What is a CDA Certificate? Complete Guide for Early Educators

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is a widely recognized credential that the Council of Professional Recognition awards to early childhood professionals for competence in delivering high-quality education and care services to young children from zero to five years of age.

To obtain the CDA credential, you must train in various CDA-approved subjects, work a designated number of hours with children, and take the CDA exam. The CDA certificate requires you to build a portfolio and complete a verification visit before receiving your credential.

You’re eligible for a CDA certificate if you’re an early childhood educator looking to grow your knowledge and skills in early childhood education and develop your career. In this article, we delve into more details on CDA eligibility, training, certification, and benefits.

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What is a CDA certificate and why it matters

A CDA certificate, or Child Development Associate credential, is a nationally recognized certification that validates your skills and knowledge in early childhood education. Issued by the Council for Professional Recognition, the CDA is designed for educators who work with children from birth through age five in various settings such as preschools, childcare programs, and Head Start programs.

So, what is a CDA certificate exactly? It’s more than just a piece of paper—it’s a professional stepping stone that demonstrates your commitment to providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate care and education. To earn a CDA, educators must complete a minimum of 120 hours of formal training, 480 hours of field experience, and successfully pass a verification visit and exam.

Why it matters

In the field of early childhood education, the CDA certificate offers three major benefits:

Career advancement

Many employers require or strongly prefer candidates with a CDA. It opens the door to better job opportunities, promotions, and higher pay.

Quality of care

The credential equips educators with essential knowledge in child development, classroom management, and family engagement—key elements in creating nurturing learning environments.

Credibility and confidence

A CDA certificate signals to families, employers, and coworkers that you’ve met national standards and are dedicated to excellence in early childhood education.

Whether you're just entering the field or looking to grow in your current role, earning a CDA certificate can be a transformative step in your professional journey.

How to earn a CDA certificate

If you’re wondering how to earn a CDA certificate, the process includes a series of structured steps designed to ensure that early childhood educators are well-prepared, experienced, and qualified to support young learners. Here's a detailed overview of the eligibility requirements and application process for obtaining your Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate:

1. Meet basic eligibility requirements

To begin, you must hold a high school diploma or GED. If you’re currently enrolled in an early childhood education technical program, your training hours may count toward the CDA’s formal education requirement.

You’ll also need to choose a CDA setting that aligns with your career goals. The Council for Professional Recognition offers CDA certification in four early childhood education settings:

Infant–Toddler
Preschool
Family Child Care
Home Visitor

2. Complete 120 hours of CDA training

Earning a CDA certificate requires 120 hours of formal training in eight core competency areas approved by the Council:

Intellectual and physical development of children
Emotional and social development
Childcare program management
Education and developmental principles
Family engagement and relationship-building
Observation and assessment of child behavior
Creating safe, nurturing learning environments
Professionalism and ethics in child care

You must complete at least 10 hours in each subject area through a verified early childhood education training program. Upon completion, you’ll submit your official transcript and a certificate of training to the Council.

3. Gain 480 hours of work experience

You must also complete 480 hours of hands-on experience working with children in your chosen CDA setting. This practical experience helps you apply your learning in real-world environments and is a vital requirement before you can apply for the CDA credential.

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4. Build your professional portfolio

Within six months of submitting your application, you must complete a professional portfolio that showcases your teaching philosophy, competency statements, resource materials, and family feedback questionnaires. The CDA Competency Standards book outlines everything you need to prepare this documentation.

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5. Apply for the CDA credential

Once your training, experience, and portfolio are complete, you can apply for the credential online or by mail. You’ll need to submit your portfolio materials and schedule your CDA verification visit with a Professional Development (PD) Specialist.

6. Schedule and complete the CDA verification visit

A PD Specialist will observe you in your classroom setting, review your portfolio, and assess your competency. This observation helps the Council validate your readiness to receive a CDA certificate.

Children raising their hands and the teacher pointing to a child to respond. Source

7. Take the CDA exam

Next, you’ll complete the CDA exam, a 65-question multiple-choice test administered at an approved testing center. You’ll receive your score within three business days. A passing score is 70 or higher.

8. Receive your CDA certificate

After passing the exam and completing your verification visit, the Council for Professional Recognition will review your complete application. If approved, you’ll officially be awarded your CDA certificate, demonstrating your commitment and qualifications in early childhood education.

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Cost of the CDA certification

While a CDA certificate will benefit you in many ways, getting this credential can be costly for some. New credentials are $425 for online applications and $500 for paper applications. When your certificate expires, the cost for online renewal is $125 and $150 via mail. Starting on August 1, 2025 the Council is increasing prices to $525 for online applications and $600 for paper applications. Renewal fees will increase to $250 online and $300 via mail.

To prepare for the exam, there may be an added expense for the study books and other training materials needed to support your lessons.

Some employers will pay for your CDA certification, and some institutions offer scholarships to employees planning to take the course.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CDA certificate?

A CDA certificate, or Child Development Associate credential, is a nationally recognized certification for early childhood educators. It is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition and validates your knowledge, experience, and skills in working with children from birth to age five. Earning a CDA certificate demonstrates your commitment to high-quality early learning and positions you as a qualified professional in child development.

How long does it take to earn a CDA certificate?

The time it takes to earn a CDA certificate can vary depending on your schedule and training format. On average, it takes between 6 to 12 months to complete all the requirements, including:

120 hours of formal early childhood education training
480 hours of professional work experience with young children
Completion of a professional portfolio
Passing the CDA exam and verification visit

Educators who dedicate consistent time each week to training and experience may finish sooner, while those balancing full-time work may take longer.

What are the benefits of a CDA certificate?

Earning a CDA certificate offers several key advantages:

Career advancement: Many employers require or prefer candidates with a CDA for teaching and leadership roles in early childhood education.
Professional credibility: The CDA credential shows that you’ve met rigorous national standards in child development.
Higher quality of care: CDA-certified educators are better equipped to create nurturing, educational environments that support children’s development.
Increased confidence: The training and experience help educators grow professionally and feel more confident in their skills.

Whether you're beginning your career or looking to grow within it, a CDA certificate is a valuable investment in your future.

What should you include in your professional portfolio?

Your professional portfolio must include documentation of your education, including your CDA-approved training and college transcripts. You’ll also need a summary of the CDA education cover sheet and other verifications you completed within your 120 hours of training.

The council will also need family questionnaires. This is a form with questions and answers collected from some of the families of the children you’ve worked with. It must have responses from over 50% of those families.

Also, include a collection of resources for early childhood learning and a summary of all your professional values and beliefs on early childhood education. This is a two-page professional philosophy statement about your role as an educator.

In addition, you’ll need six reflective written statements of competence (about 300-500 words). These will be about your teaching practices, including one statement each to accompany other documents highlighted in the CDA competency standards book.

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What qualifies as a center-based preschool program?

The Council for Professional Recognition defines a center-based preschool as a state-approved child development center with at least 10 children enrolled and at least two educators working with children on a regular basis. The candidate must be observed working with at least eight children, all of whom are ages three to five years old.

How many hours do I need to work to qualify for CDA certification?

You must work 480 hours with young children in an accredited institution to gain experience.

Bottom line

With a CDA credential, you can confidently work in a variety of early care and education settings with children from birth to five years old. This certification offers limitless possibilities and opportunities, allowing you to advance in your career, gain recognition, and strengthen your early childhood education skills and knowledge.

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