CDA credential certificate: what it is, how to get it, and why it matters

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the CDA credential?

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is the most widely held early childhood education credential in the United States. The Council for Professional Recognition issues it. The Council is a nonprofit set up in 1985 to assess early childhood workforce competencies. ^[1]

The Council has awarded more than 1.5 million CDA credentials since the program started in the 1970s. ^[1] That number tells you the credential carries real weight in the labor market. Licensing agencies in every state recognize it. Many CCDF-funded programs require it or use it to set tiered reimbursement rates.

The credential is not a college degree. It sits below an associate's degree in most state career lattices. But it's a long step above a high school diploma and a basic CPR card. Think of it as the professional floor for anyone building a career in early childhood rather than working a job.

For home-based providers, a CDA can satisfy part or all of the director or lead teacher qualification in many states. For center staff, it often moves you to a higher pay tier or qualifies you to run an infant-toddler room as the primary caregiver. If you want the broader licensing context, the cda credential overview walks through the full process.

What is the difference between a CDA credential and a CDA certificate?

There's almost no meaningful difference. "CDA credential" is the official name the Council for Professional Recognition uses for the award. "CDA certificate" is what most people call the paper document that arrives in the mail after the Council approves your application. Same thing, two names.

The confusion has two sources. Some community colleges sell short "CDA certificate programs." That coursework prepares you for the CDA credential exam and portfolio process, and finishing it earns you a certificate of completion from the college. That college certificate is not the CDA credential. You still submit your application and sit through a verification visit with the Council separately. ^[1]

The word "credential" also gets used loosely in this field. Some states issue their own state-level credentials with no tie to the Council at all. Those are separate awards. When a licensing rule or a QRIS mentions a "CDA," it nearly always means the Council-issued credential, not a state certificate program.

Here's the practical version. If someone asks whether you hold a "CDA certificate," they want to know whether you hold the CDA credential from the Council for Professional Recognition. Your answer is the same either way.

What are the CDA credential requirements?

The Council sets five eligibility requirements for a first-time CDA. ^[1]

1. Age and education. You have to be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or GED.

2. Formal early childhood education hours. You need 120 clock hours of formal early childhood education (ECE) training. Those hours have to cover all eight CDA subject areas: planning a safe and healthy environment, advancing children's physical and intellectual development, supporting social and emotional development, building productive relationships with families, managing an effective program, maintaining a commitment to professionalism, observing and recording children's behavior, and understanding principles of child development.

3. Work experience. You need 480 hours of experience with young children in a licensed or regulated setting within the past three years. The setting has to match your credential type (center-based preschool, center-based infant-toddler, family child care, or home visitor).

4. Professional portfolio. You build a portfolio documenting your competency in each of the eight subject areas, using written statements, family questionnaires, and supporting resource materials.

5. Verification visit. A Council-approved Professional Development Specialist (PDS) observes you in your work setting and reviews your portfolio in person.

After you upload your portfolio and pay the fee through the Council's online system (called CDA 2.0), the Council assigns a PDS and schedules the visit. The Council aims to schedule visits within 60 days of a completed application. ^[1]

Providers sometimes miss one thing. The 120 training hours don't have to come from a single institution. You can stack a community college CDA certificate program, online modules, local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) workshops, and T.E.A.C.H. scholarship courses, as long as you can document each hour.

How much does the CDA credential cost?

The Council's application fee for a first CDA credential is $425 as of 2025. ^[1] Renewal, every three years, costs $150. If your application expires before you finish, there's a $150 reapplication fee.

The application fee is only part of the picture. Here's where the real money goes.

Cost item	Typical range	Notes
Council application fee	$425	Fixed, paid to Council
120-hour training coursework	$0-$800	Many CCR&Rs offer free or subsidized training
T.E.A.C.H. scholarship (if used)	Covers most costs	Apply through state affiliate
CDA prep book or study materials	$20-$60	Optional but useful
Total out of pocket (unsubsidized)	$445-$1,285	Wide range due to training cost variation
Total out of pocket (T.E.A.C.H.)	$85-$150	Stipends sometimes offset even more

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships, administered by the National Center for the Child Care Workforce (Child Care Services Association), cover tuition, books, and sometimes the Council fee itself for eligible child care workers. ^[2] Eligibility depends on your state and your employer. Child Care Aware of America keeps a state-by-state directory of scholarship programs. ^[3]

Many CCR&Rs offer the 120 training hours at no cost under CCDF professional development funding, which leaves the $425 Council fee as your only hard cost. Paying full price with no employer support is a real financial decision. Check the subsidy options first.

How long does it take to get a CDA credential?

Most providers finish the CDA process in six to twelve months. The range is wide for a reason. It hangs on how fast you accumulate your 480 work experience hours and 120 training hours, and how quickly the Council can get a PDS to your area.

If you already work full-time in a licensed child care setting, the 480 experience hours can come from past or concurrent work. You don't have to log them in sequence during your CDA process. Someone who has worked in a center for a year before starting can check that box on day one.

The 120 training hours are usually the choke point. A community college CDA certificate program typically runs one or two semesters. Online self-paced courses through the Council's partner network can sometimes wrap up in eight to twelve weeks if you're disciplined about it.

Building the portfolio takes most people four to eight weeks of steady work. It includes six Competency Standard statements, a resource collection, and a Family Questionnaire summary. First-timers almost always underestimate the writing.

After you submit through CDA 2.0, the Council targets 60 days to assign a PDS and schedule the observation. Rural and underserved areas run longer because there are fewer specialists to go around.

Honest total if you're starting cold with no prior training: 9 to 12 months. With relevant training already documented, 4 to 6 months is realistic.

What credential types are available, and which one do you need?

The Council offers eight CDA credential types, sorted by age group and setting. ^[1] Picking the wrong one wastes your fee, so match it to your actual work setting.

Credential type	Age group served	Setting
Center-Based Preschool	3-5 years	Child care center
Center-Based Infant-Toddler	Birth-36 months	Child care center
Family Child Care	Birth-5 years	Family child care home
Home Visitor	Birth-5 years	Families' homes
Center-Based Preschool (Spanish)	3-5 years	Center, Spanish-language
Center-Based Infant-Toddler (Spanish)	Birth-36 months	Center, Spanish-language
Family Child Care (Spanish)	Birth-5 years	Home, Spanish-language
Home Visitor (Spanish)	Birth-5 years	Home, Spanish-language

For most center staff, the choice comes down to Preschool versus Infant-Toddler. Pick the age group you actually teach. If your state rule just says "CDA credential" with no further detail, either track satisfies it, but ask your licensing agency to confirm.

Home-based providers should take the Family Child Care credential. It covers a wider age range (birth through 5) than the center-based preschool track, which fits a mixed-age home. For an example of how states apply CDA standards in practice, the michigan daycare licensing article shows the mechanics.

One catch. Your portfolio and work experience verification have to happen in the setting that matches your credential type. You can't run your observation hours in a preschool classroom and then apply for the Family Child Care credential.

How does the CDA credential affect state licensing requirements?

This is where the CDA earns its keep for compliance, more than professional development.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia build some form of early childhood workforce qualification into their child care licensing rules. ^[4] The threshold varies a lot. Some states require a CDA for every lead teacher. Others accept it as one of several qualifying options. A few require an associate's degree or higher for certain roles while accepting a CDA for assistant teacher positions.

The federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) rules govern how states structure their Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) and tiered subsidy reimbursement. Those rules encourage the CDA as a benchmark but don't mandate it. Under 45 CFR Part 98, states must describe their workforce development strategies, and most states tie higher subsidy rates to higher staff qualifications including the CDA. ^[5]

Child Care Aware of America's annual "Demanding Change" report tracks state-by-state qualification requirements. ^[3] Their data shows that as of 2023, most states require or incentivize at least a CDA-level qualification for lead teachers in licensed centers. For family child care, requirements run lower but are trending up.

One practical point. Even if your state doesn't require a CDA for a license, your QRIS almost certainly rewards it with a higher quality rating, which means higher reimbursement rates for children funded through childcare subsidy programs. That financial link is real. Run the numbers before you decide whether the credential is worth pursuing.

Does a CDA credential expire, and how do you renew it?

Yes. The CDA credential is valid for three years from the date it's issued. ^[1] Let it lapse and the credential goes invalid, taking the compliance benefits with it.

Renewal requires:

• 45 hours of professional development during the three-year period (at least 4.5 hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas)
• Continued work with young children
• A current certificate in infant and child CPR/first aid
• The online renewal application and the $150 renewal fee

Renewal skips the in-person verification visit. That's a big drop in burden compared to the first credential. You submit documentation of your professional development hours and your work verification, and the Council reviews and reissues.

Mark the expiration date the day your credential arrives. Three years goes faster than you think. Scrambling to document 45 hours of training in the final month is stressful and completely avoidable. A lot of experienced directors set a calendar reminder at the 30-month mark.

If your CDA has already lapsed, the Council's current policy makes you reapply as a first-timer, full $425 fee included. There is no discounted lapsed-renewal path as of 2025.

Can the CDA credential help with salary and career advancement?

The data here is modest but real. A CDA won't transform your paycheck on its own. Early childhood wages sit low across the board. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $33,490 for childcare workers and $40,070 for preschool teachers as of May 2023. ^[6] Neither figure isolates the credential premium.

What the CDA does is move you off the bottom rung in states and programs with formal pay scales tied to credential levels. Many QRIS-participating programs use the state's career lattice to set wage floors by credential. A staff member with a CDA earns more than one holding only a high school diploma under those systems, often $1 to $3 more per hour depending on the state and employer.

More useful, the CDA opens doors that stay shut otherwise. Director qualification rules in many states accept a CDA plus experience in place of a degree. Positions in Head Start and Early Head Start, which serve roughly 800,000 children nationally, require every lead teacher to hold at least a CDA or be enrolled in a program to earn one under federal law. ^[7]

T.E.A.C.H. scholarship programs often pair the CDA with an employer raise commitment as a condition of the scholarship. That's a direct salary link.

Over the long haul, providers who earn a CDA and then continue to an associate's or bachelor's degree report the credential as a foundation that made the later coursework easier. The curriculum knowledge and portfolio skills carry straight over. That ladder effect is probably the most underrated benefit.

How does the CDA credential connect to curriculum and program quality?

The CDA training requirements map straight onto program quality. The eight subject areas go past child development theory into how you actually set up a classroom, observe children, choose materials, and talk with families.

That matters in a practical sense. Staff with a CDA have had to document their use of developmentally appropriate practice. They've written out how they plan environments and activities. You can debate whether a credential proxies for quality, but the portfolio process itself is a reflective exercise, and most providers say it changed how they approach their work.

If you're thinking about curriculum alongside staff qualifications, the preschool curriculum overview covers the main frameworks used in licensed programs. Evidence-based curricula like creative curriculum for preschool get built into CDA training programs at CCR&Rs, so the two topics reinforce each other. Home-based providers on a tight budget can find free preschool curriculum resources that line up with the CDA subject areas and cost nothing.

A CDA also gives parents something concrete to look for. When families compare programs, "our lead teacher holds a CDA credential" is a factual, verifiable statement rather than marketing copy. Child Care Aware's consumer education materials name the CDA as a quality indicator parents should ask about when choosing care. ^[3]

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit includes a checklist that maps CDA requirements against state licensing rules, so you track both at once instead of treating them as two separate paperwork piles.

What happens during the CDA verification visit?

The verification visit is the last step before the Council issues your credential, and it's the part candidates worry about most. Here's what actually happens.

A Council-approved Professional Development Specialist visits your work setting and watches you work with children for at least two hours. They use the Council's CDA Rating Scale to assess your interactions, your environment, and your relationships with children across the competency areas. ^[1]

Before or after the observation, the PDS reviews your professional portfolio. They check that your Competency Standard statements are complete, your resource collection covers the required materials, and your Family Questionnaire summary is in there.

The visit isn't adversarial. PDSs are trained early childhood professionals. The observation is built around the same competency areas you've spent months preparing. If you've done the training and built the portfolio honestly, the visit confirms your work rather than trapping you.

One logistical note. You need your physical portfolio at the visit location. The CDA 2.0 system handles the written components digitally, but the physical resource collection has to be present for the PDS to review.

After the visit, the PDS submits the rating to the Council electronically. The Council reviews the combined materials (your digital application, the PDS rating, and your fee payment) and makes a decision. Most applicants hear back within a few weeks of the visit.

Where can you find CDA training and financial help to pay for it?

Start with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R). There are about 700 CCR&Rs across the country, and part of why they exist is to provide or broker professional development for providers. Many offer free or subsidized CDA training paid for with state CCDF professional development dollars. ^[8]

The Council for Professional Recognition keeps a list of approved training providers on its website, searchable by state and credential type. Those range from community colleges running semester-long CDA certificate programs to online-only providers. ^[1]

For money, the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarship is the biggest source. As of 2024, T.E.A.C.H. operates in 22 states and the District of Columbia. ^[2] The scholarship usually covers tuition, books, and part of the Council application fee, with the provider or employer paying a small co-pay (often $50 to $150). In many T.E.A.C.H. states, the scholarship comes with an employer promise of a raise or bonus once you finish.

Some states also run WAGE$ supplement programs that add a direct salary supplement on top of the scholarship. Check with your state's CCR&R or licensing agency for current availability.

Head Start grantees get federal funds specifically for staff professional development and often co-fund CDA training for staff in their programs or partner classrooms.

If you run a family child care home, look at whether your state has a professional development fund set aside for home-based providers. Several states carved out separate pools because home providers rarely have employer-sponsored training. It's also worth checking with a tax professional on how childcare tax credit rules interact with your training costs, since some may be deductible.

For providers running a daycare center, the budget math on paying for several staff CDAs at once is a real planning problem. Layering CCR&R subsidies, T.E.A.C.H. scholarships, and QRIS incentive bonuses is how experienced directors handle it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CDA credential the same as a CDA certificate?

Yes, for practical purposes. The Council for Professional Recognition's official term is "CDA credential." The physical document sent after approval gets called a "CDA certificate." When people say "CDA certificate" they almost always mean the Council-issued credential. The one case where they differ is a community college's own "CDA certificate program completion" document, which is prep coursework, not the credential itself.

How much does the CDA credential cost in total?

The Council's application fee is $425 for a first credential. Add $0 to $800 for the required 120 hours of training, depending on whether your CCR&R offers it free or you enroll in a paid college program. Total out-of-pocket runs from $425 to over $1,200. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships can cover most of these costs. Check availability in your state through the National Center for the Child Care Workforce.

How long does it take to get a CDA credential?

Most providers finish in 6 to 12 months starting from scratch. Completing 120 training hours is usually the longest step. If you already have documented training, prior work experience, and access to a flexible training program, 4 to 6 months is realistic. After you submit your application, the Council targets 60 days to schedule the verification visit with a Professional Development Specialist.

Does the CDA credential expire?

Yes, every three years. Renewal requires 45 hours of professional development during that period (at least 4.5 hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas), continued work with children, a current CPR/first aid certificate, and the $150 renewal fee. There is no renewal visit. If your credential lapses, you reapply from scratch and pay the full $425 application fee.

Is a CDA credential required to work in a daycare?

It depends on your state. All 50 states set workforce qualification requirements for licensed child care, but the thresholds vary. Many states require or strongly incentivize a CDA (or equivalent) for lead teachers in licensed centers. Head Start programs are required by federal law to have all lead teachers hold at least a CDA or be actively working toward one. Check your state's licensing regulations for the exact requirement.

What is the CDA credential for home daycare providers?

Home-based providers should pursue the Family Child Care CDA credential, not the center-based preschool one. It covers children from birth through age 5, which fits the mixed-age reality of most home settings. The requirements match the other tracks (480 experience hours, 120 training hours, portfolio, verification visit), but the portfolio topics and observation context are tailored to a family child care home rather than a classroom.

Can I get CDA training online?

Yes. The Council for Professional Recognition approves online training providers that can fulfill the 120-hour requirement. Many CCR&Rs offer online modules at low or no cost. The in-person verification visit by a Professional Development Specialist is still required no matter how you complete your training. Look for courses that explicitly cover all eight CDA subject areas so your hours count.

Does the CDA credential increase pay?

Generally yes, but modestly. Programs in state QRIS often tie wage scales to credential levels, so a CDA typically earns $1 to $3 more per hour than a non-credentialed position under formal pay scales. T.E.A.C.H. scholarship programs often include employer raise commitments tied to completion. The credential also qualifies you for roles (like Head Start lead teacher) that pay more than entry-level assistant positions.

What are the eight CDA subject areas I need training in?

The Council requires training covering: (1) planning a safe, healthy learning environment; (2) advancing physical and intellectual competence; (3) supporting social and emotional development; (4) building productive family and community relationships; (5) managing an effective program operation; (6) maintaining a commitment to professionalism; (7) observing and recording children's behavior; and (8) understanding principles of child development. Training must explicitly cover all eight areas to count toward the 120-hour requirement.

How many people have earned a CDA credential?

The Council for Professional Recognition reports over 1.5 million CDA credentials awarded since the program began in the 1970s, making it the most widely held early childhood credential in the United States. That scale means nearly every licensing agency and most QRIS systems recognize it explicitly, which is a real practical advantage over state-only or employer-specific certificates.

What is the difference between a CDA and an associate's degree in early childhood?

A CDA credential is competency-based and awards no college credit on its own. An associate's degree in early childhood (ECE) is a two-year college degree worth 60 or more credit hours. Most state career lattices place the CDA below an associate's degree but above a high school diploma. Some states accept a CDA plus experience in place of a degree for director qualifications. CDA coursework can often apply toward college credit if taken at a community college.

What is T.E.A.C.H. and how does it help with CDA costs?

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood is a scholarship program managed by the National Center for the Child Care Workforce (Child Care Services Association) and its state affiliates. It covers tuition, books, and sometimes the Council application fee for eligible child care workers. As of 2024 it operates in 22 states and D.C. Many T.E.A.C.H. scholarships also include an employer commitment to provide a raise upon completion. Contact your state CCR&R to check current eligibility.

Does a CDA credential help with QRIS ratings?

Yes, in most states. Quality Rating and Improvement Systems use staff credential levels as a core quality indicator. Having CDA-credentialed staff typically pushes a program to a higher QRIS level, which in most states carries higher subsidy reimbursement rates for children funded through CCDF. The financial difference between QRIS levels can meaningfully offset the cost of earning and renewing the credential over time.

Can a CDA program from a community college substitute for the CDA credential itself?

No. A community college CDA certificate program prepares you for the credential but doesn't replace it. After you finish the college coursework, you still have to submit an application to the Council for Professional Recognition, have a verification visit, and pay the application fee. The college's certificate of completion is separate from the Council's credential. For licensing and QRIS purposes, only the Council-issued credential counts as a CDA.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA credential overview: CDA eligibility requirements (age, education, 120 training hours, 480 experience hours, portfolio, verification visit), fee schedule ($425 first credential, $150 renewal), eight credential types, and 1.5 million credentials awarded
2. National Center for the Child Care Workforce (Child Care Services Association), T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood program: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarship coverage, state availability (22 states plus D.C.), and employer raise commitments
3. Child Care Aware of America, Demanding Change report and state-by-state resources: State-by-state workforce qualification requirements, majority of states require or incentivize CDA-level qualifications for lead teachers, CDA as consumer quality indicator
4. National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance (NCECQA), state licensing requirements overview: All 50 states and D.C. have some form of early childhood workforce qualification requirement embedded in child care licensing rules
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 45 CFR Part 98 CCDF Final Rule: CCDF rules require states to describe workforce development strategies; most states tie higher subsidy reimbursement rates to higher staff qualifications including the CDA
6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023: Median annual wage of $33,490 for childcare workers and $40,070 for preschool teachers as of May 2023
7. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1302): Head Start and Early Head Start programs require all lead teachers to hold at least a CDA credential or be enrolled in a program to earn one; program serves roughly 800,000 children nationally
8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF Professional Development: CCDF professional development funding is used by states to subsidize CDA training through CCR&Rs and other providers