CDA credential renewal: every requirement, deadline, and cost

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is CDA credential renewal and who has to do it?

Your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential does not last forever. The Council for Professional Recognition, the body that awards CDAs, sets a firm three-year validity window. Once that window closes, the credential lapses, and many states treat a lapsed CDA the same as no credential at all for licensing and staffing ratio purposes. ^[1]

If you earned your CDA and want to keep it active, you renew. There's no grandfathering, no extension for long-time professionals, no automatic rollover. The requirement applies to all four CDA settings: center-based preschool, center-based infant/toddler, family child care, and home visitor.

Who needs to watch this closely? Anyone whose state includes CDA in its licensing regulations, its tiered quality rating system (QRIS) point requirements, or its CCDF subsidy staffing rules. The federal Child Care and Development Fund final rule of 2016 pushed states to tie subsidy reimbursement to quality benchmarks, and many states use CDA as a baseline marker. ^[2] A lapsed credential can cost you a QRIS tier. That drops your subsidy reimbursement rate. That's real money, not a technicality.

Want the background on the credential itself? Our CDA credential article covers initial eligibility, costs, and the full assessment.

How long does a CDA credential last before it expires?

Three years, counting from the date printed on your credential certificate. The Council prints the exact expiration date on the physical certificate and in your online Council account. ^[1]

Here's what trips people up. You can apply for renewal starting six months before your expiration date. You don't have to wait until the month it expires. Starting early is smart because the Council's processing times swing, and a backlog during a busy stretch (late spring runs heavy) can push your approval past the expiration date if you cut it close.

Already expired? You have a one-year grace period from the expiration date to renew instead of starting over. After that year closes, you apply as a new candidate. That means the full initial process again: the professional education requirement, the formal observation, a complete portfolio. ^[1] It's a much bigger lift. Set a reminder well before your date and you never touch this problem.

What are the CDA renewal requirements?

The Council lists four requirements. All four must be done before you submit.

1. 45 hours of continuing education You need 45 hours of professional development completed within the past three years, spread across the eight CDA subject areas: (1) planning a safe and healthy learning environment, (2) advancing children's physical and intellectual development, (3) supporting social and emotional development, (4) building productive family and community relationships, (5) managing an effective program, (6) maintaining a commitment to professionalism, (7) observing and recording children's behavior, and (8) understanding principles of child development. ^[1]

At least one hour has to come from each subject area. You can't dump all 45 hours into one topic. Training counts from community colleges, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs), online providers, CDA Gold (the Council's own platform), national conferences, and employer-sponsored sessions. Keep every certificate of completion. You'll need to show hours per subject area in your portfolio.

2. Current professional portfolio Your portfolio from your initial credential is the starting point, but it needs to be current. You update the six competency statements (one per competency goal) to match your current practice and add a Family Questionnaire section showing you've gathered recent family input. ^[1]

3. Professional development specialist (PDS) verification (first renewal only) For your first renewal, a PDS conducts a formal observation of you working with children and signs off on your competency. Same requirement as initial credentialing. From your second renewal onward, no PDS observation. You're exempt. ^[1]

4. $150 renewal fee Paid online when you submit. The fee has held steady for years, but check the Council's website before you pay because fees can change. ^[3]

Table: CDA renewal requirements at a glance

Requirement	Detail	Notes
Professional development hours	45 hours in 8 subject areas	At least 1 hr per area
Portfolio	Updated competency statements + Family Questionnaire	Based on your initial portfolio
PDS observation	Required for 1st renewal; waived after	Same PDS form as initial
Fee	$150	Paid online at submission

How do you actually apply for CDA renewal?

The whole application lives online at cdacouncil.org. Here's the sequence.

1. Log into your Council account (create one if you never did during initial credentialing). Your credential record should be sitting there. 2. Select "Apply for Renewal" from your dashboard. The system shows your expiration date and whether you're inside the eligible window (six months before expiration through one year after). 3. Enter your 45 hours into the online PD log. You log each training event by subject area, date, provider, and hours. The system flags any area that's short. 4. Upload your updated portfolio documents. The Council takes PDF uploads for the competency statements and Family Questionnaire. 5. First renewal? Your PDS submits their verification form directly to the Council, either through the portal or by mail. You don't submit it. The PDS does. 6. Pay the $150 fee by credit or debit card. 7. Submit. The Council emails an acknowledgment. Processing runs four to eight weeks, longer during high-volume periods. ^[3]

Track your application status in your Council account. Once approved, your new certificate arrives by mail and your account shows the new expiration date, three years out.

One practical note: the CDA Gold platform (run by the Council) has a portfolio tool that plugs straight into your application and makes the upload step easier. It costs extra. If it's your first renewal and your paper records are a mess, it can save you real time.

Where can you get the 45 required training hours?

This part doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Plenty of legitimate sources count toward the 45 hours. ^[1]

CCR&R agencies. Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, funded partly through CCDF, often run free or low-cost training for licensed providers in their region. The Child Care Aware of America directory at childcareaware.org finds your local CCR&R. ^[4]

Community colleges. Early childhood education coursework counts. One three-credit college course usually equals 45 contact hours, so a single relevant course covers the full requirement. You still have to spread hours across the subject areas, so a single course rarely does it alone.

Online providers. ProSolutions Training, Teachstone (CLASS observation training), ZERO TO THREE, and others sell CDA-aligned courses mapped to the eight subject areas. Confirm any online provider gives you a certificate that names the subject area.

CDA Gold. The Council's own platform codes courses by subject area. Use it and the hours flow straight into your renewal log, which cuts your data entry.

National and state conferences. Sessions at NAEYC, state AEYC affiliates, and similar events count when you have a session attendance record showing topic, date, and hours. ^[10]

Employer-sponsored training. In-house professional development counts if it's documented with a certificate, an agenda, or a sign-in sheet that shows hours and topic.

What does not count: watching YouTube with no documentation, reading books on your own (unless part of a structured course), and anything completed more than three years before your application date.

What does CDA renewal cost, and are there ways to get help paying?

The base cost is $150, the renewal fee paid to the Council. ^[3] Everything else depends on how you get your 45 training hours.

Use free CCR&R training and your total out-of-pocket can stay at $150. Mix online courses (they run $20 to $50 each) with one community college class and you might spend $300 to $600. Hire a PDS consultant to help organize your portfolio, common on a first renewal, and add $75 to $200 for that.

Help exists. A few sources worth chasing:

• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships. Available in most states, T.E.A.C.H. covers tuition and sometimes books for ECE coursework, including courses that count toward CDA renewal hours. Details vary by state. ^[5]
• Child Care Aware of America. Some CCR&R agencies use CCDF quality improvement funds to cover or reimburse renewal fees for licensed providers. Call your local CCR&R and ask about CDA renewal assistance by name. ^[9]
• QRIS incentive grants. Several states (North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania among them) offer small grants or bonuses tied to credential attainment and renewal through their QRIS systems. Check your state's child care agency website.
• Employer support. Work at a Head Start, an Early Head Start, or a larger center and your employer may cover the fee or training as a retention benefit. Ask. A lot of employers don't advertise it.

How does CDA renewal affect your state license and QRIS rating?

This is where a lapsed CDA stops being a paperwork problem. Most states that reference CDA in licensing regulations require the credential to be current, more than ever-obtained. ^[6] A lapsed credential caught during a licensing inspection can trigger a deficiency citation in some states.

QRIS systems in states like Indiana, Michigan, and Virginia award points for CDA attainment and current status. Let a credential lapse and you can drop a quality level. That hits your marketing and often your subsidy reimbursement rate.

The CCDF final rule of 2016 requires states to set health and safety training requirements and to link higher subsidy payment rates to higher quality. ^[2] The federal rule doesn't mandate CDA by name, but many state plans use it as the benchmark for basic qualification. The Council for Professional Recognition reports that 25 states count CDA toward the educational requirements for lead teacher or director roles. ^[1]

Michigan is a concrete example. Its child care licensing rules reference the CDA for family and group home licensing qualification points. ^[7] In Michigan? Read more in our michigan daycare licensing guide.

Check your own state's licensing regulations and QRIS documentation before you assume renewal is optional. In many states it's functionally required.

What happens if your CDA credential expires before you renew?

The Council gives you one year after the expiration date to still renew rather than start from scratch. During that year the requirements don't change: 45 hours, updated portfolio, PDS verification if it's your first renewal, and the $150 fee. ^[1]

An expired credential has immediate consequences in some settings. Head Start and Early Head Start programs run under federal performance standards that cover staff qualifications. Program Instruction PI-2016-02 from the Office of Head Start addresses ongoing qualification requirements for staff. An expired CDA during a federal review could be flagged, depending on how the program classified the role. ^[8]

At the state licensing level, it varies. Some states treat a lapsed credential as a deficiency at the next inspection. Others only care about current status at the point of licensing renewal, not in between. Read your state's regulation text to know which one is you.

Expired more than a year? You restart as a new candidate. That means the 480-hour experience requirement, the professional education requirement (120 clock hours of ECE-related coursework), a new formal observation with a PDS, and a full portfolio built from nothing. The Council calls this the reapplication pathway. ^[1]

Does the CDA renewal process differ for family child care vs. center-based providers?

The core requirements match across settings: 45 hours of professional development, an updated portfolio, PDS verification for the first renewal, and the $150 fee. Credential type doesn't change the timeline or the fee.

What changes is the content emphasis in your training and portfolio. The Family Child Care CDA has competency standards written for the home setting, so your professional development hours and portfolio statements should reflect the mixed-age, home-based context, not a center preschool room. The Council's Family Child Care CDA Competency Standards book spells out the distinctions. ^[1]

Here's the practical wrinkle for home providers. Finding a PDS willing to do a home observation (first renewal) can be harder than it is for center staff. CCR&R agencies often keep lists of approved PDS professionals. Give yourself extra lead time to line one up if you're home-based.

Running a daycare center and want to see how the CDA fits into broader staffing and credentialing rules? The full center licensing picture is worth reviewing alongside this.

How do you build and update your CDA renewal portfolio?

Your renewal portfolio is not a rebuild. It's an update. The structure follows the same six CDA competency goals from your initial credential. You revisit each competency statement and revise it to match your current practice, your current setting, and what you've learned since you first credentialed.

The sections you need for renewal:

• Six updated competency statements (one per competency goal)
• Family Questionnaire (forms from the Council; collect responses from families you're serving now)
• Resource collection (the Council has changed this across editions; check the current edition of the CDA Competency Standards for what your setting requires)
• Professional philosophy statement

The Family Questionnaire is where people underestimate the time. You distribute forms, give families time to respond, collect them, and attach them. Build two to three weeks into your timeline for that piece alone.

Sort your training certificates by subject area before you enter them into the online PD log. The system asks for the subject area on every entry, so pre-sorting makes it fast. A simple spreadsheet with columns for date, training title, provider, subject area, and hours takes an hour to build and saves real time at application.

The Council's Competency Standards book for your setting is the authoritative guide for what goes in each section. The edition matters. The standards were updated, and older editions don't match the current portal. Get the most recent version.

What training counts toward CDA renewal and what does not?

Providers ask this all the time because they've done plenty of professional development and aren't sure what's eligible. Here's the honest breakdown.

Counts:

• Courses from accredited colleges or universities in early childhood education or child development
• CCR&R training sessions with documented attendance
• Online courses from recognized providers that issue completion certificates naming a CDA subject area
• Workshops at NAEYC, state AEYC affiliates, and similar conferences with session records ^[10]
• First aid and CPR training (counts toward the health and safety subject area)
• Employer-provided training with documented attendance and topic
• In-service training days, if documented

Does not count:

• Anything completed more than three years before your application date
• Training with no clear connection to the eight CDA subject areas (a general business management course with no child development component, say)
• Self-study without any formal documentation or completion record

Here's a point people misread: the one-hour-per-area minimum doesn't cap you. Extra hours beyond one in a given area still count toward your 45-hour total. Load up wherever your training naturally lands.

The Council doesn't pre-approve specific providers. That gives you flexibility, and it puts the burden on you to decide whether a training fits a subject area. When you're unsure, map the training description to the eight subject area descriptions in the Competency Standards and jot down your reasoning in case anyone questions it later.

Can CDA renewal hours overlap with other credential or degree requirements?

Usually yes, with conditions. If you're working toward an associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education, the coursework can often do double duty: credits toward your degree and professional development hours toward CDA renewal. That's stacking credentials, and it's one of the more efficient moves for an ECE professional on a tight budget. ^[5]

Same with QRIS. If your state's QRIS requires annual professional development hours (some want 15 to 20 hours a year for rating maintenance), those same hours usually count toward your CDA renewal 45 if they fall inside your three-year window and cover the CDA subject areas. Read both sets of rules to confirm there's no exclusion language.

Interested in curriculum-specific training (for example, creative curriculum for preschool or another structured approach)? Those hours count toward CDA renewal if the content maps to the eight subject areas, especially advancing children's physical and intellectual development and planning a safe and healthy learning environment.

One place overlap can bite you: some T.E.A.C.H. scholarships cover coursework but require you to stay employed in a qualifying setting for a set period after receiving the money. That's a separate condition from CDA renewal rules, but know it before you take T.E.A.C.H. funds.

How should you track and document your CDA renewal requirements over three years?

The providers who struggle with renewal are almost always the ones who waited until year three to gather documentation. The ones who breeze through started a simple folder, paper or digital, on day one of the new credential period.

Here's a system that works. Keep one folder (Google Drive, Dropbox, or a physical binder) labeled with your CDA expiration date. Every time you finish training, scan or photograph the certificate and drop it in. Name the file with the date, subject area number, and title, like 2024-03-15_Area2_ChildDevelopmentWebinar. That naming makes sorting by subject area trivial when you fill out the PD log.

Set a calendar reminder 12 months before expiration to run a gap check: count your hours per subject area and see what's missing. Twelve months is enough runway to fill gaps without panic.

Set another reminder six months out. That's your earliest submission date. First renewal? Contact a PDS at the nine-month mark to book the observation, because PDS availability gets tight.

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit has a CDA renewal tracking template you can adapt if you want a ready-made version.

For family child care providers juggling licensing paperwork alongside CDA renewal, keeping all your compliance documents in one organized system pays off the week inspection season lands.

What changes have been made to CDA renewal requirements recently?

The Council updated its Competency Standards most recently in 2013 (4th edition), with later clarifications to portfolio requirements and the shift to a fully online application. The fee has been $150 since at least 2021; before that it was lower ($75 in earlier years). ^[3]

The move to online applications, completed around 2013 to 2014, was the biggest procedural change. Before that, candidates mailed physical portfolios. Now everything uploads digitally, which is genuinely faster.

The Council also changed which renewal number triggers PDS verification. Right now, only the first renewal requires it. Second and later renewals skip the observation. That's a shift from earlier rules, which required PDS verification at every renewal. ^[1]

No announced change to the three-year cycle or the $150 fee as of this writing, but fees and requirements can move. The Council's website at cdacouncil.org is the authoritative source. Check it before you submit, especially on fees.

Tracking broader ECE credentialing policy? Child Care Aware of America publishes an annual "Demanding Change" report on state-level credential and quality requirements. ^[4] It's a useful reference for seeing where CDA sits in the larger workforce picture.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to renew a CDA credential?

The Council for Professional Recognition charges $150 for CDA renewal, paid online when you submit your application. Your total also includes whatever you spend on the 45 required training hours. Free CCR&R training can keep your total at $150. Online courses plus a community college class might bring it to $300 to $600. Financial help is available through T.E.A.C.H. scholarships and local CCR&R agencies.

How many hours of training do you need to renew a CDA?

You need 45 hours of professional development completed within the three years before your renewal application. The hours must cover all eight CDA subject areas, with at least one hour in each. The remaining hours can go toward any area combination you choose. Keep certificates or documentation for every training event, because you enter them individually in the Council's online PD log.

Can you renew a CDA credential after it expires?

Yes, but only within one year of the expiration date. The Council allows renewal in that grace window using the same requirements: 45 professional development hours, an updated portfolio, PDS verification if it's your first renewal, and the $150 fee. If more than a year has passed since expiration, you reapply as a new candidate, which means repeating the full initial credentialing process.

Do you need a PDS observation every time you renew a CDA?

No. A Professional Development Specialist (PDS) observation is required only for your first renewal. From your second renewal onward, the observation is waived. For your first renewal, your PDS submits the verification directly to the Council through the online portal or by mail. Give yourself extra lead time to schedule it, especially if you're in a home-based setting where PDS availability can be thin.

How long does CDA renewal take to process?

The Council typically processes renewal applications in four to eight weeks after submission. Times run longer during high-volume periods, particularly late spring. Submit well before your expiration date, ideally six to eight weeks out. You can apply up to six months before your credential expires, so there's no reason to wait until the final weeks.

What subject areas must your CDA renewal training cover?

Your 45 hours must span all eight CDA subject areas: (1) safe and healthy learning environments, (2) children's physical and intellectual development, (3) social and emotional development, (4) family and community relationships, (5) program management, (6) professionalism, (7) observing and recording behavior, and (8) child development principles. At least one hour must come from each area. Remaining hours can land wherever your training naturally covers.

Does CDA renewal differ for family child care vs. preschool center providers?

The requirements, timeline, and fee are the same across all four CDA settings. The difference is content: your portfolio statements and training should reflect your specific setting. Family child care providers using the Family Child Care CDA should reference the Family Child Care Competency Standards. Finding a PDS for a home-based observation (first renewal) can take longer, so plan ahead.

What training counts toward the 45 CDA renewal hours?

College coursework in ECE or child development, CCR&R training sessions, online courses from recognized providers with completion certificates, conference workshops, employer-provided in-service training, and first aid or CPR training all count. Training must be completed within three years of your application date and must map to the eight CDA subject areas. Self-study without documentation does not count.

Can you use the same training hours for CDA renewal and other credential requirements?

Usually yes. Coursework that counts toward an associate's or bachelor's degree in ECE can also count toward CDA renewal hours. Hours your state's QRIS requires for rating maintenance typically count too, as long as they fall within your three-year window and cover CDA subject areas. Verify both sets of rules so there's no exclusion language on either side.

Where do you apply for CDA renewal?

The application is entirely online at cdacouncil.org. Log into your Council account, select Apply for Renewal, enter your professional development hours in the PD log, upload your updated portfolio documents, and pay the $150 fee. If it's your first renewal, your PDS submits their verification separately. The Council emails an acknowledgment when your application is received.

Does a lapsed CDA affect your state childcare license?

In many states, yes. States that reference CDA in licensing regulations require the credential to be current, more than ever-earned. A lapsed credential can trigger a deficiency citation during an inspection in some states, and it can cut your QRIS rating, which may lower subsidy reimbursement rates. Check your state's licensing regulations and QRIS documentation to understand the exact consequences where you operate.

Are there free or low-cost ways to get the required CDA renewal training hours?

Yes. Your local CCR&R agency runs free or subsidized training funded partly through CCDF. ZERO TO THREE, NAEYC, and state AEYC affiliates offer free webinars and conference sessions. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships cover tuition for college coursework. Some states provide grants through their QRIS systems. Your local CCR&R is the best first call; they know exactly what's available in your area.

How do you update your CDA portfolio for renewal?

You revise your existing six competency statements to reflect your current practice, collect fresh Family Questionnaire responses from families you serve now, and update your resource collection and professional philosophy statement as needed. You don't rebuild from scratch; you update. The slowest piece is usually the Family Questionnaire, because you have to distribute, collect, and attach family responses.

Does the CDA credential renewal period reset to three years after renewal?

Yes. Once the Council approves your renewal, your credential is valid for three years from the renewal date. Your Council account updates with the new expiration date and a new certificate arrives by mail. That three-year clock starts fresh no matter when within your grace period you submitted the application.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Competency Standards and Renewal Requirements: CDA credential valid for three years; renewal requires 45 hours of professional development across eight subject areas, updated portfolio, PDS verification for first renewal, $150 fee; one-year post-expiration grace period before reapplication required; PDS observation waived after first renewal
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF Final Rule 2016: CCDF final rule (2016) encouraged states to tie subsidy reimbursement rates to quality benchmarks and required health and safety training standards for child care providers
3. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Renewal Fee Schedule: CDA renewal fee is $150, paid online at time of application submission
4. Child Care Aware of America, Demanding Change Report: Child Care Aware of America tracks state-level credential and quality requirements; CCR&R agencies provide free or subsidized training funded through CCDF
5. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships cover tuition and sometimes books for ECE coursework in most states, including courses that count toward CDA renewal hours; some scholarships carry post-award employment conditions
6. National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, State Child Care Licensing Requirements: Many states reference CDA credential currency in licensing regulations; a lapsed credential can result in a deficiency citation during inspection
7. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Child Care Licensing Rules: Michigan child care licensing rules reference the CDA credential for family and group home licensing qualification points
8. Office of Head Start, Program Instruction PI-2016-02: Head Start Program Instruction notes ongoing qualification requirements for staff; expired credentials may be flagged during federal review depending on how roles are classified
9. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care, CCDF Policy: CCDF quality improvement funds can be used by CCR&R agencies to cover or reimburse CDA renewal fees for licensed providers
10. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Professional Development: NAEYC conference sessions and AEYC affiliate workshops count toward CDA renewal professional development hours when attendance is documented