CDA credential classes in Chicago, IL: where to find them and what to expect

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the CDA credential and why does it matter for Chicago providers?

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is the most widely recognized entry-level professional credential in early childhood education. The Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C. issues it. It signals that a caregiver or teacher has met a national standard of knowledge and competency across child development, health, safety, and learning environments. ^[1]

In Illinois, the CDA matters for one practical reason. It affects your position on the state's quality rating system, ExceleRate Illinois. Programs at the Silver Circle level and above are expected to have lead teachers with formal early childhood qualifications, and the CDA satisfies that. ^[2] Licensed family child care homes and centers competing for Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) families have a financial reason to move up ExceleRate tiers, because higher-rated programs earn higher reimbursement rates.

For individual staff, a CDA is often the credential required or preferred by Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood programs, Head Start, and DCFS-licensed centers hiring lead teachers. Some centers pay a small wage premium once staff hold it.

Here's the short version. If you work in a licensed Chicago daycare or family child care home and you don't have a college degree in early childhood, the CDA is your cheapest path to recognition that carries real weight with licensing, quality ratings, and employers.

What are the exact requirements to earn a CDA in Illinois?

The requirements come from the Council for Professional Recognition, not Illinois state law, so they're identical nationwide. You have to satisfy all five before the credential is awarded. ^[1]

1. You need 120 clock hours of formal child development training. The hours must cover eight subject areas: planning a safe and healthy learning 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 and learning.

2. You need 480 hours of professional experience working with children in the age group matching your CDA type (infant/toddler, preschool, or family child care). Those hours have to fall within the five years before you apply.

3. You build a Professional Portfolio with six resource collections documenting your competency in each subject area.

4. You pass the CDA Exam at a Pearson VUE testing center. The application and exam fee is $425 for first-time applicants applying through the Council's online system, as of 2024. ^[1]

5. A Professional Development Specialist (PDS) conducts a verification visit at your worksite to observe you with children.

The 120 training hours are where Chicago-area classes come in. They build the knowledge you document in your portfolio and satisfy the Council's education requirement. Illinois adds no state-specific requirements on top of the federal CDA standards, though ExceleRate Illinois does track the credential as part of program quality ratings. ^[2]

Where can you take CDA classes in Chicago and nearby?

Several kinds of institutions offer the 120 training hours across the Chicago metro. Quality and cost vary a lot, so match the provider to how you actually learn and what you can afford.

Community colleges (cheapest in-person option)

City Colleges of Chicago, which includes Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, and others, offers early childhood coursework that satisfies CDA training hours. You can often build your 120 hours through a handful of ECE courses without enrolling in a full degree. Tuition runs about $148 to $153 per credit hour for district residents in the 2023-2024 year, so a three-credit course costs roughly $450 to $460 before fees. ^[3] Three or four courses cover your 120 hours.

Triton College in River Grove and Oakton College in Des Plaines also serve the metro and offer ECE certificate programs aligned with CDA subject areas.

Head Start and community organizations

Chicago-area Head Start grantees, including the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) Head Start, sometimes run CDA cohort programs for their own staff and occasionally for outside candidates. These are often free or deeply subsidized.

Erikson Institute in Chicago runs graduate-level ECE programs and also offers professional development workshops that can count toward CDA training hours. Its content is rigorous and well-regarded across the Illinois ECE community.

Online providers approved by the Council

The Council publishes a list of training organizations it recognizes. National online providers like ProSolutions Training and Child Care Education Institute (CCEI), plus Illinois-based Training Counts (operated through the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, INCCRRA), offer courses that satisfy CDA hours and run on your own schedule. ^[4]

Training Counts matters most for Illinois providers because it's the state's official professional development registry. Hours logged there are recognized by ExceleRate Illinois and Illinois DCFS. If you train elsewhere, get those hours entered into Training Counts anyway. It's worth the extra step.

Chicago workforce initiatives

Start Early (formerly the Ounce of Prevention Fund), a Chicago nonprofit, periodically partners with local colleges and community groups to run cohort-based CDA programs for home-based and center-based providers in underserved neighborhoods. These wrap support around the training: cohort meetings, mentoring, and portfolio help. Check their website and the Illinois Child Care Resource and Referral network for current offerings.

For a closer look at the credential itself before you pick a provider, see our guide to the cda credential.

How much do CDA classes cost in Chicago?

The total cost breaks into three buckets: training, the Council application and exam fee, and portfolio odds and ends. Plan on $570 to $1,385 all in before any grant funding.

Cost item	Typical Chicago-area range	Notes
120 training hours (community college)	$450, $900	City Colleges district resident rates; varies by number of courses
120 training hours (online provider)	$125, $525	Wide range; some bundle all 120 hours in one package
Council CDA application + exam fee	$425	First-time applicants; renewal is $150 [1]
Portfolio materials (binders, printing)	$20, $60	Most documentation is now digital through the Council's system
Professional Development Specialist (PDS) fee	$0, $75	Some programs include PDS coordination; independent PDS may charge
Total (online route)	$570, $1,010	Before any grant funding
Total (community college route)	$895, $1,385	Before any grant funding

Those numbers look steep. Illinois has real money to offset them, covered in the next section.

One honest note on which route to pick. The community college route costs more upfront but leaves you with transferable college credits toward an associate's or bachelor's in ECE. The online-only route is faster and cheaper if the credential itself is your only goal. If you have any interest in a director or administrator role down the line, pay for the college credits.

Does Illinois have financial help to pay for CDA training?

Yes, and it's real money. Illinois channels federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) dollars into workforce grants for people working in licensed child care. ^[5]

The main programs to know:

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Illinois Scholarship. T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) is a nationally replicated scholarship model, administered in Illinois through INCCRRA. The CDA scholarship covers tuition, book costs, and a portion of transportation or compensation to your employer for release time. In recent program years, T.E.A.C.H. has paid 80 to 100% of CDA coursework for eligible Illinois candidates. ^[6] Eligibility generally requires that you work at least 30 hours a week in a licensed Illinois program, earn below a wage threshold, and commit to staying at your program for a period after you finish.

Illinois Great START Wage Supplement. Once you earn the CDA, you may qualify for Great START, a quarterly supplement paid directly to eligible early childhood professionals. It isn't training funding, but it raises the payoff on getting the credential.

ARPA Child Care Stabilization funding through Illinois DCFS also supported workforce development from 2022 to 2024, though those allocations have wound down. Watch for future workforce-specific funding through Illinois DCFS and INCCRRA.

To apply for T.E.A.C.H., contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency. In Chicago, DFSS administers CCR&R services through the statewide INCCRRA network. ^[6]

One thing nobody tells you. The T.E.A.C.H. application carries a waitlist during high-demand periods. Apply before you register for classes, not after. The wait runs four to eight weeks.

For context on how child care subsidy systems work more broadly, our childcare subsidy overview covers the CCDF framework.

How long does it take to complete CDA classes in Chicago?

Most people finish the 120 training hours in six months to a year. It depends on how many hours a week you can give it and whether you're on a semester schedule in person or working through an online self-paced program.

A full-time Head Start employee in an employer-sponsored cohort might finish the 120 hours in four to six months with structured weekly sessions. A home-based provider squeezing online modules into evenings and weekends might take twelve to eighteen months.

The 480 fieldwork hours run at the same time if you're already employed in a licensed program, which most candidates are. If you're starting fresh with no prior experience, the 480 hours become the real timeline constraint, because they equal about 12 weeks of full-time work.

After training and fieldwork, the Council recommends building your portfolio before scheduling the exam. Portfolio prep realistically takes two to eight weeks, depending on how organized your documentation is. Once you submit your application, the Council schedules your PDS visit and exam. Start to finish, the pipeline commonly runs eight to eighteen months for Chicago candidates who work in child care while completing it. ^[1]

What CDA specialization should Chicago providers choose?

The Council issues CDA credentials in four settings: Infant/Toddler (center-based), Preschool (center-based), Family Child Care, and Home Visitor. ^[1] Pick the one that matches where you actually work.

For Chicago specifically:

If you work in a licensed family child care home, choose the Family Child Care CDA. Illinois DCFS licensing covers family child care homes, and ExceleRate Illinois tracks this credential type separately. ^[2]

If you work in a center-based program with infants and toddlers (birth to 36 months), choose the Infant/Toddler CDA. Chicago's Head Start and Early Head Start programs serving infants often prefer or require it for lead teachers.

If you work in a preschool classroom (typically ages 3 to 5), the Preschool CDA fits. Chicago Pre-K programs, including CPS Early Childhood classrooms and community-based preschools funded through Illinois ISBE, mostly use this track. ^[10]

You can earn more than one CDA, though most people do one at a time. The coursework overlaps a lot across specializations, so a second type later goes faster than the first.

Picking the wrong specialization isn't fatal. The Council lets candidates change their setting designation before the verification visit, but it causes delays. Match your current job from the start.

How does the CDA connect to Illinois DCFS licensing requirements?

Illinois DCFS does not require the CDA credential to get a family child care or center license. ^[7] The licensing rules set minimums for age, background checks, health screenings, and in some cases a minimum number of ECE credit hours for center directors, but the CDA is not a licensing floor.

What it affects is ExceleRate Illinois, the state's tiered quality rating system. ExceleRate rates programs at Licensed, Bronze, Silver, or Gold circles. The Silver Circle requires that lead teachers in center programs hold at least a CDA or its equivalent. The Gold Circle requires an associate's degree or higher. ^[2] Programs at Silver and Gold earn higher CCAP reimbursement, a direct financial benefit.

Illinois DCFS also tracks credentials through the Gateways to Opportunity recognition system, administered by INCCRRA. The CDA is recognized at Gateways Level 2. ^[6] Your Gateways level can shape hiring decisions and wage supplements.

So here's the full picture. The CDA isn't required to be licensed, but it pays off through ExceleRate tiering and Gateways wage incentives. For a Chicago provider trying to run a program that survives, those financial levers are meaningful.

For broader context on licensing in Illinois and nearby states, our daycare center guide covers center-level licensing structures.

What do you actually do in CDA training classes?

CDA coursework is applied, not abstract. The eight Council subject areas map to daily child care practice, and good instructors anchor lessons in scenarios you recognize from your own classroom or home.

A typical 120-hour curriculum at a City Colleges of Chicago ECE program or a well-built online course will cover several things.

Child development theory (Piaget, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner) as a framework for understanding why you do what you do, more than as an academic exercise. You observe children in your own setting and connect what you see to developmental milestones.

Health, safety, and nutrition requirements specific to licensed programs, including Illinois immunization schedules and DCFS health record rules. ^[7]

Curriculum planning and learning environment design, where you think through how your space and daily routines either support children's learning or get in the way. Our overview of preschool curriculum is a useful companion here.

Family engagement, including communication strategies, family conferences, and understanding families' cultural contexts.

Professionalism and advocacy, including your role in the wider early childhood system and how to keep growing.

The portfolio is where it all comes together. You document real evidence from your real workplace: observation notes, photos of learning environments (with parent permission), samples of your written communications with families, and competency statements in your own words. The portfolio isn't a test you cram for. It's a record of what you already do.

How do you find a CDA Professional Development Specialist in Chicago?

The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) is the credentialed professional who runs your verification visit. They observe you working with children for at least two hours, review your portfolio, and complete the verification section of your CDA application. You cannot finish the CDA without a PDS visit. ^[1]

The Council maintains a directory of credentialed PDS professionals on its website. You're responsible for finding and contacting a PDS in your area. In Chicago, your CCR&R (through INCCRRA or DFSS) can often refer local PDS professionals familiar with Illinois practice.

Some CDA programs, particularly cohorts run by community organizations or Head Start, fold PDS coordination into the program. That's a real benefit, because finding a PDS on your own, scheduling the visit around their availability and your children's typical hours, and coordinating with the Council takes actual time.

PDS fees vary. Some charge nothing for candidates already connected to subsidized programs. Independent PDS professionals may charge $50 to $150 for the visit. Clarify the fee before you schedule.

The PDS does not grade on a curve or hunt for reasons to fail you. The visit verifies that what you described in your portfolio matches what happens in your program. Show up, work with your kids the way you normally do, and keep your portfolio organized.

Is an online CDA program as good as an in-person class in Chicago?

It depends on how you learn and how much support you need for the portfolio. That's the honest answer.

The Council accepts training hours from either format as long as the provider is recognized and the content covers the required subject areas. ^[1] Online hours count the same as in-person hours for CDA purposes.

Online programs win on flexibility, self-pacing, cost, and access. If you run a home daycare alone with no paid release time, an online course you can finish at 9 p.m. is the only realistic option.

In-person programs do better on cohort relationships, real-time instructor feedback, face-to-face portfolio review, and accountability. Candidates in instructor-led cohorts tend to complete the CDA at higher rates than people going it alone online. Nobody has published a peer-reviewed study specifically on Chicago completion rates, so treat that as a pattern, not a proven number. The broader adult workforce credentialing literature shows cohort-based programs completing at higher rates than self-paced online, and that matches what Illinois workforce practitioners report.

A hybrid works well for many Chicago providers. Take one or two community college ECE courses in person for the structure and feedback, fill the rest of your hours with online modules from a Council-recognized provider, and log everything in Training Counts. No single institution recommends this officially. It just fits how working providers actually live.

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit includes a tracker template for logging CDA training hours by subject area, useful whether you go online, in person, or both.

What happens after you earn the CDA?

The CDA is good for three years. Before it expires, you renew it. ^[1] Renewal takes 45 hours of continuing education, documentation of your continued work with children, and the renewal fee ($150 as of 2024).

In Illinois, once you hold a CDA, several doors open.

Your program becomes eligible for the ExceleRate Silver Circle if you're a lead teacher, which triggers higher CCAP reimbursement. ^[2]

Your Gateways to Opportunity level moves to Level 2, making you eligible for quarterly Great START wage supplements. ^[6]

Many ECE associate's programs, including some at City Colleges of Chicago, award college credit for the CDA. The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends 12 college credits for the CDA, and some Illinois institutions honor that. ^[9] Before enrolling, ask whether the institution grants credit for CDA holders, and ask to see the written policy. Don't take a recruiter's word.

Many Chicago providers use the CDA as the first step toward an associate's degree in early childhood, which opens higher ExceleRate tiers, better-paying positions, and eventually director or administrator roles. The CDA doesn't box you into a terminal credential. It's a starting point.

For providers tracking their professional development spending alongside business finances, our childcare tax credit article covers what's deductible.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take CDA classes entirely online if I'm in Chicago?

Yes. The Council for Professional Recognition accepts training hours from recognized online providers. National options like ProSolutions Training and CCEI, plus Illinois-based Training Counts, offer fully online 120-hour programs. You still need an in-person Professional Development Specialist visit at your worksite and must pass the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center. The training is fully valid online; the verification visit and exam cannot be done remotely.

How much does it cost to get a CDA in Chicago, all in?

Plan on $570 to $1,385 total, depending on whether you use online training ($125, $525) or community college courses ($450, $900), plus the Council's $425 application and exam fee, and $20 to $75 in portfolio and incidental costs. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships through INCCRRA can cover 80 to 100% of training costs for eligible Illinois child care workers, which cuts your out-of-pocket sharply.

Does the City Colleges of Chicago offer CDA training?

City Colleges of Chicago campuses, including Malcolm X College and Olive-Harvey College, offer early childhood coursework that satisfies CDA training hours across the eight subject areas. You can take individual ECE courses without enrolling in a full degree. Tuition for district residents runs about $148 to $153 per credit hour. Contact the ECE department at your nearest campus to map coursework to CDA subject areas before you register.

Does Illinois require a CDA to get a daycare license?

No. Illinois DCFS does not require the CDA to receive a family child care or center-based daycare license. Licensing rules cover background checks, health screenings, training hours on specific safety topics, and physical facility standards. The CDA matters for ExceleRate Illinois quality rating tiers and Gateways to Opportunity wage incentives, both of which have real financial effects on Illinois providers.

What is the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship and how do I apply in Chicago?

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Illinois is a scholarship program, administered through INCCRRA, that covers tuition, books, and some compensation-related costs for Illinois child care workers pursuing the CDA or ECE college courses. To apply, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency through INCCRRA. In Chicago, DFSS administers CCR&R services. Apply before registering for classes; waitlists can run four to eight weeks during high-demand periods.

How many hours of training do I need for the CDA?

You need exactly 120 clock hours of formal child development training across eight subject areas defined by the Council for Professional Recognition. Those hours must come from a recognized training provider or accredited college. You also need 480 hours of professional experience working with children in your CDA specialization setting within the five years before applying. Both requirements apply regardless of what state you're in.

Can I get my CDA if I run a home daycare in Chicago?

Yes. The Council offers a Family Child Care CDA specifically for providers in home-based settings. The content and hour requirements match other CDA types, but the curriculum examples, portfolio competency statements, and Professional Development Specialist observation are grounded in family child care practice. Illinois-licensed family child care home operators who earn it benefit from higher ExceleRate positioning and Gateways wage supplements.

How long is the CDA credential valid in Illinois?

The CDA is valid for three years from the date of issuance. That's a national standard set by the Council for Professional Recognition, not specific to Illinois. Before expiration, you renew by completing 45 hours of continuing education, documenting ongoing work with children, and paying the renewal fee, which was $150 as of 2024. Illinois T.E.A.C.H. scholarships can sometimes cover renewal-related coursework costs for eligible candidates.

Does the CDA count as college credit in Illinois?

The American Council on Education recommends 12 college credits for CDA holders, and some Illinois institutions, including select City Colleges of Chicago programs, honor that recommendation when CDA holders enroll in an ECE associate's degree. This is not universal. Before enrolling, ask each institution for its written policy on CDA credit articulation. Never rely on a verbal assurance from an admissions counselor; get the policy in writing before registering.

What is the Gateways to Opportunity system and how does the CDA fit in?

Gateways to Opportunity is Illinois's early childhood and school-age professional development registry and credential recognition system, administered by INCCRRA. It assigns credential levels (Level 1 through 5) based on education and credentials. The CDA places holders at Gateways Level 2. Your Gateways level affects eligibility for Great START wage supplements and is visible to employers searching the Illinois professional development database.

What is Training Counts and should I log my CDA hours there?

Training Counts is Illinois's official online professional development registry for early childhood and school-age care professionals, managed through INCCRRA. It tracks your training hours by subject area and date. ExceleRate Illinois and Illinois DCFS recognize hours logged there. Log all CDA training hours in Training Counts, even if the provider doesn't submit them automatically. Create a free account before you start any coursework.

Are there free CDA programs in Chicago?

Fully free programs are rare but real. Chicago-area Head Start grantees sometimes run employer-sponsored CDA cohort programs at no cost to participating staff. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships can bring your cost close to zero if you're eligible. Community organizations like Start Early occasionally partner with colleges to run subsidized cohorts in specific neighborhoods. Check with your local CCR&R through INCCRRA for current offerings. Free programs usually tie enrollment to employment status and employer size.

Can I take CDA classes in Spanish in Chicago?

The Council for Professional Recognition lets CDA candidates complete their portfolio and take the exam in Spanish. Some Chicago-area providers, particularly those serving predominantly Latino communities, offer Spanish-language CDA training. Ask your local CCR&R for Spanish-language CDA training providers in the metro area. The Council's website also lists bilingual training resources, and the exam is available in Spanish at Pearson VUE testing centers.

What's the difference between a CDA and an ECE associate's degree?

The CDA is a competency-based credential earned in months; an associate's degree in ECE takes about two years of college coursework and results in an academic degree. ExceleRate Illinois Silver Circle accepts the CDA for lead teachers, while the Gold Circle requires an associate's or higher. An associate's degree opens more doors and higher pay long term, but the CDA is faster, cheaper, and immediately recognized by ExceleRate and Gateways.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Competency Standards: 120 training hours, 480 fieldwork hours, professional portfolio, CDA Exam ($425 first-time fee), and PDS verification visit are required for the CDA credential
2. Illinois ExceleRate Illinois, INCCRRA: Silver Circle requires lead teachers to hold at least a CDA credential or equivalent; Gold Circle requires associate's degree or higher
3. City Colleges of Chicago, Tuition and Fees: District resident tuition at City Colleges of Chicago runs approximately $148–$153 per credit hour for the 2023-2024 academic year
4. INCCRRA, Training Counts Professional Development Registry: Training Counts is Illinois's official professional development registry tracking early childhood training hours recognized by ExceleRate Illinois and Illinois DCFS
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF Overview: CCDF funds are used by states including Illinois for child care workforce development grants and scholarships
6. INCCRRA, Gateways to Opportunity and T.E.A.C.H. Illinois: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Illinois scholarships cover tuition and book costs for CDA coursework for eligible Illinois child care workers; CDA recognized at Gateways Level 2
7. Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Child Care Licensing Rules: Illinois DCFS licensing rules for family child care homes and centers set minimum requirements for background checks, health screenings, and training but do not require the CDA credential for licensure
8. Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in the State of Illinois Report: Child Care Aware data tracks Illinois licensed child care capacity, workforce credential levels, and CCDF subsidy participation
9. American Council on Education, College Credit Recommendation Service: ACE recommends 12 college credits for CDA credential holders; some Illinois institutions honor this recommendation for ECE degree programs
10. Illinois State Board of Education, Early Childhood Programs: Illinois ISBE funds community-based preschool programs where CDA credential is recognized as a staff qualification