What is the CDA credential? A complete guide for childcare providers

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the CDA credential, exactly?

The Child Development Associate credential, usually just called the CDA, is a national professional certification for people who work directly with children from birth through age five. The Council for Professional Recognition has administered it since 1975, which makes it one of the oldest credentials in early childhood education. ^[1]

It is not a degree. It is not a license. What it is: a competency-based credential that proves you can apply child development knowledge in a real classroom or home setting. You earn it by completing formal education hours, logging hands-on work experience, assembling a professional portfolio, and passing a formal observation by a credentialed Professional Development Specialist.

More than 500,000 CDA credentials have been awarded since the program launched. ^[1] That scale matters because it means the credential is recognized across almost every state's licensing system, most Head Start programs, and most subsidy frameworks.

Who is the CDA credential designed for?

The CDA exists in several settings-specific tracks, and you pick the one that matches where you work:

• Center-Based Infant/Toddler (children birth to 36 months in a center)
• Center-Based Preschool (children 3 to 5 in a center)
• Family Child Care (providers working in a home-based setting)
• Home Visitor (professionals who visit families in their homes)
• Preschool (the standard center track most people think of)

The curriculum requirements and portfolio documentation stay essentially the same across tracks, but the observation and some competency examples are specific to your setting. If you run a daycare center, you'll choose the center track. If you operate from your house or someone else's home, you'll choose Family Child Care.

There is no age minimum to apply, and there is no required educational degree before you start. Many people pursue the CDA as their first professional credential, sometimes while still working their first job in childcare. That accessibility is intentional.

What are the eligibility requirements for the CDA?

The Council lays out four requirements you have to meet before you can apply:

1. A high school diploma or GED equivalent. 2. At least 480 hours of professional experience working with children in the age group matching your credential type. Those hours must have been accumulated within the last five years. 3. At least 120 clock hours of formal childcare education covering the eight CDA Subject Areas. The hours must also come from the past five years. 4. A current Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification (must cover both infant and child CPR). ^[2]

The 120 education hours break down across eight subject areas: planning a safe and healthy learning environment; advancing children's physical and intellectual development; supporting children's social and emotional development; building productive relationships with families; managing an effective program operation; maintaining a commitment to professionalism; observing and recording children's behavior; and understanding principles of child development and learning. ^[2]

No single subject has a prescribed minimum hour count in the national rules, though individual training programs may structure their hours differently. Check with your training provider before you start to make sure all eight areas get covered.

How do you apply and what does the process look like?

The application process runs through the Council for Professional Recognition's online system. Here is the general sequence:

First, you create an account on the Council's website and submit your application along with the application fee. The fee in 2024 was $425 for new applicants who apply online. ^[2] Some states and programs have CDA scholarships or employer reimbursement, so check before you pay out of pocket.

After your application is accepted, you have six months to set up your formal Verification Visit, which is what the Council calls the on-site observation. You choose a Professional Development Specialist (PDS) from the Council's registry. That person comes to observe you working with children for a minimum of one hour and 45 minutes, then reviews your Professional Portfolio and conducts a reflective dialogue with you about your practice. ^[2]

Your Professional Portfolio is a big part of the process. It includes a Resource Collection (reference materials you've gathered related to each CDA Subject Area), Family Questionnaires filled out by at least six families you serve, and written reflections demonstrating your competency in each of the eight subject areas. Building it takes time, and most people spend several months on it alongside their work hours.

Once the PDS submits their report and the Council reviews everything, you receive your credential decision. The whole process from application submission to award typically takes a few months, though it can be faster if you already have your hours and portfolio ready.

How much does the CDA credential cost?

The direct cost from the Council breaks down like this:

Fee type	Amount (2024)
Online application fee (new applicant)	$425
Paper application fee (new applicant)	$500
Renewal application fee	$150
PDS observation fee	Set by the PDS; typically $0, $200

Beyond the Council's fee, you'll spend money on the 120 training hours if you take them through a community college, online platform, or private trainer. Community college courses can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a single early childhood education course to over $1,000 for a sequence. Some training providers offer CDA-specific programs priced as a bundle, often in the $300, $800 range. ^[3]

If your state has a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) or a Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) professional development fund, you may be eligible for partial or full reimbursement of both the application fee and training costs. ^[4] Child Care Aware of America tracks which states have these supports, and the range is wide: some states pay everything, others pay nothing. Worth a call to your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency before you pay anything.

For a Family Child Care provider, the CDA may also be a required or rewarded credential on the childcare subsidy reimbursement ladder in your state, meaning earning it could directly increase your reimbursement rate.

Does the CDA count toward state licensing requirements?

This varies by state, but the short answer is: in most states, yes, it counts for something. ^[5]

Some states require the CDA or an equivalent as a minimum qualification for lead teachers or family child care providers. Michigan, for example, lists the CDA as one acceptable qualification for a lead caregiver in licensed family day care homes. ^[6] Other states give it weight on their QRIS quality ladder, which can unlock higher subsidy reimbursement rates without making it a hard license requirement.

Head Start is the clearest federal case. Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards require that at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationally hold an associate degree or higher in early childhood education or a related field, but the CDA still satisfies requirements for assistant teachers and is accepted in many grantee-specific contexts. ^[7] The exact threshold depends on the grantee's staffing plan.

If you're working through michigan daycare licensing or another state's licensing process and you're unsure whether the CDA satisfies a staff qualification requirement, go directly to your state's childcare licensing office website and look at the staff qualification section of the regulations. Don't rely on secondhand advice here because the rules change periodically.

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) rules at the federal level require states to have a professional development system, but don't mandate the CDA specifically. ^[4] States decide how credentials like the CDA plug into their systems.

How is the CDA different from an associate degree or other early childhood credentials?

People mix these up constantly, and the confusion is understandable.

Credential	Issuer	Degree?	Typical hours	Average cost
CDA	Council for Professional Recognition	No	120 training + 480 experience	$425, $1,000+ total
Associate in Early Childhood Ed	Community college	Yes	~60 credit hours (~1,800+ class hours)	$5,000, $20,000
Bachelor's in ECE	4-year college	Yes	~120 credit hours (~3,600+ class hours)	$20,000, $80,000+
State-specific certificate (varies)	State or community college	No	Varies widely	Varies

The CDA is not the same as a degree and does not function as one for jobs that require an associate's or bachelor's. What it does offer: a nationally portable, competency-verified credential you can earn in months rather than years, usually while you're already working. For someone who needs to satisfy a state licensing requirement or move up a QRIS level without a two-year commitment, it's often the most practical path.

Some community college ECE programs are designed so that CDA coursework stacks into college credit. If you think you might eventually want an associate degree, ask your community college whether their CDA-preparatory program articulates into credit hours. Some do, some don't.

How long does the CDA credential last, and how do you renew it?

A CDA credential is valid for three years from the date of issue. After that, you need to renew.

Renewal requires:

• 45 hours of continuing education completed within the past three years (covering a range of ECE topics).
• A current Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification.
• At least 80 hours of work with children during the previous year.
• A renewal application submitted to the Council with the $150 renewal fee. ^[2]

The renewal process does not require another formal observation by a PDS, which makes it much lighter than the initial credential process. Most providers say the continuing education hours are the main lift.

If your credential lapses, the Council has a reinstatement process, but the requirements are more involved. Set a calendar reminder at least 60 days before your expiration date.

Some state licensing rules are tied to maintaining a current credential, more than having earned one at some point. If your state requires an active CDA for compliance, a lapsed credential can create a real problem. Keep it current.

What are the eight CDA competency standards?

The Council evaluates candidates against six Competency Standards, which break down into 13 Functional Areas. These are the core of what the CDA is actually measuring. ^[2]

Competency Standard	Functional Areas
Safe	Safe
Healthy	Healthy
Learning Environment	Learning Environment
Children	Physical, Cognitive, Communication, Creative
Family	Family
Program Management	Program Management
Professionalism	Professionalism

Note: the eight Subject Areas used for the 120 training hours are a parallel but slightly different framework from the six Competency Standards. Both matter. The training hours are supposed to build knowledge across the subject areas, and the portfolio and observation demonstrate competency in the standards. Think of the subject areas as the curriculum map and the competency standards as the outcome rubric.

When you're building your portfolio, you write a Competency Statement for each of the six Competency Standards explaining how you demonstrate that standard in your daily work. These statements are personal and practice-specific, not generic essays. Be concrete and reference real situations in your classroom or home.

How does the CDA connect to curriculum planning and quality?

Earning a CDA doesn't require any specific curriculum, but the competency standards push you to think deliberately about how you set up your environment and plan learning experiences. That's where the credential and curriculum planning intersect in practice.

Many CDA candidates find that working through the portfolio process changes how they look at their day-to-day choices. Documenting a learning environment, justifying materials choices, and writing about children's development forces a level of intentionality that informal on-the-job training rarely provides.

If you're building out your program's learning approach alongside the CDA process, resources like a structured preschool curriculum or something like the creative curriculum for preschool can give you concrete examples of developmentally appropriate practice to draw on in your portfolio writing. The montessori preschool curriculum approach, for instance, maps clearly onto some of the CDA's environmental design standards.

For home-based providers working with mixed ages, a preschool homeschool curriculum designed for small group or individual use can make portfolio documentation easier because the learning activities are already sequenced and described.

ChildCareComp's compliance toolkit tracks which states connect QRIS ratings and subsidy reimbursement to staff credentials like the CDA, which can help you understand whether the investment pays off financially in your specific state.

Is the CDA worth it for home-based providers specifically?

Family child care providers ask this more than anyone else, and the honest answer is: it depends on your state and your goals, but for most home-based providers it's worth the effort.

Here's why. Many states' QRIS systems give licensed family child care homes a quality rating bump for having a credentialed provider. That rating bump often translates to higher subsidy reimbursement rates. Child Care Aware of America's 2023 data showed that the average weekly cost of family child care for an infant ranged from around $237 in rural areas to over $400 in urban markets, and providers who get more subsidy-enrolled families tend to have more stable income. ^[8] If your state pays a 10 to 15 percent rate differential for higher-rated providers and you serve mostly subsidy-funded families, the math on a $425 credential fee pays off fast.

The second reason: some states are tightening licensing requirements for home-based providers over time. Get the CDA now, before it becomes mandatory, and you're ahead of compliance instead of scrambling to meet a new rule.

The third reason is harder to quantify. Providers consistently report that going through the CDA process improves their practice. Building the portfolio forces you to observe children more deliberately and to reflect on your environment in ways that daily work rarely prompts. That has real value even if there's no direct financial return.

Where can you find CDA training and support?

Training for the 120 required hours comes from several sources:

Community colleges with early childhood education programs are often the cheapest route and sometimes offer CDA-prep courses that articulate into credit. Call the ECE department and ask whether their coursework covers all eight CDA Subject Areas and whether completion documentation works for the Council's application.

Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) in most states offer CDA training or can connect you to local providers. Find yours through Child Care Aware of America's CCR&R directory. ^[9]

Online platforms like the Council's own CDA online system and various state-specific training registries offer self-paced options. These are convenient but require discipline. Check that the provider is approved by the Council before you pay.

Head Start programs often provide CDA training as an employer benefit for their own staff. If you work for a Head Start grantee, ask your education coordinator.

The Council for Professional Recognition also has a network of organizations that provide CDA Professional Development Specialists for the observation. You can search the PDS directory on the Council's website to find someone in your area. Contact them early because scheduling can take weeks.

For providers exploring curriculum options to supplement their training hours, free preschool curriculum resources and programs like frog street press preschool curriculum or mother goose preschool curriculum offer structured content that maps onto the CDA developmental domains. If you work primarily with three-year-olds, a preschool curriculum for 3 year olds approach can also inform your portfolio examples.

For providers tracking how credentials connect to funding and tax benefits, the childcare tax credit page is worth reviewing alongside your subsidy information.

What's the research base behind the CDA credential?

The credential rests on a competency framework rather than a pure academic model, and the research on whether it improves child outcomes is mixed but generally positive.

A 2015 report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council examined the early care and education workforce and found that higher educator qualifications are associated with higher quality care, but also noted that the research base on credential-specific effects separate from degree effects is limited. ^[10] In plain terms: credentials matter, but it's hard to isolate the CDA's specific contribution from other factors like experience and supervision.

What the research does support clearly: teacher-child interaction quality is the most reliable predictor of child outcomes, and training programs that include observation and reflective feedback (which the CDA verification visit does) are more effective at improving practice than seat-time training alone. ^[10]

The CDA's competency-based structure and the formal observation requirement put it closer to the more effective training models than a simple hours-completion approach. That's not a small thing. A lot of early childhood training is purely passive and self-reported. The CDA requires someone with credentials to actually watch you work.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get a CDA credential?

Most people take six months to one year from start to finish, though timelines vary widely. If you already have most of your 480 work experience hours and can complete the 120 training hours quickly, the application and verification visit can be set up in as little as three to four months. The portfolio is usually the slowest part because it requires gathering family questionnaires and writing detailed competency statements.

Can you get a CDA credential online?

Yes, partly. The 120 training hours can be completed entirely online through approved providers. The application itself is submitted online through the Council's system. But the formal Verification Visit (the observation) has to happen in person at your work site. A credentialed Professional Development Specialist comes to observe you working with children for at least one hour and 45 minutes. There's no remote option for that part.

Does the CDA credential expire?

Yes. A CDA credential is valid for three years. To renew, you need 45 hours of continuing education, a current infant and child CPR certification, at least 80 hours of work with children in the past year, and a $150 renewal fee paid to the Council for Professional Recognition. Renewal does not require another formal observation. If you let the credential lapse, the Council has a reinstatement process that is more involved.

How much does it cost to get a CDA credential in total?

The Council's application fee is $425 online or $500 by paper. Add the cost of 120 training hours, which can range from free (through employer or state funding) to $1,000 or more through a community college. Some Professional Development Specialists charge a fee for the observation; others don't. Total out-of-pocket cost typically lands between $425 and $1,500 depending on your training route and state support.

Is a CDA credential the same as an associate degree?

No. The CDA is a competency-based professional credential, not an academic degree. An associate degree in early childhood education requires roughly 60 college credit hours and takes two years. The CDA requires 120 training hours and 480 experience hours and typically takes under a year. Some community college programs let CDA coursework stack into college credit, but that depends on the institution and you need to confirm it before enrolling.

What states require the CDA credential for licensing?

There's no single national list because each state sets its own licensing rules, and they change. As of 2024, many states list the CDA as one acceptable qualification for lead teachers or home-based providers, often alongside degrees or state-specific certificates. Michigan, for example, accepts the CDA as a caregiver qualification in licensed family day care homes. Check your state's childcare licensing office regulations directly because secondhand summaries go out of date.

Does Head Start require the CDA?

Head Start Program Performance Standards require that at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers hold an associate degree or higher in early childhood education. The CDA satisfies requirements for assistant teacher positions in many grantee contexts, and some older performance standards referenced it more broadly. The exact requirement depends on the teacher's role and the grantee's approved staffing plan. Contact your regional Head Start office if you need a definitive answer for your program.

Can a CDA credential increase my subsidy reimbursement rate?

In many states, yes. State Quality Rating and Improvement Systems often give higher quality ratings to programs or providers with credentialed staff, and higher ratings can mean higher reimbursement rates for families enrolled through the childcare subsidy program. The differential varies by state and can range from a few percent to 20 percent or more. Your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency can tell you whether your state's QRIS rewards the CDA and by how much.

What is a CDA Professional Development Specialist?

A Professional Development Specialist (PDS) is a credential holder authorized by the Council for Professional Recognition to conduct CDA Verification Visits. They hold their own CDA or a higher ECE credential and have completed Council training. During the visit, they observe you with children for at least one hour and 45 minutes, review your Professional Portfolio, and conduct a reflective dialogue. They submit an assessment report to the Council as part of the credential decision.

What goes in the CDA professional portfolio?

The CDA Professional Portfolio has three main components: a Resource Collection of reference materials tied to each CDA Subject Area, Family Questionnaires completed by at least six families you serve, and six Competency Statements where you reflect on your own practice related to each of the Council's six Competency Standards. The portfolio is reviewed by the Professional Development Specialist during the Verification Visit and is a significant factor in the credential decision.

Can I get my CDA credential if I work with infants and toddlers?

Yes. The Center-Based Infant/Toddler credential track is built for people working with children from birth to 36 months in a center setting. The requirements are the same: 120 training hours, 480 experience hours with that age group, a portfolio, and a Verification Visit. Your competency examples and the observer's assessment will focus on infant/toddler-specific practices like responsive caregiving and sensorimotor development.

Is CDA training available in Spanish?

Yes. The Council for Professional Recognition has made CDA materials and some assessment processes available in Spanish, and many training providers offer coursework in Spanish. The Council's website lists Spanish-language resources. This matters most in states with large Spanish-speaking provider populations. Check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency for Spanish-language training options in your area.

How is the CDA credential different from a state childcare license?

A state childcare license is a legal authorization from your state government that lets you operate a childcare program. It covers your facility, ratios, health and safety, and business requirements. The CDA is a professional credential for an individual that demonstrates their knowledge and competency in working with children. You can have one without the other. Many states use the CDA to satisfy some staff qualification requirements within the licensing rules, but they are separate things.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, About the CDA Credential: The Council for Professional Recognition has administered the CDA since 1975 and has awarded more than 500,000 credentials
2. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Eligibility and Requirements: CDA requires 120 training hours, 480 experience hours, current CPR/First Aid, a professional portfolio, and a Verification Visit; application fee is $425 online
3. Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in America 2023 State Fact Sheets: Training program costs and professional development funding availability vary significantly by state
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Policy: CCDF rules require states to have a professional development system but do not mandate the CDA specifically; states decide how credentials integrate into their systems
5. National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, Quality State Profiles: Most states include the CDA credential in staff qualification requirements or Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
6. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Childcare Licensing Rules: Michigan accepts the CDA as a qualifying credential for licensed family day care home caregivers
7. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1302): Head Start Performance Standards require at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers to hold an associate degree or higher in ECE or a related field
8. Child Care Aware of America, Demanding Change: Repairing Our Child Care System, 2023: Average weekly cost of family child care for an infant ranges from around $237 in rural areas to over $400 in urban markets
9. Child Care Aware of America, Find Child Care and Resources: Child Care Aware of America operates a national CCR&R directory connecting providers to local training and support
10. Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8: A Unifying Foundation (2015): Higher educator qualifications are associated with higher quality care; the report noted the research base on credential-specific effects separate from degree effects is limited; training with observation and reflective feedback is more effective than seat-time training alone