To obtain the CDA credential, applicants must meet eligibility requirements by obtaining a high school diploma or GED and reaching age 18. The next step involves 120 documented clock hours of early childhood education that supports the CDA competency standards. Students learn how to create a maintain a safe and healthy environment, encourage children's physical and cognitive advancement, develop children's social skills, work with families, effectively operate a child care center, maintain professionalism, document behavior and understand basic child development.
Colleges with programs leading to a CDA license must require courses that teach the competency standards over a minimum of 120 clock hours, or 12 semester hours. Classes include child growth and development, classroom experiences for preschool children, working with infants, developmental psychology, designing lessons and activities, discipline for preschoolers, assessing young children and early childhood education. Separate courses may focus on specific age groups such as working with toddlers and developing activities for the school-aged child.
Applicants for a CDA license need 480 hours working with children. Colleges offering the credential therefore often include a field experience component. Not all programs give students academic credit for their work experience. Instead, some schools require that students work or volunteer at a child care facility for entry into the program. A supervisor from the college observes and evaluates the student interacting with children in a child care setting. The supervisor assesses the student's understanding and application of the competency standards.
Community colleges and four-year colleges and universities with early childhood education programs may offer degrees or certificates that lead to the CDA credential. If they don't specifically list this connection, don't assume the program includes CDA licensing. Online schools may also teach programs that lead to the credential. Specialty institutions like the Childcare Educational Institute are choices for students who want the credential without a degree. The Council for Professional Recognition maintains an updated directory of institutions that train students for the CDA (see Resources).