AFC’s Complete Guide to the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
03/13/25
When I first entered the field of early care and education (ECE) I was stunned and intrigued by the vast array of training and formal education in our field. Many come into the field fresh out of high school and others enter with advanced degrees in subjects from finance to nursing and everything in between. For many, it is a desire to make a change. For some, it’s a love of children, and for others it is the start of a second chapter in their professional journey that has led them into a classroom. Once in the ECE profession, a desire to grow your knowledge as an educator, enhance your career pathway level on the Ohio Professional Registry, and most importantly, show up well for the children and families you serve is never far behind. This is where a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential can fit seamlessly into the career path of ECE professionals.
What is a CDA Credential?
The Child Development Associate credential (or CDA) is a national credential for early care and education professionals in both centers and family child care settings. The CDA is awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C., has been in existence for more than 50 years and is recognized across the US and many other countries! Receiving a Child Development Associate credential is a meaningful step on the path to becoming a well-rounded educator who is rooted in best practice while elevating your status as a professional in the field.
VIDEO: WE ASKED CDA PROFESSIONALS “WHAT’S YOUR WHY?”
How to Get Your CDA Credential
In order to receive a Child Development Associate credential, the participant (also called a CDA candidate) must complete 120 hours of professional development in eight core subject areas. These areas cover professionalism and ethics, a child’s cognitive and social-emotional development, observation and recording, family and community engagement, and program operation. In addition to the professional development requirements, candidates construct a professional portfolio, sit for an exam, and are observed by a CDA Council-approved specialist in their learning environment.
CDA Courses at Action for Children
At Action for Children, we offer a comprehensive prep course that includes all required CDA coursework and counts as Ohio-Approved professional development in Ohio Professional Registry (OPR). Action for Children’s expert Technical Assistance coaches also support CDA candidates with portfolio creation, classroom and group coaching, and test preparation. Our candidates leave with all the tools they need to be successful in the CDA cycle. Typically, it takes around six months at a bi-weekly cadence to achieve the required professional development to apply for the CDA credential. To meet the needs of all types of ECE professionals, Action for Children offers both live online and in-person CDA prep courses multiple times per year.
What’s a Cohort?
A cohort is a a group of early childhood education professionals who complete the Child Development Associate preparatory course together. Our program places candidates in cohorts where they learn from highly-educated ECE professionals with vast field knowledge and experience. In a cohort, educators have an opportunity to build friendships and network with other ECE professionals who share a passion of caring for and educating our communities’ youngest citizens. As a CDA participant, you will get to know your instructors and benefit from their real-world experience, lend your own knowledge to the group, and learn from your colleagues. We bring in field experts to talk about classroom challenges and community support, and we offer an opportunity to discuss next steps if you want to pursue a higher education degree after completing our CDA program. Our program also articulates to college coursework credit with leading local higher education institutions!
Covering the Cost of a CDA
If you’re looking for help to cover the cost of obtaining a CDA credential, there are a few options for early childhood educators.
The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship covers the cost of the CDA Exam and Onsite Verification Visit (currently $425) and is available through the Ohio Childcare Resource and Referral Agency (OCCRRA). You may be eligible for the CDA Assessment Fee Scholarship if you:
- Are a Type B Family Child Care Provider, Type A Family Child Care Provider, or teacher, assistant teacher, director, or owner employed in a licensed early care and learning program
- Work at least 20 hours per week with children
- Have been at your sponsoring center for 90 days
- Agree to commit to staying at the program for a minimum of six months after completing scholarship
Franklin County RISE is helping early childhood educators grow in their careers by providing resources, professional development, and financial awards. Once you complete your CDA, you may be eligible for an Educator Award — a recognition of your hard work and commitment to young learners! To qualify, you must earn your CDA between December 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025. The deadline to apply is November 15, 2025. This award is one more reason to stay motivated and complete your CDA!
What Happens After Completing a CDA Cohort?
In addition to the professional development requirements, candidates also need to complete several activities and register for the CDA exam to receive their credential from the Council for Professional Recognition. Let’s take a look at a few of the major steps:
- The Professional Portfolio: The Professional Portfolio is a reflective journey of the candidate’s own professional development experience and is made up of three key elements:
The portfolio is created throughout your CDA prep course and in conjunction with the corresponding modules. In addition to in-class support, Action for Children offers both group coaching and one-on-one sessions with our Senior Coaching Specialist. During coaching sessions, you can ask questions and have your portfolio reviewed to ensure you are confident presenting your completed portfolio to your Council-Approved PD Specialist.
- The CDA Exam: After a candidate has met all of the prep course requirements, they may apply to the CDA Council to take the exam, which includes a test and onsite observation (both must be completed to earn a CDA credential). The exam fee is paid to the CDA Council (either by the candidate or via a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship) and the Candidate receives a customer ID number and a ready to schedule notice from The Council. The exam is scheduled and taken at a Pearson VUE location and can be scheduled online or by phone using your assigned customer ID number. From there, candidates will be able to choose the location, date and time that is best for them.
The CDA exam is made up of 65 multiple choice questions that are derived from the content of the prep course modules and include questions on best practice as well as classroom scenarios. Candidates are given one hour and forty-five minutes to complete the exam. The questions are presented one at a time and candidates can go back and review if time allows before submitting their final answers. Candidates should do their best not to leave any questions blank even if an educated guess is needed. Once the exam is complete, the test is sent directly to the Council for Professional Recognition. - The CDA Verification Visit: To receive your CDA certification, a CDA Council-approved PD Specialist must complete a verification visit. To avoid potential conflicts of interest, Action for Children’s CDA instructors do not complete verification visits for their CDA students. All visits are pre-scheduled, so you’ll coordinate with your PD Specialist to schedule a day and time that works for both of you. You will know exactly when to expect your observation to take place! The verification visit takes place in the classroom where the candidate is the acting lead teacher for that day. If the candidate is not typically an assistant teacher, they will need to notify their administrator that they will be taking the lead role for their exam.
During the verification visit, the CDA PD Specialist will be using a scoring rubric to score a total of 51 items in the thirteen Functional Areas found in the CDA textbook. The specialist will utilize the R.O.R (review-observe-reflect) model during the observation. The observation is a four-hour process where the PD Specialist spends the first hour reviewing the candidate’s completed professional portfolio, the next two observing the candidate working with the children in the classroom, and the final hour in reflection with the candidate. After the visit, the CDA PD Specialist has 48 hours to submit their recommended scores to The Council. These scores along with the CDA Exam scores will be combined into a final Cumulative Score which will be used to determine your credentialing decision.
Receiving and Renewing Your CDA Credential
Once a candidate is awarded a CDA, it is important to remember that the credential is good for three years and needs to be regularly renewed through the Council for Professional Recognition. Your CDA Credential will have the date it was issued and the date it expires directly on the certificate. You will also receive email reminders from The Council as you come upon your expiration window.
You may apply to The Council to renew six months prior to your expiration. Renewal fees are paid directly to the council and the candidate will submit proof of a current Pediatric First Aid/CPR Certificate, proof of 45 hours of professional development, proof of 80 hours of recent work experience in an ECE setting (specific to their original credential age group), and proof of a current membership to a national or local early childhood professional organization. In addition, the candidate must submit a completed recommendation form from an early childhood professional that describes the candidate’s current skills working with young children.
Action for Children also has professional development offerings and CDA clinics with our highly trained coaches to help you keep your CDA in good standing!
Get Started on Your CDA with Action for Children!
If you are ready to take the next step in your early care and education career, contact CDA@actionforchildren.org for expert guidance and training options. You can also visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website to explore the specific requirements for CDA candidacy.
Author: Amber Hibburt, CDA Program Coordinator at Action for Children
Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.
Action for Children’s CDA services are offered in partnership with Council for Professional Recognition and funded by T.E.A.C.H through the Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association, United Way of Central Ohio, and Action for Children’s generous donors.