Child Development Associate Programs in Pennsylvania

Penn Foster Career School

• The Penn Foster Career School, based in Pennsylvania, offers an online CDA certification program. The program consists of three courses requiring 45 hours of work each: Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education; Child Growth and Development; and Health, Safety and Nutrition for Young Children.

  Students may complete the program on their home computer, though Microsoft XP software or higher is the recommended operating system. During their studies, an online library is available for use, as well as contact with the librarian for any questions they may have.

  Penn Foster Career School

  925 Oak Street

  Scranton, PA 18515

  1-800-275-4410

  pennfoster.edu

Community College of Beaver County

• The Community College of Beaver County offers degrees in Early Childhood Education as well as a test preparation program for a Child Development Associate certification. All education programs incorporate field experience and observation hours. The CDA test preparation program includes all required coursework for the CDA credentialing process, consisting of three, 3-credit courses in child development.

  The program offers certificates as either a Preschool Child Development Associate or an Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate. Students who complete four courses instead of the required three may sit for both certification exams.

  Community College of Beaver County

  1 Campus Drive

  Monaca, PA 1506

  (724) 480-3500

  ccbc.edu

Lackawanna College

• Lackawanna College's Child Development Associate program includes three separate parts, each with 45 hours of early childhood education. These hours can be transferred to credits at Lackawanna if students choose to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education.

  Coursework covers the infant-toddler/preschool CDA standards in professionalism, as well as the code of ethics and parent involvement. Students build their parent/community skills and prepare their portfolios and, by the end of the sequence, are prepared to take the Credentialing Assessment.

  The program is run in coordination with Community Services for Children, Inc./Northeast Key, the administrative organization for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

  Lackawanna College

  501 Vine Street

  Scranton, Pa 18509

  1-877-346-3552

  lackawanna.edu