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The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is the best first step on the path of #career advancement in ECE. In this 120-hour training, #students will cover the 10 or more hours of training for the #CDA professional early childhood credential in the following Subject Areas:
- Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
- Advancing children's physical and intellectual development
- Supporting children's social and emotional development
- Building productive relationships with families
- Managing an effective program
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
- Observing and recording children's behavior
- Understanding principles of child development and learning
Includes CDA Professional Portfolio Review sessions with certified CDA PD Specialists.
Training and development on how to create your CDA #Professional_Portfolio, as well as resources, handouts, and interactive instructor support are provided to all students registered in this CDA course.
Additional benefits include certified PD Specialists' assistance with:
- CDA Exam preparation
- Locating a PD Specialist and observation preparation
- Email and messaging with instructors
How to earn your CDA:
What you need to apply...
• Complete your 120-Hour CDA Preschool Credential online with H&H Child Care Training.
• An official document certifying that you are a high school junior or senior currently enrolled in an early childhood education program or, a high school diploma or GED.
• 480 clock hours of experience working with children within three years of beginning your application
What's next: The CDA Application
Once you have completed your prerequisites the required coursework, purchase the $25 CDA Competency Standards Book from the Council for Professional Recognition (http://www.cdacouncil.org). This book will provide you with all of the steps required to prepare for the application process, including:
• Preparation of the Professional Portfolio – a collection of resources.
Reflective Statements of Competence – using, at key points, the resources you collected.
• Professional Philosophy Statement – a summary of your viewpoint; takes into account learning that occurred when preparing the Professional Portfolio.
• Family Questionnaires – to be distributed to the families of children in your care; the questionnaires highlight areas of strength as well as areas of growth.
After all requirements are met...
• Apply online using YourCouncil (https://yourcouncil.org/cfprssa/ssaauthmain.login_page) and pay the online assessment fee of $425, or submit a paper application provided in the Preschool edition of the CDA® Competency Standards book with the $500 assessment fee.
• As part of the application process, you will select a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist from the Council's online directory. This person will observe you working with young children as part of the process.
• Schedule Your CDA Exam
CDA Candidates who have applied to the Council for Professional Recognition and have received a Ready to Schedule Notice may schedule the CDA Exam. There are two ways a Candidate can schedule the CDA Exam. Testing times and locations are available on a “first come, first serve” basis.
To schedule the exam online, Candidates must first create a Pearson VUE web account. When creating your account, you will need the Candidate ID number from your Ready to Schedule Notice that you received from the Council.
To schedule your #CDA Exam by phone, call 1-866-507-5627. You may schedule the CDA Exam anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST), Monday through Friday. Do not call the Council for Professional Recognition to schedule your CDA Exam.