More than 200,000 CDA credentials have been awarded to child care workers since it was designed by the Council for Professional Recognition in 1975. This credential aims to help child care workers meet the social, emotional and physical needs of children while also working with parents and other adults in one of three settings: a home situation; child care center or family-based setting. To be eligible for the CDA, a candidate must fulfill certain criteria. They be at least 18-years-old; have more than 480 hours practical experience working with children; and have completed 120 hours of child care education within the last five years. The testing fee is $325 as of February 2011, and it is possible to get financial aid.
Every state has the authority to lay down regulations and stipulate qualifications for adults working with children in licensed child care centers. State laws relate to different levels and types of staff and there are guidelines concerning age, experience and education. The Council for Professional Recognition website provides a list of each participating state's CDA requirements according to position. In Alabama, for example, a professional with a CDA may work as a director with a credential plus education/experience, but in New York, a CDA may only work as a teacher.
The Education Portal features three, free, online programs that lead to the CDA. These are operated under the Open Course Ware (OCW) program and educational tools such as lectures, slides and interactive materials are provided online. The featured three programs are run by Utah State University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Educhoices.org also offers comprehensive information about child development programs available for those wanting to qualify for the CDA credential. Kaplan University, Walden University, Ashford University, University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University and Colorado Technical University all offer recognized child development programs online.
This is a two-year degree program that prepares eligible adults for the CDA credential. Students get practical, supervised experience with children of different ages and levels of education. It's an ideal path toward earning a CDA and the Council for Professional Recognition and Education Portal list qualifying schools. Students are required to have a high school diploma or GED to be admitted and course topics include cognitive development, behavioral management, gifted and talented children, and child safety.
Education Portal has compiled a list of good schools across America and included online information about the best programs. According to annual university rankings, the top two in child development are reported to be Michigan State University and New York University. Both offer bachelor's and master's degrees as well as minors in child development. Educhoices.org also includes clear and concise information about appropriate child development programs and the Council for Professional Recognition site has a national state directory of all CDA-accredited schools.