The Child Development Associate® Credential™ is the most widely known and valued credential in early childhood education. It is an opportunity for educators working with children from birth to age 5 to demonstrate and strengthen their knowledge, understanding, and practices when teaching in early education.
The timeline to get your CDA is flexible, but it normally takes less time than an Associates degree. Earning your certificate is also usually cheaper than taking college courses or earning a college degree. Typically, child care professionals sign up for a training course, which can vary in length.
The CDA Training Takes 120 Hours The CDA classes can be finished in a month, or you may take a year. If you work on the CDA training 10 hours per week, then it will take 3 months to complete the 120 hours of CDA training.
Certification Requirements Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood technical education (this course meets CDA requirements) Complete a CDA professional portfolio (this course assists with portfolio preparation) Complete a CDA verification site visit where a PD Specialist observes you working with children.