Child Development Associate National Credentialing Program

National Network for Child Care's Connections Newsletter

Center-Based Setting

• Infant/Toddler Endorsement
• Preschool Endorsement
• English only or English/Spanish

Copyright Access Information

The Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program is designed to evaluate and improve the skills of child care providers in center-based care (as well as family child care and home visitor programs). Center-Based Settings include day care centers, nursery schools, preschools, child development programs, and Head Start centers. The CDA Competency Standards and assessment process for center-based child care providers define, evaluate, and recognize the skills needed both to manage a well-run program and to meet the developmental needs of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

The CDA is a credential. It usually involves one year of preparation and assessment. Although the CDA is not a college degree, college courses can assist you in preparing for a CDA. In addition, completion of the CDA can encourage child care providers to take an additional step of professional development and pursue further college course work and even degrees in child development. The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition awards the CDA credential.

The Center-Based CDA credential is available with either an Infant/Toddler or Preschool endorsement. For each of these endorsements, the credentialing process is the same with the appropriate emphasis on content relevant to the development of the two different age groups. The Infant/Toddler endorsement concentrates on the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality care for children from birth to 36 months. The Preschool endorsement concentrates on the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality care for children from 3-5 years of age.

The CDA credential is available with a bilingual specialization in Spanish. An applicant who speaks, reads and writes both Spanish and English and works in a bilingual child care program can be assessed for the bilingual specialization. For this specialization, the applicant must demonstrate knowledge about the development of language, bilingual communication, and the integration of culture and language.

The CDA evaluation process is based upon 3 components: training, assessment, and Credentialing.

QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible to begin the CDA process, the applicant must

• Be 18 years or older,
• have a high school diploma or equivalent.

TRAINING:

The CDA applicant must

• Have 480 hours (about one year full time) of experience working with children within the past five years.
• Have completed 120 clock hours of training with at least 10 hours in each of eight CDA Training areas with an emphasis in either Infant/Toddler or Preschool concerns:
  • Health and safety
  • Physical and intellectual development
  • Social and emotional development
  • Relationships with families
  • Program operation
  • Professionalism
  • Observing and recording children's behavior
  • Child growth and development

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is conducted through a combination of observation, parent opinion questionnaires, and written and oral evaluation.

• Candidates must prepare a professional resource file that includes their biography, statements of competence, and a collection of relevant resources. The statements of competence and collection of resources must be relevant to the developmental needs of the applicant's chosen endorsement category.
• The applicant must be observed working as the primary caregiver with a group of children either 0-36 months or 3-5 years of age who are not related to the applicant in any way. The age of the children depends upon the endorsement desired by the applicant.
• Observations must take place in a state approved child care center.
• Observations are made by a qualified CDA adviser.
• Parent Opinion Questionnaires are completed by the parents/guardians of each child in the applicant's care.
• The early childhood studies review, a written assessment of the applicant's knowledge of child development with an emphasis appropriate to the endorsement being sought, must be completed by the applicant.
• An Oral Interview with a council representative will be conducted.

CREDENTIALING

Upon recommendation of the Local Assessment Team, the CDA National Credentialing Program will either award the credential or invite the applicant to reapply for assessment.

A CDA credential is valid for 3 years after the initial award and for 5 years thereafter.

FEES

The application fee is $15.00 plus $3.75 shipping and handling for materials.

The final verification fee is $325. Scholarships may be available from Early Childhood Associations in the applicant's state of residence.


For further information and to make application to begin the credentialing process, contact:
http://www.cdacouncil.org/

The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
2460 16th Street, NW
Washington, D. C. 20009
(800) 424-4310


Submitted by:
Pamela L. S. Parris
Graduate Assistant NNCC Evaluation Project
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Parris, P.L.S. & DeBord, K. (1997). *Child Development Associate National Credentialing Program*. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Any additions or changes to these materials must be preapproved by the author .

COPYRIGHT PERMISSION
Karen DeBord, Ph.D.
State Specialist, Child Development
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7605
Phone: 919-515-9147
FAX: 9 19-515-2786
E-mail: Karen_DeBord@ncsu.edu

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