Earn a high school diploma or equivalent. Be proficient enough in reading, writing and speaking to perform the job.
Purchase an application packet from the Council for Professional Development, available online in its bookstore (cdacouncil.org).
Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood training, completed some time in the five years before your CDA application. Be sure to include at least ten hours of subject matter related to your credential area. You must earn these credits through an organization with known proficiency in early childhood teacher preparation; courses can be for credit or noncredit. Submit an official transcript, certificate or letter when you send in your application to the Council for Professional Recognition.
Participate in 480 hours of hands-on experience working in your credential area.
Choose a qualified professional as an adviser with acceptable credentials. The person you choose may have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development or home/economics/child development from an accredited university; he needs to have at least two years of experience working with children. If the adviser you choose has a two-year degree in the same areas, he must have four years of child care experience. The advisor may also have an active CDA credential, at least 12 semester hours of study in an accredited college and six years of experience. Your adviser should not be related to you. He can't be a relative of a child in your care or work as a co-teacher with you. Arrange for your adviser to observe you teaching in a group of at least eight youngsters, Ask him to watch you at work with parents and children or as a primary caregiver, depending on the credential.
Prepare your professional resource file, which consists of an autobiographical statement, six competency statements and 17 references pertaining to your CDA credential. Home visitor applicants must prepare examples that demonstrate competency.
Distribute and collect parent opinion questionnaires to and from people with whom you have directly worked.
Send your completed application with the appropriate fee to the Council for Professional Recognition.
Demonstrate your skills to a council representative in a verification visit.
Register with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Professional Development Registry available on the Bright Star website (pdr.decal.ga.gov). Record your contact information, employment history and other training and education background; include the date and expiration date you earned your credential. Submit any required documents. Expect to receive an email after you submit your profile detailing all items that require documentation. If you have missed any items, submit them. You will be notified of your verification via email by the Georgia Professional Standards within 60 days.