CDA credential in Minnesota: requirements, costs, and how to apply

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the CDA credential and why does it matter in Minnesota?

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that has set the national standard for early childhood competency since 1975. It is not a degree. It is the most widely recognized entry-level professional credential in U.S. early childhood education, and in Minnesota it carries real financial weight.

Minnesota's Parent Aware quality rating system, run by the Department of Human Services (DHS), awards points when lead teachers hold a CDA or higher credential ^[1]. Those points move your star rating. Your star rating decides whether families using child care assistance (CCAP) can pick your program and how much you get paid per child. Minnesota's CCAP reimbursement rates are tiered, so a higher Parent Aware rating means more money per subsidized child ^[2].

Some Minnesota counties and nonprofits offer scholarship dollars for CDA training and exam fees through Child Care Aware of Minnesota, the state's CCDF-funded child care resource and referral network ^[3]. The credential can pay for itself fast if you serve subsidized families.

For center staff, a CDA can also help satisfy Minnesota Rule 9503, which sets minimum qualifications for child care center teachers. The rule lets a CDA count toward the basic teacher qualification when it is paired with the required experience ^[4]. Family child care providers licensed under Minnesota Rule 9502 do not need a CDA, but the credential is recognized as a professional milestone in the Parent Aware framework.

What are the eligibility requirements for the CDA in Minnesota?

The requirements come from the Council for Professional Recognition, not the state of Minnesota. Minnesota does not issue its own CDA. It recognizes the Council's credential in its licensing and quality rating rules, and that is the extent of the state's involvement.

To apply for a CDA, you meet four requirements set by the Council:

1. Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent. 2. Complete 120 clock hours of professional education in early childhood development and education. At least 10 of those hours must land in each of the eight CDA subject areas (planning a safe environment, advancing children's physical development, social-emotional development, language development, cognitive development, building family partnerships, program management, and professionalism). 3. Complete 480 hours of experience working with children in the age group that matches your credential type (infant/toddler, preschool, family child care, or home visitor). The experience must fall within the five years before you apply. 4. Prepare a Professional Portfolio with specific documentation, including family questionnaires and reflective competency statements.

The Council's eligibility summary states that applicants must have "current experience working with children within the age group of the credential setting" as part of the 480-hour rule ^[5]. That detail trips people up. If you left the classroom two years ago and just returned, you may need to log more recent hours before your application date.

Minnesota adds no extra eligibility layer. You apply directly to the Council, take the CDA exam at a Pearson VUE test center (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth all have locations), and get your credential from the Council, not from DHS.

How many training hours do you need, and what counts in Minnesota?

The 120-hour training requirement eats the most time and money. The Council accepts formal coursework from accredited colleges, workshops, seminars, conferences, and online training, as long as the content sits inside the eight subject areas ^[5].

Minnesota providers use a few common pathways:

Community and technical colleges. Normandale Community College, Metropolitan State University, Inver Hills Community College, and Hennepin Technical College all teach early childhood coursework that maps to CDA subject areas. A single 3-credit introductory course usually runs 45 to 48 contact hours, so two or three courses cover most of the 120-hour requirement.

Child Care Aware of Minnesota training. The network runs workshops and online modules, some free or low-cost through CCDF-funded professional development dollars ^[3]. Family child care providers who cannot get to a college classroom lean on these.

Minnesota's Develop registry. Develop tracks your completed training and is the system Minnesota's quality rating framework uses to verify hours. If your training is not logged in Develop, it does not exist for Parent Aware purposes, even when it satisfies the Council's CDA rules. Log everything. You can reach the Minnesota registry through Child Care Aware of Minnesota ^[3].

Online CDA training programs. The Council lists approved online providers. Full 120-hour packages usually cost $150 to $600. Quality varies a lot. I'd pick one that gives you individual transcripts and maps course content explicitly to the eight CDA subject areas, because you have to document that coverage when you submit your Professional Portfolio.

Here is the part nobody tells new applicants: the 120 hours do not have to come from one place. Most people who finish patch together college credits, local workshops, and online modules over 12 to 24 months.

How does the CDA exam work and what does it cost?

The CDA exam is administered by Pearson VUE. It has 65 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of one hour and 45 minutes, and it tests across all eight competency areas ^[5]. Results are usually available the same day.

Fees as of 2024 and 2025 (the Council updates its fee schedule periodically, so check the Council's site before you budget):

Item	Fee
CDA application (center-based or home visitor)	$425
CDA application (family child care setting)	$425
Retake (if needed)	$150
CDA renewal (every 3 years)	$150

The $425 application fee covers your exam sitting and the credential itself if you pass. You pay it when you submit your online application through the Council's website, then schedule your Pearson VUE appointment separately at no extra cost.

Minnesota funding matters here. Child Care Aware of Minnesota runs T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Minnesota scholarships, which can pay for CDA training coursework and sometimes the exam fee, depending on the money available in a given year ^[3]. T.E.A.C.H. is federally supported through CCDF dollars, and scholarship availability rises and falls with legislative appropriations ^[6]. Apply early in the funding year.

If you work at a licensed center, your employer may also have access to Minnesota DHS professional development grants. Ask your licensing specialist, or call Child Care Aware of Minnesota's resource line directly.

What is the Professional Portfolio and what goes in it?

The Professional Portfolio is the documentation package you build before you submit your CDA application. The Council spells out exactly what it must include ^[5]:

• Six Competency Goal Statements, one for each functional area, written by you about your own practice.
• Family Questionnaires completed by at least six families you currently serve. The Council provides the form.
• Documentation of your 120 training hours (transcripts, certificates, or letters on letterhead).
• Documentation of your 480 hours of experience (an employer letter, or for family child care providers, a signed verification from a professional who can attest to your work).
• A Family-Style Meal observation, or for some settings, an alternative professional activity.

Most applicants find the Competency Goal Statements the hardest part. Each one should run 200 to 500 words and tie your actual daily practices to specific child outcomes. These are not essays about your beliefs. They describe what you do and why it matters for the children in front of you.

Minnesota's T.E.A.C.H. scholarships sometimes include an advisor. If you can get advisor support, take it. A good advisor reviews your portfolio before submission and catches the errors that cause delays or denials.

How long does the CDA process take from start to finish?

Six to eighteen months is realistic, and the range depends almost entirely on how fast you can stack up training hours and experience.

The bottleneck is usually the 120 training hours. Starting from zero and taking community college courses part-time while working full-time in a classroom, two semesters gets you to roughly 90 hours. Add a few workshops logged in Develop and you hit 120 in about a year.

If you already have 480 hours of experience and most of your training documented, the application-to-exam turnaround moves faster. Once you submit a complete application, the Council typically schedules your verification visit (with a CDA Professional Development Specialist) within 60 days. After the visit, you take the Pearson VUE exam, and results usually come back the same day.

The Council issues the actual credential within four to six weeks of passing ^[5]. Plan for that lag if you need the credential for a licensing compliance date or a Parent Aware review window.

A practical note for Minnesota family child care providers: if you are chasing a higher Parent Aware star rating and your renewal is close, line up the rating timeline against the CDA timeline. Do not start the CDA six weeks before a Parent Aware assessment and expect to use it for that assessment.

How does the CDA connect to Minnesota's Parent Aware quality rating system?

Parent Aware is Minnesota's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), run by DHS. It rates licensed child care programs on a four-star scale, and staff credentials are one of the highest-weighted parts of the rating ^[1].

A lead teacher or family child care provider who holds a CDA earns points in the Staff Qualifications domain. The exact points depend on your program type and the version of the rating tool in effect, but under DHS's published rating criteria a CDA earns more points than no credential and fewer than an associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood ^[1].

Here is why the rating matters to your bank account. Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) pays providers a tiered rate based on their Parent Aware star rating. A two-star program collects a higher reimbursement rate than an unrated program, and a four-star program collects more than a two-star program ^[2]. For a provider serving even a handful of CCAP families, the monthly revenue gap can beat the cost of the CDA many times over in the first year.

Parent Aware also opens access to DHS quality improvement grants and the Read to Succeed program, which sends free books to children in higher-rated programs. None of that requires a CDA specifically, but the CDA is the most reachable first credential for providers who are not going the college-degree route.

For curriculum tools that strengthen a Parent Aware rating alongside your CDA, the cda credential overview covers the national picture, and preschool curriculum helps you build the documented learning environment assessors look for.

Does Minnesota require the CDA for child care center staff or family child care providers?

No. Minnesota does not require a CDA to be licensed as a family child care provider or to work as a child care center teacher. But the word "require" hides a lot of nuance.

For licensed family child care providers under Minnesota Rule 9502, the state requires 16 hours of orientation training before licensure plus ongoing annual training hours, and no specific credential ^[7]. The CDA is voluntary here.

For child care center teachers under Minnesota Rule 9503, the minimum qualification is different from a CDA. The rule lays out an experience-and-education matrix. A CDA can substitute for part of the education requirement in certain staff positions, but the exact pathway depends on the role (teacher, assistant teacher, director) and the age group served ^[4]. If you plan to use a CDA to satisfy a center's staffing qualification, get your licensing specialist to confirm in writing that your specific combination of credential, experience, and role qualifies under Rule 9503 before you rely on it.

What Minnesota does instead of mandating the CDA is make it worth your money. The Parent Aware and CCAP rate structure means providers who earn the CDA generally see better reimbursement than those who don't.

What training programs and resources are available specifically in Minnesota?

Minnesota has stronger CDA support than most states, thanks to steady CCDF investment through Child Care Aware of Minnesota ^[3].

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Minnesota. This scholarship program, run by Child Care Aware of Minnesota, covers tuition, books, and sometimes the exam fee for eligible providers and center staff. You typically need to work a minimum number of hours per week in a licensed Minnesota program to qualify. Apply through Child Care Aware of Minnesota's website ^[3].

MN Develop registry. Develop is Minnesota's online professional development registry where you log completed training. When you apply for Parent Aware or a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship, your Develop transcript is the main evidence of your training history. Register before you start stacking hours, not after.

Community and technical college CDA programs. Several Minnesota State system colleges offer CDA preparation pathways, including Normandale Community College in Bloomington and Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights ^[9]. Some programs build in CDA advising.

Child Care Aware of Minnesota regional resource lines. The state runs a network of regional CCR&R offices. Staff connect you with local training calendars, scholarship applications, and CDA advisor referrals. The main line and regional contacts are on the Child Care Aware of Minnesota website ^[3].

Online options. The Council for Professional Recognition lists approved online CDA training programs. Costs run roughly $150 to $600 for the full 120-hour package. These work well for providers in Greater Minnesota, where the nearest college campus can be an hour away.

If you are tracking licensing compliance across several staff members, a compliance tracking tool like the one at ChildCareComp keeps training hours, renewal dates, and credential documentation in one place, which matters most as you assemble Parent Aware documentation.

How do you renew the CDA credential in Minnesota?

The CDA is valid for three years. Renewal takes:

• 45 hours of continuing education in early childhood development or a related field, completed during the three-year period ^[5].
• Current experience working with children (you must still be in the field).
• A completed renewal application submitted through the Council's website.
• A $150 renewal fee.

Minnesota has no separate renewal process. You renew directly with the Council. Update your Develop registry profile and your Parent Aware documentation after you renew so your quality rating reflects the current credential.

One thing people miss: the 45 renewal hours can usually include training you logged for other purposes, including required annual training under Minnesota licensing rules. You are not necessarily doing 45 extra hours on top of your licensing training. Verify with the Council which content categories count, because not everything qualifies.

If your CDA lapses, the Council has a reinstatement process, but it costs more than a timely renewal and can demand extra documentation. Set a calendar reminder 12 months before your expiration date. Three years moves faster than it sounds.

How does the CDA compare to other Minnesota early childhood credentials?

Minnesota's early childhood credential ladder has rungs above and below the CDA:

Credential / Degree	Approximate Time	Approximate Cost	Parent Aware Weight
No credential	0	$0	Lowest
CDA	6-18 months	$600-$1,500 total	Mid-level points
AAS in Early Childhood Education	2 years	$10,500-$20,000	Higher points
BA/BS in Early Childhood Education	4 years	$40,000-$80,000	Highest points
Minnesota Inclusion Specialist credential	Varies	Varies	Supplementary

Cost estimates are approximate. Community college tuition in Minnesota runs roughly $175 to $230 per credit as of 2024, so a 60-credit AAS totals $10,500 to $13,800 in tuition alone before fees and books ^[9].

The CDA wins on time and money. For providers who want a professional credential without signing up for two or four years of college, it is the clearest path. It also stacks. Many Minnesota community college programs accept CDA coursework for credit, so earning the CDA first does not close the door on an AAS later.

If your classroom runs a specific curriculum, documenting how you implement it strengthens both your CDA portfolio and your Parent Aware rating. Creative curriculum for preschool and free preschool curriculum give you a starting point for that documentation.

What happens after you earn the CDA? Next steps for Minnesota providers

Earning the CDA is a starting gate, not a finish line.

Right after your credential arrives, update your Develop registry. This is what Parent Aware assessors and T.E.A.C.H. scholarship administrators verify. If you have not applied for Parent Aware yet, now is a reasonable time to start, because you finally have documentation that moves your rating.

If you serve CCAP families, confirm with your county financial worker or through the DHS provider portal that your updated credential and Parent Aware status show up in your reimbursement tier. Rate updates are not always automatic ^[2].

The logical next step for professional growth is an associate degree in early childhood education from a Minnesota State system college. Many programs accept CDA coursework for credit, which shortens the program. After an AAS, a bachelor's degree through a transfer pathway is possible at several Minnesota universities, including Metropolitan State University and St. Cloud State University ^[9].

For family child care providers thinking about opening a center someday, the CDA and the credentials that follow help satisfy director and teacher qualification requirements under Minnesota Rule 9503 ^[4]. Understanding the full licensing picture, including ratios and inspections, matters at that stage. The daycare center: what it is, what it costs, how it's licensed article walks through that transition.

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit is worth bookmarking as you move through renewal cycles and Parent Aware documentation. Keeping training hours, credential dates, and licensing documents in one place saves real time during audits and rating assessments.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get a CDA in Minnesota?

Budget $600 to $1,500 total. The Council for Professional Recognition charges $425 for the application and exam. Training to meet the 120-hour requirement adds $150 to $600 depending on whether you use online programs or community college courses. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Minnesota scholarships, administered by Child Care Aware of Minnesota, can cover some or all of these costs for eligible providers working in licensed programs.

Does Minnesota require a CDA to open a family child care home?

No. Minnesota Rule 9502 does not require a CDA credential for licensed family child care providers. The state requires 16 hours of pre-licensure orientation training and ongoing annual training, but no specific credential. The CDA is voluntary, though it earns points in the Parent Aware quality rating system, which can raise reimbursement rates for providers serving CCAP-funded families.

Can I get my CDA online in Minnesota?

Yes, for the 120 hours of required training. The Council for Professional Recognition approves several online training providers whose coursework counts toward the CDA. The final exam, however, must be taken in person at a Pearson VUE test center. Minnesota has Pearson VUE locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth. You submit your application and portfolio online through the Council's website.

How does the CDA affect my Minnesota child care assistance reimbursement rate?

The CDA does not directly change your CCAP reimbursement rate. It affects your Parent Aware quality star rating, and Minnesota's CCAP reimbursement tiers are tied to that rating. Providers with higher Parent Aware ratings receive higher reimbursement per subsidized child. Earning a CDA adds credential points to your Parent Aware rating, which can move you into a higher reimbursement tier if you are already close to a threshold.

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

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Minnesota is a scholarship program administered by Child Care Aware of Minnesota using federal CCDF funds. It covers tuition, books, and sometimes the CDA exam fee for eligible providers and center staff. To qualify, you typically need to work a minimum number of hours per week in a licensed Minnesota child care program. Apply through Child Care Aware of Minnesota's website. Scholarship availability varies by funding year.

How long is the CDA credential valid in Minnesota?

Three years, the same as in every other state. The CDA is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition, not by Minnesota, so the validity period is set nationally. Renewal requires 45 hours of continuing education, current experience working with children, and a $150 renewal fee paid to the Council. Minnesota requires you to update your credential in the Develop professional development registry after renewal.

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

The Council for Professional Recognition requires at least 10 training hours in each of these eight areas: planning a safe and healthy environment, advancing physical and intellectual competence, 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 principles of child development. The 10 hours per area are the minimum; total hours must reach 120.

Can CDA training hours count toward my Minnesota licensing training requirement?

In many cases, yes, though you need to verify with your licensing specialist. Minnesota Rule 9502 requires family child care providers to complete annual training hours in specific topic areas. If your CDA training covers overlapping topics, those hours may satisfy both requirements at once. Log all training in the Develop registry with enough documentation to show topic coverage, because licensing specialists and Council reviewers use different but overlapping criteria.

Is the CDA accepted as a teacher qualification for Minnesota child care centers?

It can be, depending on the role and experience combination. Minnesota Rule 9503 sets out teacher qualification requirements for licensed child care centers using an experience-and-education matrix. A CDA may satisfy the education component for certain positions, particularly assistant teacher or teacher roles, when combined with required work experience. Get written confirmation from your DHS licensing specialist that your specific credential-and-experience combination qualifies before relying on it for staffing compliance.

What is Minnesota's Develop registry and why do I need it for the CDA?

Develop is Minnesota's online professional development registry where providers and staff log completed training hours. It is the primary verification tool used by Parent Aware assessors, T.E.A.C.H. scholarship administrators, and licensing specialists. Log your CDA training hours in Develop as you complete them, not all at once at the end. If a training is not in Develop, state systems cannot verify it even when the Council accepts it for CDA purposes.

What types of CDA credentials are available and which one should Minnesota providers choose?

The Council offers CDA credentials for four settings: preschool (ages 3-5), infant/toddler (birth to 36 months), family child care (mixed ages in a home setting), and home visitor. Minnesota family child care licensees should generally choose the family child care CDA. Center-based teachers should choose the credential matching their classroom age group. Choose based on where you currently work and log experience, since the 480 hours must be in the matching age setting.

Are there CDA preparation programs near me in Minnesota?

Several Minnesota State system colleges offer CDA preparation coursework, including Normandale Community College in Bloomington and Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights. Child Care Aware of Minnesota's regional resource offices can connect you with local workshops and CDA advisors. For providers in Greater Minnesota, online training programs approved by the Council for Professional Recognition are a practical alternative to campus-based coursework.

What is a CDA Professional Development Specialist and do I need one?

A CDA Professional Development Specialist (PDS) is a credentialed early childhood professional assigned by the Council to conduct your verification visit, a required step before your exam. The PDS reviews your portfolio, observes you working with children, and submits a recommendation to the Council. You do not hire or choose the PDS; the Council assigns one. Having an advisor (separate from the PDS) review your portfolio before submission is optional but genuinely helpful.

Can I use a CDA to qualify for Minnesota childcare subsidy programs?

The CDA itself does not make you eligible for Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). CCAP eligibility is based on licensure status, not staff credentials. But your CDA contributes to a higher Parent Aware rating, which sets your CCAP reimbursement tier. Higher-rated programs receive more per subsidized child. For more on how subsidy programs work, see childcare subsidy.

Sources

1. Minnesota Department of Human Services, Parent Aware Quality Rating System: Parent Aware awards points for staff credentials including the CDA, affecting star ratings and CCAP reimbursement eligibility
2. Minnesota Department of Human Services, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) provider reimbursement: Minnesota CCAP reimbursement rates are tiered by Parent Aware quality rating
3. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Rules Chapter 9503 (Child Care Center Licensing): Minnesota Rule 9503 sets teacher qualification requirements for child care centers; CDA may satisfy certain education components
4. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Credential Requirements: CDA requires 120 training hours, 480 hours of experience, a Professional Portfolio, and passing the Pearson VUE exam; application fee is $425; renewal is every 3 years with 45 hours of continuing education and a $150 fee; applicants must have 'current experience working with children within the age group of the credential setting'
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF): CCDF funds state-level child care quality improvement including professional development scholarships and quality rating systems
6. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Rules Chapter 9502 (Family Child Care Licensing): Minnesota Rule 9502 requires 16 hours of pre-licensure training for family child care providers but does not require a CDA credential
7. Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in the State of Minnesota report: Child Care Aware data on Minnesota child care workforce credentials and quality rating participation
8. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (Minnesota State), Early Childhood Education programs: Minnesota State system community and technical colleges offer CDA-aligned coursework at approximately $175-$230 per credit
9. Pearson VUE, CDA exam test center locations: Pearson VUE administers the CDA exam at test centers including locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth