What is a CDA® in Early Childhood Education? A Comprehensive Overview

In the world of early childhood education (ECE), professional credentials have grown into more and more importance over the years.

Afterall, our awareness of how human brains develop and of what children need only increases each decade. Early childhood credentials are a reflection of that awareness.

One of the most widely-recognized credentials in early childhood education is the Child Development Associate (CDA).

"With the CDA credential, families and employers can feel confident that employees have demonstrated the depth and breadth of skills they need to work with children and their families," says Barbara Wagner, instructor in the Early Childhood Education program at Rasmussen University.

If you're considering an ECE career or are already working in the field, or if you have young children in your life, understanding what a CDA is can guide you forward.

Understanding the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a national credential awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition to early childhood educators who demonstrate the necessary skills, knowledge and commitment to providing high-quality education and care for young children.

Earning a CDA credential involves essential areas of education, according to Wagner.¹ Then, "candidates for the CDA credential demonstrate their understanding by passing an exam, completing a professional portfolio and receiving an observation within the classroom."

The child development associate credential qualifies early educators to work with children in various early learning settings, including family child care programs, Head Start programs, and other early childhood programs.

What does the CDA credential teach you?

The CDA credential is more than just a certificate—it's a ton of critical knowledge that everyone in the childhood education field needs. If you earn this, you will learn how to...¹

• Plan a safe and healthy environment
• Help advance children’s physical and intellectual development
• Support children’s social and emotional development
• Build productive relationships with families
• Manage an effective early childhood program
• Maintain a commitment to professionalism
• Observe and record children’s behavior
• Understand principles of child development and learning

"All of the content areas in the CDA (120 hours) demonstrate skills needed for a firm foundation," Wagner says. She explains that an early childhood educator in most states would be expected to participate in some hours of continuing education.

"But if I had to zero in on three areas of learning that most prepare students, it would be these three," Wagner says.

1. An understanding of child development and age-appropriate activities

It is crucial that students learn about appropriate development and a keen understanding of what domains to include in the classroom and what activities within each of those areas are to be included.

For example, you might recall your own experiences in an early education program and be excited to offer “circle time” to the young toddlers in a classroom.

But, as you study child development, Wagner points out, you will learn that young toddlers are unable to sit for long periods of time. You might realize that including a traditional circle time activity might not have the intended outcome.

A modified version that includes movement, short stories and the opportunity to leave the circle if they are not interested is a more-appropriate expectation, according to Wagner.

You will learn about what educational areas to include in the classroom, what activities are best suited for each age group, and learn how to tailor each area to meet the diverse needs of the children in a classroom.

“As you learn about the development of fine motor skills in preschoolers, for example,” Wagner says, “You'll recognize the importance of including play with scissors and playdough, along with activities that practice zipping, buttoning and lacing.”

If you work with toddlers, you'll learn about activities that can get them practicing grasping, pulling, pushing, scooping or pinching.

There's SO much to learn about this. Check out Understanding Child Development: How The Earliest Years Change Our Lives.

2. The importance of family-program connection

Educators working towards their CDA learn about the importance of including families into the program. This requires a lot of intentionality and communication, but making families a focal point of the program helps children thrive in their social, emotional and educational development.

For more on that, check out 9 Ways to Improve Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education.

3. Guiding child behavior in developmentally-appropriate ways

So often people come to a program (or parenting) with the knowledge of how they were disciplined as children instead of using guidance techniques appropriate to the age and brain development of a child.

This can result in punishing a child for behavior, when what the child really needed was guidance or direction.

For example, educators will learn that in most cases a child does not “misbehave” to anger the teacher, but rather because they lack the social skills to interact with others or the development to know how to respond.

Rather than yell, isolate or shame a child for their behavior, you'll learn how to model and teach the socio-emotional skills to identify emotions and work through their challenges.

What does the CDA credential qualify you for?

Most individuals start their career in early education teaching young children, and the CDA is a great way to provide foundational skills.

However, many continue in the field and serve in other roles. For example, some have decided to open their own child care center or family child care program. The CDA can really help you market your services to new families and showcase your legitimacy.

Many Resource and Referral agencies across the county hire individuals as coaches, grant specialists, or professional development specialists. With a CDA, one could work for Head Start^® as a Home Visitor, for example.²

Many ECE professionals will use the CDA as the first step to their educational journey and continue with additional education. For example, Dr. Calvin Moore Jr. who is the current CEO for the Council for Professional Recognition, received his CDA in 1992.

Other opportunities such as an assistant director or director of a child care center depend on individual states and their requirements. Some require the CDA to obtain these roles.

Early Head Start^® programs require their center-based teachers that provide direct services to infants and toddlers in Early Head Start centers to have a minimum of a CDA credential or comparable credential, along with training or equivalent coursework in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development.²

Other roles include:

• Lead teacher in child care and early childhood education settings
• Family child care provider
• Home visitor working with children and families
• Entry into other certificate programs, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degree programs in early education

Some employers require a CDA certificate as part of their job requirements. For many, it opens the door to higher education, career advancement, and possibilities in the early childhood workforce. It is important to check with employers regarding the education and work experience requirements.

The other key thing to keep in mind is that the CDA credential is recognized nationally and is accepted across the country.

How to earn the CDA credential

To earn the childhood development associate CDA credential, candidates must:³

1. Complete formal training (120 hours minimum) in specific competency areas (Choose a CDA training program or an ECE degree program)
2. Accumulate 480 hours of work experience in an early childhood setting with the age group that corresponds to your CDA application
3. Compile a professional portfolio documenting their learning and practices
4. Submit a CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition
5. Schedule and complete a CDA verification visit (observed working with children)
6. Take and pass the CDA exam questions at a testing center

Upon successful completion, the candidate receives the CDA certification, which is valid for three years. After that, they must go through a renewal process to maintain their credential.

Many students choose to complete their formal training in an early childhood program. At Rasmussen University, as an official partner of the Council for Professional Recognition, our ECE curriculum focuses on preparing students to apply for their CDA.

Who should consider the CDA?

The CDA is ideal for:

• Aspiring early childhood educators with a high school diploma
• Current early educators seeking professional recognition
• Individuals working in family child care, early care or Head Start
• Educators aiming to gain experience and move up the career ladder

Whether you're just starting out or looking to formalize your skills, the CDA program offers a strong foundation and clear pathway in the early education field.

What is the cost of a CDA credential?

ECE programs can allow educators to complete all 120 hours necessary for the CDA at a flat rate. But that isn't the only cost of earning your CDA credential.

1. Enroll in a CDA preparation program ($750)

The first requirement of a CDA is the hours of formal education.

If you enroll in a CDA prep program, you will pay the tuition cost of that program. At Rasmussen, our program involves three online classes for the cost of $250 each.⁴ This comes to a total of $750 if you take all three (there is no registration fee). You'll pay for each class at a time as you work through the three.

2. Order the CDA handbook for your target age group ($25)

Before starting your classes, you will need to order the CDA Competency Handbook that corresponds to the age and setting you plan to teach. That costs $25 (plus tax and shipping)—through the CDA Council website.⁴

3. Apply for the CDA credential ($525-600)

Once you complete your education program, you can apply for the credential through the Council for Professional Recognition. The application has a fee of $525 for the online application or $600 for the paper application.

These costs span some time

In addition to the 120-hour training requirement for the initial credential, candidates need to have 480 work hours of experience. They also need to be able to have an observation from a PD Specialist while working with at least three children, pass an exam and complete a professional portfolio.³

So, you won't be shelling out over a thousand dollars right at the start. This is a process, and the formal education part takes at least 4.5 months, since you complete one class at a time.⁴

Employer tuition assistance for the CDA credential

Many larger ECE employers will offer tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement for their early childhood professionals to earn a CDA credential, or even an ECE Bachelor's degree. Rasmussen's programs were designed for the working student.

It's worth asking your employer about!

Plus, if you work toward the CDA as part of a child care center, you might get paired with teacher mentors within the program to offer support.

Your CDA training supports children’s development

Everything you learn in CDA training can have an impact on the young children in your life. This knowledge is so important, not just for early childhood educators, but also for parents and families.

So many of us revert to how we were taught or parented when we teach and parent. The things you'll learn in a CDA training program can really open your eyes to what's really going on with little ones. Many of our ECE students are parents who want to be there for their children in more-educated ways.

Earning a CDA can be a big commitment—but it’s one that leads to tremendous career advancement, professional growth and, ultimately, the thriving of children.

If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, check out our Child Development Associate (CDA)^® Credential Prep Classes and take the next step by requesting more information.

CDA^® is a registered trademark of Child Development Associates, Incorporated
Head Start^® is a registered trademark of United States Department of Health and Human Services
Early Head Start^® is a registered trademark of is a registered trademark of United States Department of Health and Human Services

¹The CDA Three-Step Process, The CDA Council, https://www.cdacouncil.org/en/educator-pathways/family-care/
²Education Requirements for Home Visitors, (2025), HeadStart.Gov, https://headstart.gov/publication/education-requirements-home-visitors
³5 Steps to Obtain a CDA Credential (March 11, 2016) Council for Professional Recognition. https://www.cdacouncil.org/en/5-steps-to-obtain-a-cda-credential/
⁴Child Development Associate (CDA)^® Credential Prep Classes Training, Rasmussen University. https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/cda-prep/