Determine eligibility; age 18, high school graduate, minimum 120 clock hours of formal education with previous 5 years and 480 hours of on-the-job experience in the early childhood education field. Decide which CDA endorsement is appropriate --- center-based infant/toddler, center-based preschool, family child care, home visitor, bilingual or special education. Choose the endorsement that fits best with your previous experience.
Request application materials via phone or online from:
Council for Professional Recognition
2460 16th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009-3547
(800) 424-4310
cdacouncil.org
Gather required information for application-official transcript, letter or certificate documenting formal education, letter of documentation for on-the-job experience and a professional resource file. The professional resource file should include an autobiography, a collection of resource materials and writing samples that relate to the six CDA competency goals. Parent opinion questionnaires must also be completed by parents of children in your care.
Coordinate one or more formal observation to be completed by an approved CDA adviser. The formal observation will include documentation of achievements in each of the 13 functional areas with the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument. During the observation, the applicant must be observed as the lead teacher of a group of no less than eight children, ranging in age from 3 to 5 years old.
Prepare the application by confirming eligibility and satisfaction of prerequisites. Complete applications also include a program director's signature on the Director Assessment Application form, an adviser's statement of completed observations, a signed statement of ethical conduct and documentation of training. Mail the completed application, along with the application fee, to the Council of Professional Recognition.
Schedule a visit with a Council Representative to complete a verification visit. At this visit, the Council representative will verify the contents of the professional resource file, collect copies of statements of competence, autobiographical statements, parent questionnaires and the observation instrument. The Council Representative will also administer a 2-hour written examination and oral interview.
Wait for an answer to come in the mail from the Council after the verification visit. A Council committee will make a decision and, if the decision is favorable, you will receive a CDA certificate in the mail. If further training is needed, you will receive a letter, instead of the CDA certificate.