Credential can be earned in the following settings:
- Preschool
- Infant/Toddler
- Family Child Care
- Home Visitor
Once the CDA Credential is earned it is a nationally recognized achievement which means recipients will be considered highly qualified in any state.
State Requirements
State regulations often mandate educators to complete a CDA to qualify for roles within #early-childhood-education. Compliance with such requirements not only ensures job security but also increases prospects for advancement. In Georgia fulfilling educational criteria for most childcare positions often entails possessing at minimum a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.
A Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential fulfills the required educational qualifications for the following positions:
- Family Child Care Learning Home (FCCLH) Providers
- Teacher
- Lead Caregiver
- Child Care Learning Center (CCLC) Directors
ChildCareEd supports Georgia Child Care Providers
ChildCareEd currently offers CDA Credential training for Infant and Toddler, Preschool, and Family Child Care. Our online training is designed to fulfill the CDA requirement for 120 hours of formal education in specific child-care competency areas. This coursework will allow providers in Georgia to complete the training portion of the CDA Credential, getting them one step closer to obtaining the CDA Credential.
ChildCareEd is an Approved Training Sponsor Organization in the GaPDS. Courses are approved by Georgia’s Bright from the Start to be used toward preservice and annual training hours for those who work in child care learning centers and family child care learning #homes.
ChildCareEd Resources and Supports
ChildCareEd is a leader in CDA training and support and we have developed a variety of documents, videos, and personalized correspondence to help providers in every step of the CDA journey.
ChildCareEd offers:
- CDA resources to assist in the #development of your portfolio.
- To support learners with various needs and from all cultures and backgrounds, ChildCareEd offers online training in over 40 different text #languages.
- ChildCareEd has created the CDA Club - Peers & PD Specialists, a public Facebook group where you can connect with like-minded individuals, access valuable resources, and stay informed about the latest updates.
DECAL Scholars CDA Scholarship
With the DECAL Scholars Program #early-childhood-educators can earn their CDA for FREE! Presented by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning this scholarship initiative is designed to provide substantial financial support for those seeking to enhance their qualifications through the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
Recipients of the scholarship can receive up to $740 in financial aid for state-approved CDA training with ChildCareEd.
Apply today at decalscholars.com and receive your CDA training with ChildCareEd for #free!