Identify the CDA setting for which you would like to apply. These include preschool, infant/toddler, family child care and home visitor. Although the steps to each setting are essentially the same, choosing the correct setting provides you with a more specific designation for your career path. Preschool candidates work with children ages three through five in early childhood centers, infant/toddler candidates work with young children zero to 36 months, family child care providers work with kids five years age and under in home-based settings and home visitors work in the home environment with individual children and families.
Complete all required prerequisite training. This includes 120 documented hours of training in your chosen speciality setting that leads to an understanding of child development, human learning, program operation, child observation/assessment and health/safety. In Tucson you may opt for an online CDA training approved in Arizona. Providers, such as Successful Solutions, offer web-based distance learning modules and packages in early education/child development. You may also choose an in-class training at an area location, such as Prescott College or Pima Community College.
Verify that you have the requisite 480 professional experience hours of employment in the environment which you wish to get the CDA (i.e., preschool, infant/toddler, family, home visitor).
Locate a CDA aAdvisor to observe you at work with children. The advisor will assess your performance in the required 13 functional areas, such as health/safety, supporting learning/development and professionalism. The advisor must be certified by the Council for Professional Recognition, which administers the CDA credential, in your area.
Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition. You must pay a fee, confirm that you meet the eligibility prerequisites, submit an advisor sStatement that the observation is complete and have your program director (if you work in a center based site) sign your application.
Complete a verification visit by a council representative. The representative will check and collect copies of necessary paperwork such as parent opinion questionnaires that the families of the children with which you work complete, a self statement of cCompetence and give you an oral Interview on your knowledge of early education/child development. You must also take and pass the early childhood studies review test at this time.
Receive your CDA. If you meet all of the requirements successfully, the Council will contact you and send your CDA credential.