CDA credential in Memphis, Tennessee: how to earn it and why it matters

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the CDA credential and why do Memphis providers pursue it?

The Child Development Associate credential is the most widely held entry-level credential in early childhood education in the United States. It is awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C., and it documents that a caregiver has met a nationally standardized set of competency standards across eight subject areas, from safe learning environments to family partnerships.^[1]

In Memphis and across Shelby County, providers pursue the CDA for three overlapping reasons: state licensing compliance, access to Tennessee's CCDF-funded quality rating system (the formal program name has shifted over time, so check with the Tennessee Department of Human Services for the current one), and personal professional advancement. Tennessee's child care licensing rules administered by TDHS reference credential-based education requirements for lead teachers and directors, and the CDA is an accepted baseline qualification.^[2]

For home-based providers specifically, the CDA in Family Child Care is one of the fastest ways to meet educational benchmarks without completing a two-year degree first. Center-based providers typically pursue the Preschool, Infant/Toddler, or Home Visitor CDA settings depending on their role.

Nobody should earn the CDA purely as a checkbox. The process genuinely improves practice. The portfolio observation alone, where a CDA Professional Development Specialist observes you working with children, tends to surface real classroom habits that paperwork never would.

What are the CDA eligibility requirements in Tennessee?

The Council for Professional Recognition sets national eligibility requirements that apply identically in Memphis as they do anywhere else in the country.^[1] Tennessee does not add its own credential requirements on top of the Council's standards, though TDHS may set additional criteria for how the credential is recognized within state licensing tiers.

To apply for any CDA credential setting you must:

1. Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. 2. Complete at least 120 clock hours of formal early childhood education (ECE) training covering all eight CDA competency subject areas, with no single subject area receiving fewer than 10 hours. 3. Accumulate at least 480 hours of experience working with children in a group setting that matches your credential setting (e.g., working with infants and toddlers if pursuing the Infant/Toddler CDA). 4. Prepare a Professional Portfolio including six competency statements, family questionnaires, and documentation of your training and experience. 5. Pass the CDA Exam, a 65-question computer-based test administered at Pearson VUE testing centers.^[1]

A CDA Professional Development Specialist (PDS) must also conduct a formal verification visit, observing you with children and reviewing your portfolio on-site. In the Memphis area, the Council maintains a directory of PDS professionals you can search by ZIP code on the Council's website.

For the bilingual specialization option, you must document that you work with children and families in two languages and meet a separate language proficiency requirement.^[1]

Where can you complete CDA training in Memphis?

Memphis has real options for completing your 120 required training hours, and the quality and cost vary quite a bit between them.

Southwest Tennessee Community College offers early childhood education coursework that qualifies for CDA training hours. Their ECE certificate and associate degree programs map to CDA competency areas, and individual courses can be taken without enrolling in a full degree program.^[3] Tuition at Southwest Tennessee runs well below private institutions, which matters when you are already paying the Council's exam fees.

National organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Child Care Aware of America offer online training modules that count toward CDA hours.^[4][9] The Council for Professional Recognition itself offers CDA Gold training that bundles coursework directly with the credential application process.

The Shelby County Head Start and Early Head Start program and its local delegate agencies sometimes provide CDA training support for their own staff as part of their federal Program Performance Standards obligations, which require that set percentages of classroom staff hold credentials.^[5] If you work for a Head Start grantee, ask your education coordinator about covered training.

Tennessee's Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, including Mid-South Association for the Education of Young Children (MSAEYC), have historically offered training events and referrals to approved providers in the Memphis metro area. Contact them for a current calendar. Schedules change season to season.

The Council accepts online-only training as long as it is formal, documented instruction (not self-directed reading), delivered by a qualified trainer, and covers the required competency content. For Memphis providers with irregular work schedules, a hybrid approach, a few in-person classes at Southwest Tennessee plus online modules to fill the gaps, often works well in practice.

How much does the CDA credential cost in Memphis?

Budget honestly. The fees add up across several line items, and Tennessee does not have a universal subsidy program that covers them all for every applicant as of the date of this article.

Here is a realistic cost breakdown:

Cost item	Estimated amount
Council application fee (initial CDA)	$425 (Council for Professional Recognition, 2024)[1]
CDA Exam retake fee (if needed)	$250 per attempt
Southwest TN Community College coursework (per credit hour, in-district)	~$150 to $170/credit hour[3]
Online training modules (variable)	$0 to $300 depending on provider
CDA Gold bundled program (Council-run)	~$489 (includes application)
Portfolio printing, materials	$20 to $60

Total out-of-pocket for a Memphis candidate who does low-cost online training plus pays the Council fee runs roughly $500 to $700. Take two or three community college courses to hit your 120 hours and the total can reach $1,200 to $1,800 including fees.

Tennessee's Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) state plan allocates quality improvement funds that can sometimes reimburse or subsidize credential costs for providers serving CCDF-eligible families.^[6] The specific scholarship or reimbursement program available to Shelby County providers changes year to year, so contact TDHS directly or ask your local CCR&R whether T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Tennessee scholarships are currently active in your area. T.E.A.C.H. is the most common vehicle nationally for subsidizing CDA costs, and Tennessee has participated in the program.^[7]

If you work in a Head Start program in Memphis, your employer may cover the Council fee and training costs entirely under their annual program budget. Ask before paying anything out of pocket.

How does the CDA credential connect to Tennessee child care licensing?

Tennessee's child care licensing rules are set by the Tennessee Department of Human Services under the Child Care Rules, codified in the Tennessee Administrative Code. Under Rule 1240-04-01, licensed child care centers must meet staff qualification standards that reference education and training benchmarks.^[2] The CDA credential satisfies several of those benchmarks depending on the staff role.

For lead teachers (called primary caregivers in some TDHS language), a CDA in the appropriate setting generally satisfies the education requirement for staff who do not hold a two-year or four-year degree. Directors of licensed centers face higher-level qualifications, though a CDA combined with experience credit may partially satisfy director requirements depending on the program type and capacity.

Home-based providers operating as licensed family child care homes in Tennessee face their own licensing rules under the same administrative code. A Family Child Care CDA can satisfy training-hour documentation requirements and may affect which licensing tier a provider qualifies for.

Tennessee ties subsidy reimbursement rates to quality levels. Providers enrolled in the state's quality improvement program who hold higher credentials, including CDAs, may qualify for tiered reimbursement rate enhancements above the base CCDF rate. According to Tennessee's approved CCDF State Plan, the state uses quality indicators including staff education levels to differentiate reimbursement.^[6] That direct financial benefit is something Memphis providers often underestimate when they think of the CDA as only a compliance item.

For the current staff qualification requirements, read the latest version of Tennessee Administrative Code 1240-04-01 directly or call TDHS licensing at their Nashville main office. Rules get amended, and what applied two years ago may have changed.

What is the step-by-step CDA application process?

The Council runs the application through an online system. Here is how it actually works, in order:

Step 1. Confirm your eligibility. You need your high school diploma or GED in hand, your 480 fieldwork hours either completed or very close to it, and a plan for how you will finish your 120 training hours if you have not already.

Step 2. Complete your 120 training hours. Document every session with dates, trainer name, organization, number of hours, and the CDA competency subject area covered. The Council's application asks you to map each training to a competency area.

Step 3. Collect your Family Questionnaires. The Council requires that families of children you currently work with complete a brief questionnaire about your performance. The Council provides the form. You distribute, collect, and seal the envelopes yourself.

Step 4. Write your Competency Statements. These are six reflective essays describing how you meet each CDA functional area in your daily practice. Ground each one in real examples from your setting.

Step 5. Assemble your Professional Portfolio. This combines your competency statements, training documentation, family questionnaires, and a resource collection of materials you use in practice.

Step 6. Submit your online application to the Council and pay the $425 fee.^[1] The Council assigns you an application number.

Step 7. Schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a credentialed PDS. The PDS observes you working with children for at least two hours and reviews your portfolio. In Memphis, you find PDS professionals through the Council's PDS locator tool.

Step 8. Schedule and take the CDA Exam at a Pearson VUE test center. Memphis has Pearson VUE authorized centers. Check the Pearson VUE site for current locations near you.

Step 9. The Council reviews all materials and issues your credential, typically within 4 to 6 weeks of exam completion if everything is in order.^[1]

The whole process, from starting training to holding the credential, realistically takes 6 months for someone already working in a program with access to organized training, and up to 18 months for someone building hours from scratch.

How do you renew your CDA credential in Tennessee?

CDA credentials issued after January 1, 2006 are valid for three years from the date of issuance.^[1] Renewal requires 45 clock hours of professional development completed during the three-year credentialing period, plus a renewal fee.

As of the Council's current fee schedule, CDA renewal costs $150 if renewed before the expiration date. Let the credential lapse and the fee increases, and you may face additional requirements depending on how long it has lapsed.^[1]

For Memphis providers, those 45 renewal hours can come from the same sources as initial training: Southwest Tennessee Community College continuing education, MSAEYC trainings, NAEYC online modules, or other approved professional development. TDHS may also track renewal status as part of ongoing licensing compliance, so keeping documentation organized matters.

Mark your expiration date on your calendar three to six months out and start banking hours early. The most common renewal mistake is treating 45 hours as a small lift and then scrambling in the last 60 days.

The Council's renewal application is fully online. You document your 45 hours, provide a statement of professional philosophy, and submit the fee. No new verification visit is required for standard renewal.

Does the CDA credential affect CCDF subsidy eligibility or reimbursement rates in Memphis?

Yes, and this is where the credential carries real financial weight for Memphis providers, more than compliance weight.

Tennessee participates in the federal Child Care and Development Fund program, which provides subsidies to eligible low-income families and sets the framework for how states reimburse providers.^[6][8] Tennessee's CCDF State Plan describes how the state distributes quality funds, including funds tied to provider credential status and participation in quality improvement activities.

According to Child Care Aware of America's annual data, Tennessee's licensed child care capacity and subsidy system serves a substantial share of Shelby County families.^[4] Providers who hold higher credentials and participate in quality rating programs may access tiered reimbursement rates above the base market rate survey rates. The CDA is typically the entry-level credential that qualifies a provider for the first quality tier in such systems.

For families, this connects to the childcare subsidy system: CCDF subsidies pay a provider rate that varies by quality level, so a credentialed provider may serve more subsidy families while collecting a higher rate per child than an uncredentialed provider at the base rate.

Contact the Tennessee CCDF agency (TDHS, Division of Child Care Services) directly for the current tiered reimbursement rate table for Shelby County. Those rates update periodically, and the specific dollar differences between quality tiers are not always published in a single accessible document.

Providers should also know that the federal childcare tax credit and subsidy systems interact. A Memphis provider who becomes credentialed may find their families have more financing options available, which supports enrollment stability.

How does the CDA compare to other early childhood credentials available in Tennessee?

Memphis providers sometimes ask whether the CDA is worth pursuing compared to an associate's degree or the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) certificates. Here is an honest comparison.

Credential / Degree	Typical time to complete	Approximate cost	Recognized in TN licensing
CDA credential	6 to 18 months	$500 to $1,800 total	Yes, as staff qualification
TECTA certificate (TN)	Varies, typically 1 to 2 years	Low to no cost (state-funded)	Yes
AAS in Early Childhood Education	2 years	$8,000 to $20,000+	Yes, at higher tier
Bachelor's in Child Development	4 years	$30,000 to $80,000+	Yes, highest tier

The CDA is the fastest and cheapest path to a nationally recognized credential. It does not substitute for a degree in terms of salary or director qualification in most cases, but it is the right starting point for someone early in their career or someone who needs to meet a licensing benchmark without committing to a multi-year academic program.

TECTA certificates, funded through Tennessee, are worth investigating alongside the CDA because they may be entirely free for qualifying Memphis providers and can feed into CDA training hours at the same time. The two pathways are not mutually exclusive.

For building your cda credential strategy across a longer career arc, the national credential ladder goes: CDA, associate's degree, bachelor's, and graduate work in early childhood leadership. Each step increases both options and typically compensation.

Providers with CDAs often re-examine their preschool curriculum approach during the competency statement writing process. The CDA portfolio pushes you to articulate why you do what you do in the classroom, which is genuinely useful no matter what the paperwork demands.

What resources in the Memphis area can help you through the CDA process?

Getting the CDA done takes training hours, a PDS, and paperwork management. None of those are impossible to find in Memphis, but you have to be proactive because no single office coordinates everything for you.

Southwest Tennessee Community College (southwest.tn.edu) is the most accessible postsecondary starting point for training hours. Their early childhood education department can advise you on which courses map to which CDA competency areas.^[3]

Mid-South Association for the Education of Young Children (affiliated with NAEYC) is the local chapter that organizes professional development events, sometimes including CDA cohort programs or workshops. Check their current calendar.

Tennessee Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care Services handles licensing and can connect you with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency.^[10] CCR&R agencies are federally mandated under CCDF to provide technical assistance to providers, which includes credential navigation support.^[6]

The Council for Professional Recognition's website (cdacouncil.org) is where you apply, find a PDS, and access the Competency Standards handbook, the document that defines exactly what the credential measures.^[1]

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Tennessee, if currently active in Shelby County, can provide scholarship funds for tuition and fees. Organizations like Child Care Aware of America track which states have active T.E.A.C.H. programs.^[4][7]

For operators building a broader compliance and staffing system, the ChildCareComp compliance toolkit pulls together licensing requirement tracking, staff qualification documentation, and training hour logs in one place, which helps once you are managing credential status for more than one or two staff members.

Head Start programs in Memphis (operated through MIFA, Shelby County government, and other local grantees) have education coordinators whose job is partly to support staff credential attainment. If a Head Start program employs you, that person is your best first call.

For home-based providers weighing a preschool curriculum for 3 year olds alongside their CDA studies, the portfolio work will naturally push you toward more intentional curriculum planning. That makes it a reasonable time to also evaluate your program's educational approach.

What does Tennessee require for Head Start staff CDA compliance?

Head Start programs in Memphis, whether operated by MIFA, Shelby County, or delegate agencies, must comply with the federal Head Start Program Performance Standards, which run more specific than Tennessee's state licensing rules on staff credentials.^[5]

The Head Start Act and the Performance Standards at 45 CFR Part 1302 require that at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide hold an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field. The law states: "not less than 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide in Head Start programs... shall have... a baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education."^[5]

For staff who do not yet hold a degree, the CDA credential is the minimum requirement for a Head Start teacher. That makes the CDA effectively mandatory for Memphis Head Start classroom staff who are working toward the degree requirement but have not completed it.

Early Head Start programs serving infants and toddlers have their own staffing requirements under the same Performance Standards. The CDA in the Infant/Toddler setting satisfies the minimum credential for Early Head Start home visitors and classroom teachers in many circumstances, though the degree requirement remains the long-term target.

Head Start grantees in Memphis must keep a documented professional development plan for each staff member, mapping out how and when they will attain higher qualifications. The CDA is often step one in that plan.

What are realistic timelines and pitfalls for Memphis CDA candidates?

Six to eighteen months is the honest range, and the variance comes from two things: how quickly you accumulate your 120 training hours, and how fast you can schedule a PDS verification visit.

The most common delays Memphis candidates report (based on what licensing consultants and CCR&R staff consistently describe anecdotally) are running out of training options in a specific competency area, finding a PDS, and procrastinating on the competency statements.

On the PDS problem: the Council requires a PDS who is credentialed at a higher level than you and has completed their PDS training. A metro area like Memphis should have available PDS professionals, but you may need to reach out to three or four before finding someone whose schedule fits yours. Start the PDS search much earlier than you think you need to, ideally while you are still finishing your final training hours.

On the competency statements: most candidates underestimate them. These are reflective professional essays, closer to short papers than checklists. Set aside real time, at least a few evenings per statement, and have someone read them before submission.

On training gaps: if you have taken a lot of general child development training but nothing specifically on program management or family partnerships (two common weak spots), you may come up short of the 10-hour minimum per competency area. Map your training hours by competency area early, not at the end.

For center directors managing staff pursuing CDAs, tracking each person's progress against the Council's requirements across multiple people is where an organized system pays off. The ChildCareComp compliance toolkit centralizes staff qualification documentation, which manages that load at scale.

One last thing: apply for the Council's credential before you technically have every single hour complete. The application opens a 12-month window during which you finalize your verification visit and exam. You do not need 480 field hours and 120 training hours perfectly in hand before you start.

Frequently asked questions

Can I complete my CDA training hours entirely online in Tennessee?

Yes. The Council for Professional Recognition accepts online training as long as it is formal instruction delivered by a qualified trainer, documented with dates and hours, and covers the required competency areas. No single competency area can have fewer than 10 of your 120 total hours. Many Memphis candidates use a mix of Southwest Tennessee Community College coursework and online modules from NAEYC or Child Care Aware of America to reach 120 hours efficiently.

Does Tennessee accept the CDA as a substitute for a college degree in licensing requirements?

The CDA satisfies staff education requirements at the entry level under Tennessee Administrative Code 1240-04-01, but it does not replace an associate's or bachelor's degree for director qualification or higher licensing tiers. Lead teacher requirements in many center types can be met with a CDA, while director roles typically require a two-year degree or higher. Check the current TDHS licensing rules for the specific program type you operate.

How much does the CDA exam cost in 2024?

The Council for Professional Recognition charges $425 for the initial CDA credential application, which includes the exam fee. Fail and need to retake the 65-question Pearson VUE exam, and each retake costs $250. The CDA renewal fee is $150 if completed before the credential expires. These fees are set by the Council nationally and apply to Memphis candidates the same as anywhere in the United States.

Where is the nearest Pearson VUE testing center to Memphis for the CDA exam?

Pearson VUE authorized test centers operate throughout the Memphis metro area. The exact locations change over time as centers open and close, so use the Pearson VUE test center locator at pearsonvue.com and search by your ZIP code after scheduling your exam through the Council's application system. Most candidates find at least one center within 15 to 20 miles of downtown Memphis.

Does the CDA credential expire and how do I renew it in Tennessee?

Yes. CDA credentials are valid for three years from issuance. Renewal requires 45 clock hours of professional development completed during that three-year period plus a $150 renewal fee submitted online through the Council's website. TDHS may track credential status as part of ongoing licensing compliance reviews, so renewing on time matters beyond just keeping the credential itself. Start banking renewal hours well before the expiration date.

Is there financial help available for the CDA in Memphis or Tennessee?

Potentially yes. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Tennessee scholarships have historically covered CDA fees and related coursework costs for qualifying providers. Tennessee's CCDF quality improvement funds can also support credential attainment for providers serving subsidized families. Head Start staff may have fees covered by their grantee's program budget. Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency or TDHS directly to find what is currently available in Shelby County, since program availability shifts year to year.

What CDA setting should a Memphis home daycare provider choose?

Home daycare providers running a licensed family child care home in Tennessee should pursue the Family Child Care (FCC) CDA setting. This setting addresses the competencies specific to home-based care, including managing a mixed-age group, integrating family life and child care, and home safety environments. The Preschool CDA is built for center-based classroom settings and does not directly match the home care context for Tennessee licensing recognition.

How do I find a CDA Professional Development Specialist (PDS) in Memphis?

Use the Council for Professional Recognition's PDS locator tool at cdacouncil.org. Search by your ZIP code or state to find credentialed PDS professionals in the Memphis area. Contact several early since scheduling a two-hour observation visit around both your work schedule and theirs can take weeks to coordinate. Your local CCR&R agency or the Mid-South AEYC may also keep informal referral lists of active local PDS professionals.

Does the CDA credential qualify a Memphis teacher for Head Start employment?

Yes, the CDA is the minimum credential required for Head Start classroom teachers under the federal Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1302). Federal law also requires at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationally to hold an associate's or bachelor's degree in ECE or a related field. So while a CDA meets the minimum for employment, Head Start grantees in Memphis expect staff to actively work toward a degree as the longer-term requirement.

Can I count my Tennessee TECTA training hours toward my CDA?

In many cases, yes. Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) courses are formal documented training delivered by qualified trainers, which is what the Council requires. You would need to confirm that the specific TECTA course content maps to one or more of the eight CDA competency subject areas and that you received a certificate of completion documenting hours and trainer credentials. Talk to both your TECTA advisor and review the Council's training documentation requirements before assuming all hours will count.

How does earning a CDA affect my daycare's reimbursement rates under Tennessee's CCDF system?

Tennessee's CCDF State Plan links quality improvement funds and potentially tiered reimbursement rates to provider credential and quality rating status. A provider who holds a CDA and participates in the state's quality rating program may qualify for enhanced reimbursement rates above the base rate for serving CCDF-subsidized children. The exact dollar difference between tiers depends on the current TDHS rate table for Shelby County. Contact the Division of Child Care Services for current figures, since rates update periodically.

What are the eight CDA subject areas I must cover in my 120 training hours?

The Council requires training hours distributed across: (1) Planning a Safe, Healthy Learning Environment; (2) Advancing Children's Physical and Intellectual Development; (3) Supporting Children's Social and Emotional Development; (4) Building Productive Relationships with Families; (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 and Learning. No area can have fewer than 10 hours.

Is the CDA credential recognized in other states if I move from Memphis?

Yes. The CDA is a national credential awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition and is recognized by child care licensing agencies in all 50 states and many countries. If you move from Memphis to another state, your CDA stays valid through its three-year expiration date. You would need to check the new state's specific licensing rules to confirm how the CDA satisfies their staff qualification requirements, since recognition thresholds vary by state and program type.

What is the difference between the initial CDA and the CDA renewal process?

The initial CDA requires 120 training hours, 480 fieldwork hours, a complete professional portfolio with family questionnaires and competency statements, a PDS verification visit, and passing the 65-question exam. The renewal, due every three years, requires only 45 hours of continuing professional development and a $150 fee submitted online. No new verification visit or exam is required for standard renewal. Let your credential lapse past expiration and additional requirements and higher fees apply.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Competency Standards and Requirements: CDA requires 120 training hours, 480 fieldwork hours, portfolio, PDS verification visit, and a $425 application fee; credentials are valid three years; renewal requires 45 hours and $150 fee
2. Tennessee Secretary of State, Tennessee Administrative Code 1240-04-01, Child Care Center Licensing Rules: Tennessee's child care licensing rules under Title 1240 set staff qualification requirements for lead teachers and directors at licensed child care centers
3. Southwest Tennessee Community College, Early Childhood Education Program: Southwest Tennessee Community College offers ECE coursework aligned with CDA competency areas; in-district credit hour tuition approximately $150 to $170
4. Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in America State Fact Sheets: Child Care Aware of America tracks Tennessee licensed child care capacity, subsidy data, and T.E.A.C.H. program availability by state
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1302): Head Start Performance Standards require that Head Start teachers hold at minimum a CDA credential, with at least 50 percent nationwide holding an associate's or bachelor's degree; federal law states 'not less than 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide...shall have...a baccalaureate or advanced degree in early childhood education'
6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, Tennessee CCDF State Plan: Tennessee's approved CCDF State Plan allocates quality improvement funds linked to provider credential status and participation in quality rating activities, which may affect reimbursement rates
7. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center, T.E.A.C.H. Program Overview: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships provide financial assistance for CDA fees and coursework to qualifying early childhood providers; Tennessee has participated in the program
8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Fund Overview: CCDF funds child care subsidies for low-income families and supports quality improvement activities including credential attainment; Tennessee administers CCDF through TDHS
9. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Professional Development Resources: NAEYC offers online training modules that qualify for CDA training hours and covers all eight CDA competency subject areas
10. Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Care Services: TDHS administers child care licensing, CCDF subsidy, and quality improvement programs for Tennessee including Shelby County; Division of Child Care Services oversees provider credentialing recognition