The nonprofit organization Council for Professional Recognition and its CDA Program were established in 1985 in Washington, D.C. The Council administers the CDA National Credentialing Program. The Council sets CDA competency standards and course work that must be completed to effectively work with young children. CDA training focuses on infant and toddler childcare center programs, preschool classes, family childcare programs in private homes and work as a home visitor.
CDA certification can be obtained either by attending courses in a traditional school setting or online. Increasing numbers of individuals are taking the course work remotely for a variety of reasons. These include the flexibility involved in completing the work any time during the day or night from one's home, being able to continue to work part- or full-time while earning the certification, and the opportunity to save money on travel to and from the school.
Online courses, including those for a CDA, are not for everyone. Some people do not have the discipline necessary to keep up with the work. They do not put in the required hours, or they wait until the last minute to finish the necessary assignments, and fall behind. It becomes too difficult to catch up and keep up to date with the other students. Some people enjoy the social interaction and networking inherent to attending a traditional class setting instead of communicating with others remotely. They also learn better by being in a classroom with the teacher than through reading or listening individually on the Internet.
Whether someone works toward their CDA online or in a traditional setting, it is necessary to take classes in early childhood education, child development and infant/toddler growth and development. The students will also take electives in the field of education and prepare for their assessment and certification by the Council for Professional Recognition. You can earn 120 course clock hours or 12 Continuing Education Units that meet CDA requirements---24 hours a day, seven days a week with an online program. Students normally complete the CDA classes in seven months to a year.
Before you begin to take an online CDA program, make sure that it is accredited by the Council in Washington. It is not always easy to determine which programs are legitimate and which ones are not. This is why you need to contact the Council before enrolling. Accreditation guarantees that the educational program meets the stringent standards that are set and followed for certification.