Last updated 2026-07-09
TL;DR
Getting a CDA credential takes 120 hours of early childhood training, 480 hours of experience with children, a professional portfolio (8 resource files), a family questionnaire, an in-person verification visit with a CDA Professional Development Specialist, and a computer-based exam. The Council for Professional Recognition runs all of it. Total cost runs roughly $525 to $2,000 depending on your training path.
What is the CDA credential and who issues it?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is the most widely recognized entry-level certification in early childhood education in the United States. The Council for Professional Recognition has issued CDAs since 1975 and is the only body that awards, renews, and revokes it. [1]
It isn't a degree. It's a competency-based credential that proves you can apply child development knowledge in a real classroom or home. That matters for licensing. Most state child care licensing agencies and many CCDF-funded quality rating systems count the CDA as a qualifying credential for lead teacher or site director roles, usually at a lower cost and faster timeline than an associate's degree. [2]
There are six CDA credential types, each tied to an age group or setting. You apply for exactly one.
| Credential Type | Setting | Ages Served |
|---|---|---|
| Infant/Toddler | Center-based | Birth to 36 months |
| Preschool | Center-based | 3 to 5 years |
| Home Visitor | Home-based program | Birth to 5 years |
| Family Child Care | Home-based (your home) | Birth to 5 years |
| Preschool (Spanish Bilingual) | Center-based | 3 to 5 years |
| Home Visitor (Spanish Bilingual) | Home-based | Birth to 5 years |
If you run a licensed home daycare, the Family Child Care credential is almost always the right pick. Center staff usually go for Infant/Toddler or Preschool depending on their room.
What are the eligibility requirements before I apply?
The Council lists four things you have to meet before it accepts your application. [1]
You need a high school diploma or GED. No college degree required.
You need 480 hours of professional experience working with children in a group setting within the past five years. For center-based credentials, those hours have to be in a center. For the Family Child Care credential, they have to be in your own home-based program. Hours don't have to be paid. Supervised volunteer hours in an eligible setting count.
You need 120 hours of formal early childhood education (ECE) training covering all eight CDA Subject Areas. Those eight are: planning a safe, healthy learning environment; advancing children's physical and intellectual development; supporting social and emotional development; building productive family and community relationships; managing an effective program operation; maintaining a commitment to professionalism; observing and recording children's behavior; and understanding principles of child development and learning. Your hours have to spread across all eight. You can't stack them all in one subject.
Fourth, you must currently be working with children in an early childhood setting when you apply. This is the requirement people miss most. Finish your training, then leave your job before you submit, and you'll have to get back into a qualifying setting before the Council will process anything.
Age minimums come from your state, not the Council. Most states set 18 as the floor for a lead teacher role, but the Council itself imposes no age requirement beyond the high school diploma.
How do I complete the 120 hours of required training?
Your 120 hours can come from several places: community college courses, the Council's own CDA Gold online training, employer-sponsored programs, Head Start training, or approved private training organizations. [1]
Community college ECE coursework is one of the most recognized options because the transcripts are easy to verify and the credits often stack toward an associate's degree later. A three-credit-hour semester course usually counts as roughly 45 clock hours of instruction. Three well-chosen courses get you to 120. If you're already working on an AA in ECE, many of those same courses satisfy CDA requirements automatically.
CDA Gold is the Council's self-paced online platform. It costs around $430 for the full curriculum and maps directly to all eight subject areas, which makes the documentation step easier. [1] But if you already have community college transcripts that cover the content, spending $430 on CDA Gold is redundant. Use what you already have.
The Council accepts training from approved programs even when a local child care resource and referral agency (CCR&R) delivers it. Child Care Aware of America runs a network of over 400 CCR&Rs nationally, and many offer subsidized or free training for providers serving families on CCDF child care subsidies. [3] Call your local CCR&R before you pay for anything.
Every hour needs documentation: transcripts, certificates of completion, or official letters on letterhead. Keep the originals. You present them during your verification visit.
What goes into the professional portfolio (the 8 resource files)?
The professional portfolio is the paper spine of your CDA application. It holds eight resource files, one per CDA Subject Area, plus a set of reflective competency statements and a family questionnaire. [1]
Each resource file should show you actually know and apply the competency in that area. The Council gives you room to choose what to include: lesson plans, health and safety checklists, sample family communication forms, observation records, professional development logs. Evidence beats volume. A clean file of five relevant documents beats a bloated file of twenty loosely related pages.
The reflective competency statements are six written essays, one for each of the six CDA Competency Standards, which group the eight subject areas together. Each runs roughly one to two pages, written in first person. This is your chance to explain, in your own words, what you do and why. They don't need to read like a term paper. They need to be honest and specific.
The family questionnaire is a short survey you hand to at least one family currently enrolled in your program. They fill it out on their own and return it in a sealed envelope. You put the sealed envelope in your portfolio without opening it. The Council reads those responses as part of your assessment.
Organization pays off here because your CDA Professional Development Specialist reviews the portfolio in person during the verification visit. Tabs, a table of contents, and labeled sections make that visit faster.
How do I find a CDA Professional Development Specialist for the verification visit?
The verification visit is a required review of your portfolio plus an observation of you working with children, done by a CDA Professional Development Specialist (PD Specialist). A PD Specialist is an early childhood professional trained and approved by the Council. It's usually in person, though the Council has allowed virtual observations in some cases. [1]
You find your own PD Specialist. The Council keeps a searchable directory at cdacouncil.org. Search by state and credential type. Most specialists set their own fees, usually $100 to $300 for the full visit, though some employer-based or CCR&R programs cover the cost for you. [1]
The visit has two parts. The specialist reviews your resource files and reflective statements. Then they watch you work with children in your setting for at least one hour. They score what they see against the CDA Competency Standards and write a formal observation summary.
Schedule this only after you're confident your portfolio is done. The specialist isn't there to help you patch gaps. They're there to assess what you built. Read the Council's CDA Competency Standards document before the visit so you know exactly what behaviors they're watching for. That document is free on the Council's website.
If you serve mostly Spanish-speaking families and you're applying for a bilingual credential, your PD Specialist has to be bilingual in English and Spanish.
How do I submit the CDA application and what does it cost?
Once you have your 480 hours of experience, 120 hours of training, your portfolio assembled, and a PD Specialist lined up, you apply through the Council's online system at cdacouncil.org. [1]
The application fee as of 2024 is $425 for new applicants. [1] That covers your application review and the CDA exam. It does not cover the PD Specialist's visit fee or any training costs.
Here's the total most candidates face:
| Cost Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Application fee (Council) | $425 |
| PD Specialist visit fee | $100 to $300 |
| Training (if using CDA Gold) | $430 |
| Training (community college, varies) | $0 to $1,200 |
| Estimated total | $525 to $2,355 |
If you've already finished ECE coursework or your employer covers training, your out-of-pocket total can drop to $525 to $725. That's a wide gap from a two-year degree.
Some states and programs help with cost. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships cover CDA costs for eligible providers in about 22 states. [4] The Child Care WAGE$ program supplements pay for credentialed providers in several states. Ask your local CCR&R which programs run in your area before you pay anything out of pocket.
Once the Council confirms your application is complete, you get access to schedule the exam.
What is the CDA exam like and how do I pass it?
The CDA exam is a computer-based test at Pearson VUE centers nationwide. [1] It's 65 multiple-choice questions drawn from the CDA Competency Standards and knowledge base. You get 90 minutes.
It tests applied knowledge, not definition memorization. Questions describe a scenario and ask what you'd do or what the best response is. Candidates who struggle usually skipped the Council's official competency standards document before sitting down at the keyboard.
The Council doesn't publish detailed pass-rate breakdowns, so treat any specific figure with caution; historical reporting has put first-time pass rates in the 80 to 85 percent range. If you fail, you can retake after a waiting period, and each retake costs an added fee (the Council's retake fee is $125 as of 2024 [1]). Two retakes are allowed inside the two-year window of your original application.
Study tips that actually help: work through the Council's exam preparation materials, free in the candidate resource section of cdacouncil.org. Reread your reflective competency statements before the exam. If you wrote them thoughtfully, you already know the material. The two documents most reflected in exam content are the CDA Competency Standards and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. [8] Neither is long. Read both.
How long does it take to get a CDA credential from start to finish?
Six months to two years, realistically. The range is wide because it hinges almost entirely on how fast you rack up your 480 field hours and 120 training hours, and how backed up PD Specialists are near you.
If you're already working full-time in a qualifying setting and you enroll in CDA Gold or a community college program right away, six to nine months is common. Starting from scratch with no ECE experience and a part-time job pushes you toward 18 to 24 months.
Once the Council receives a complete application (all four components in), processing usually takes four to six weeks before you're cleared to schedule the exam. You get a two-year window from the date your application opens, so you don't have to cram everything into one semester. Just don't let the window lapse. Reopening an expired application means starting over and paying the full fee again.
The verification visit is the hidden bottleneck. In rural areas or states with few active PD Specialists, candidates sometimes wait two to four months for a slot. Start hunting for a specialist earlier than you think you need to.
What can I do with a CDA credential once I have it?
More than most people expect. The CDA opens concrete doors in licensing, quality ratings, and pay that stay shut without it.
Licensing: A majority of states let a CDA count toward lead teacher or group supervisor qualifications in licensed centers. Some states require a CDA or higher for any teacher in an infant or toddler room. The exact rule varies, so check your state's child care licensing regulations directly. If you run a licensed home daycare, several states recognize the CDA toward director qualifications or let CDA-holding providers serve slightly higher child-to-caregiver ratios under certain quality programs.
CCDF and quality ratings: The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) plan requires states to support professional development for child care providers, and most state CCDF plans tie higher quality rating levels, and therefore higher subsidy reimbursement rates, to staff credentials including the CDA. [2] A CDA can directly raise the reimbursement rate you get for subsidy-funded children. See how those programs work in our guide to childcare subsidy.
Pay: Child Care Aware of America's compensation reporting shows a wage premium for credentialed early childhood staff, though at the CDA level it's modest, typically $0.50 to $2.00 per hour above uncredentialed peers depending on state and program type. [3] In Head Start programs, the CDA is a minimum qualification standard for family child care home providers, so you may be ineligible for that work without it.
Education ladder: CDA coursework and competencies articulate toward associate's and bachelor's degrees in ECE at many colleges. Some grant credit for the CDA itself. If you're thinking about eventually running your own daycare center, a CDA plus a few years of experience puts you on the path.
For curriculum resources that pair well with your CDA training and documentation, our coverage of preschool curriculum and the Creative Curriculum for Preschool can help you build resource file content grounded in recognized frameworks.
How do I renew my CDA credential?
The CDA is valid for three years from the issue date. Renewing before it expires is far simpler than earning it the first time. [1]
To renew, you complete 45 hours of continuing education (CE) tied to early childhood education inside the three-year validity period. At least 10 of those 45 hours have to be in the same subject areas as your credential type. You also complete the online renewal application and pay the renewal fee, which is $150 as of 2024 for online renewals through the Council's website. [1]
Renewal requires no new verification visit and no new exam. That's a big difference from the first go-round. You're submitting proof of ongoing professional development and confirming you're still working in an eligible setting.
Let your CDA expire and you lose it. You'd start the full application from scratch, pay the full $425 fee, rebuild the portfolio, and go through the verification visit and exam again. The Council offers no late renewal and no grace period. Set a calendar reminder 12 months before your expiration date and track your CE hours from day one.
Good sources for renewal CE: your local CCR&R, employer training, NAEYC conference sessions, state ECE conferences, and online platforms like Zero to Three's learning center [9] or the Council's own continuing education offerings. Many are free or low cost, especially for providers serving CCDF-funded families.
What if my CDA application is denied or I disagree with the assessment?
The Council has a formal appeals process, and you can request a review if you believe your portfolio or exam was scored incorrectly. [1] The appeal has to be in writing within 30 days of the decision. You document exactly which competency or decision you're disputing and why.
Denials aren't common, but they happen. The usual reasons are incomplete portfolios (a resource file missing required content), training hours that don't cover all eight subject areas, or a PD Specialist observation score that falls below the threshold on one or more competency standards.
Denied for training gaps? You can finish the missing training and resubmit documentation without reapplying from scratch, as long as you're still inside your two-year window.
If the PD Specialist's assessment is the problem, you can request a second observation with a different specialist. That has its own timeline and fee, so contact the Council directly for current procedures instead of trusting secondhand accounts of how it's gone for someone else.
One practical note: the ChildCareComp compliance toolkit includes documentation checklists that map to CDA portfolio requirements, which helps you catch gaps before your verification visit instead of after a denial.
Does every state recognize the CDA for licensing purposes?
Most do, but the rules vary a lot. [5] No federal law requires states to accept the CDA for licensing, so each state's child care licensing office sets its own standards for which credentials qualify for which roles.
In most states, the CDA qualifies you to work as a lead teacher or group leader in a licensed center, but it may not satisfy director qualifications on its own. Some states require extra college credits or a mix of experience plus the CDA for director roles.
For family child care homes, the CDA is less often required outright, but it frequently unlocks higher tiers in state quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS), which can move subsidy reimbursement rates a lot.
CCDF state plans are public through the Office of Child Care and describe how each state uses credentials in its professional development and quality rating framework. [7] Search your state's CCDF plan plus the word "CDA" and you'll see exactly how it counts in your state's quality tier system.
For state-specific licensing standards, look up your state licensing agency directly. Michigan, for one, specifies CDA qualifications in its Child Care Licensing Rules under the Bureau of Community and Health Systems. [6] Our guide on Michigan daycare licensing covers that in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get my CDA credential if I have no college credits?
You don't need college credits. The CDA requires a high school diploma or GED, 480 hours of field experience, and 120 hours of early childhood training. That training can come from approved non-college sources like the Council's CDA Gold platform, employer training programs, or your local child care resource and referral agency. Community college is one option, not the only one.
How long does it take to get a CDA credential?
Most candidates take six months to two years, depending on how fast they accumulate 480 experience hours and 120 training hours. People already working full-time in an eligible setting often finish in six to nine months. Once the Council receives a complete application, processing takes roughly four to six weeks before you can schedule your exam.
How much does it cost to get a CDA credential?
The Council's application fee is $425 as of 2024, which covers the exam. Add $100 to $300 for a PD Specialist visit fee. If you need training, CDA Gold costs about $430; community college courses run from free to $1,200 depending on your state and financial aid. Total out-of-pocket typically lands between $525 and $2,000. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships cover costs for eligible providers in about 22 states.
What are the 6 types of CDA credentials?
The six types are Infant/Toddler (center-based), Preschool (center-based), Family Child Care (home-based), Home Visitor (home-based program), Preschool Spanish Bilingual, and Home Visitor Spanish Bilingual. You apply for one type based on your current work setting and the age group you serve. Choose the type that matches where you're working right now.
Do I need a CDA to open a daycare?
In most states, no. Licensing requirements for home daycare operators and center directors vary by state and don't universally require a CDA. But many states require lead teachers or directors to hold a CDA or equivalent credential. A CDA also often unlocks higher quality rating tiers that raise subsidy reimbursement rates, so it can matter financially even when it isn't legally required.
How do I renew my CDA credential?
Renew online at cdacouncil.org before your three-year expiration date. You need 45 hours of continuing education completed during that three-year period, the online renewal application, and the $150 renewal fee. No new exam or verification visit is required. If your credential expires, you must restart the full application. Set a reminder 12 months before expiration.
How do I renew a CDA credential that has already expired?
There is no late renewal option. If your CDA expired, you apply as a new candidate: build a new portfolio, find a PD Specialist, complete the verification visit, and pass the exam again. The full $425 application fee applies. That's why tracking your expiration date and your continuing education hours across the three-year cycle matters so much.
Can I get a CDA credential online?
The training hours can be done online through the Council's CDA Gold platform or other approved online programs, and the application is submitted online. The exam is taken in person at a Pearson VUE testing center. The verification visit is usually in person at your work site, though the Council has allowed virtual observations in some cases. You can't complete the whole process without any in-person components.
Is the CDA credential worth it compared to an associate's degree?
Depends on your goal. The CDA is faster, cheaper, and enough for many state licensing requirements. It costs roughly $500 to $2,000 versus $5,000 to $15,000 or more for an associate's degree. If you want to become a program director or move into administration, an associate's or bachelor's in ECE serves you better long-term. Many candidates earn the CDA first, then apply the coursework toward a degree.
What is the CDA exam and how hard is it?
The CDA exam is 65 multiple-choice questions at a Pearson VUE testing center, with 90 minutes allowed. Questions are scenario-based, testing applied knowledge of the CDA Competency Standards. Historical reporting puts first-time pass rates around 80 to 85 percent, though the Council doesn't publish detailed breakdowns. Candidates who read the Council's Competency Standards document and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct beforehand tend to do well.
Does a CDA credential increase my pay?
It often does, modestly. Child Care Aware of America's compensation data shows credentialed early childhood staff typically earn $0.50 to $2.00 per hour more than uncredentialed peers, depending on state and program type. The bigger financial impact is often indirect: a CDA can qualify your program for higher quality rating tiers, which raises subsidy reimbursement rates for the CCDF-funded children you serve.
How many hours of training do I need for a CDA?
You need 120 clock hours of formal early childhood education training covering all eight CDA Subject Areas. No single subject can account for all your hours; you need coverage across all eight. Sources include community college coursework, the Council's CDA Gold platform, employer training, Head Start training, and CCR&R-sponsored workshops. Document every hour with transcripts, certificates, or official letters.
What is a CDA Professional Development Specialist and how do I find one?
A PD Specialist is an early childhood professional trained and approved by the Council for Professional Recognition to conduct CDA verification visits. They review your portfolio and observe you working with children for at least one hour. Find one through the searchable directory at cdacouncil.org. Specialists set their own fees, typically $100 to $300. In rural areas, wait times for a visit slot can run two to four months.
Can the CDA credential help with childcare subsidies or QRIS ratings?
Yes. Most state CCDF plans tie higher tiers in their quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) to staff credentials, including the CDA. Higher QRIS tiers usually mean higher reimbursement rates for children receiving childcare subsidies. Earning a CDA can directly increase the subsidy revenue your program brings in. Check your state's CCDF plan or ask your local CCR&R what credential tier your CDA would qualify for.
Sources
- Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Credential Requirements: CDA application fee is $425, renewal fee is $150, exam is 65 questions at Pearson VUE, six credential types, portfolio requirements, and two-year application window.
- U.S. Office of Child Care, CCDF Program: CCDF state plans require states to support professional development and most state QRIS systems tie credential levels including the CDA to subsidy reimbursement rates.
- Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in America Reports: Network of over 400 CCR&Rs nationally and wage premium data showing credentialed ECE staff earn modestly more than uncredentialed peers.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Program: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships cover CDA costs for eligible providers in approximately 22 states.
- National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, State Licensing Requirements: No federal law requires states to accept the CDA for licensing; requirements vary by state for lead teacher, group supervisor, and director roles.
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Child Care Licensing Rules: Michigan specifies CDA qualifications in its Child Care Licensing Rules under the Bureau of Community and Health Systems.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care: State CCDF plans are publicly available and describe how each state uses credentials in professional development and quality rating frameworks.
- NAEYC, Code of Ethical Conduct: The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct is one of the primary documents reflected in CDA exam content.
- Zero to Three, Early Childhood Professional Development Resources: Zero to Three's learning center is a recognized source for continuing education hours applicable to CDA renewal.
- Pearson VUE, Testing Center Network: CDA exam is administered at Pearson VUE testing centers nationwide.