Which area does not have a CDA credential (and what to do instead)

Last updated 2026-07-09

What are the 8 CDA credential areas?

The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, issued by the Council for Professional Recognition, comes in exactly 8 setting-specific options as of 2024. Each one is tied to a distinct work setting and age group. The wrong one does not satisfy licensing requirements, so know the list before you apply.

Here are the 8 areas, straight from the Council's candidate handbook ^[1]:

1. Center-Based Preschool (ages 3 through 5) 2. Center-Based Infant/Toddler (birth through 36 months) 3. Family Child Care (mixed ages, home setting) 4. Home Visitor (work in a family's home, not a daycare) 5. Bilingual Specialization versions of each of the above four

That last point trips people up. The four bilingual tracks are not separate credential types with their own numbers. The Council counts them as specializations layered onto the base four, but for eligibility and endorsement they act as distinct credentials. So you have 4 base settings and 4 bilingual mirrors, for 8 total possible endorsements ^[1].

Notice what is missing. There is no administrator-only CDA, no special-needs specialist CDA, and nothing for programs that serve children 13 and older. Those gaps are what this article is about.

Which area does NOT have a CDA credential?

School-age care for older youth is the clearest gap. The Council once offered a School-Age CDA, then discontinued it. As of 2025, the Council does not issue a credential for school-age-only settings, especially programs where children are primarily 13 and up ^[1][2].

Several other practice areas have no CDA option at all:

Program administration. There is no CDA for directors or assistant directors. If your state or a federal program requires a director credential, you need something like the National Administrator Credential from the National Child Care Association, a state-issued director credential, or a college degree with early childhood administration coursework.

Special education and early intervention. A CDA does not exist for itinerant special education teachers or early intervention specialists. Those professionals pursue Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) credentials or state early intervention certifications.

Teen-only programs. Run an after-school or summer program only for teenagers 13 and older, and no CDA covers you. Youth development credentials are the usual alternatives.

Therapeutic or clinical settings. Residential treatment, behavioral health day programs, and medically fragile care sit outside CDA scope entirely.

For most licensed daycare operators reading this, the practical impact is narrow. The family child care CDA covers mixed ages in a home. The infant/toddler and preschool CDAs cover center workers. The gap only bites you if your program primarily serves school-agers above the typical daycare age range, or if you are chasing a director-level credential ^[2][3].

Does the CDA cover school-age care programs?

Most of the confusion lives here. The Council for Professional Recognition did have a School-Age CDA at one point, aimed at caregivers in before- and after-school programs serving children roughly 5 through 12. The Council discontinued it. It is no longer available as a new application ^[2].

Some state licensing agencies still reference a school-age CDA in older rule language because their regulations have not caught up. See "school-age CDA" in your state's licensing code? Contact your licensor and ask whether they now accept an alternative. Many states moved to accepting a high school diploma plus a set number of college credits in child development, or a state-issued school-age care certificate.

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which funds childcare subsidies for low-income families, does not mandate a CDA specifically. It requires states to set their own qualification frameworks for lead caregivers ^[3]. States have room to accept substitute credentials for school-age workers, and many do.

Operate a licensed school-age program and need to meet a staff credential requirement? Check your state licensing rules first, then confirm with Child Care Aware of America's state resource list whether a substitute qualification has been approved ^[4]. Do not assume the old school-age CDA still satisfies anything. The Council can no longer verify or renew those credentials.

Is there a CDA for home visitors or early intervention workers?

Yes for home visitors, no for early intervention. The Home Visitor CDA is a real, active credential area. It is built for people who work in a family's home delivering parenting support, developmental screening guidance, or early childhood education to parents of young children. Programs like Healthy Families America and Early Head Start home-based options have used this track ^[1].

The Home Visitor CDA is only for home-based visiting programs, not for an in-home daycare or family childcare home. Run a licensed family childcare home? You want the Family Child Care CDA, not the Home Visitor credential. They sound alike but carry different fieldwork and competency requirements.

Early intervention specialists working under Part C of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) usually need state licensure as a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, or developmental specialist. A CDA is not a recognized qualification for Part C providers ^[5]. The CDA has no equivalent for those clinical roles.

What credential options exist for the areas the CDA does not cover?

If the CDA does not apply to your setting, you have real options. Here is how the landscape breaks down by gap.

School-age care (children 5-12, before/after school). The National AfterSchool Association offers the Certified Afterschool Professional (CAP) credential. Several states have their own school-age care certificates. Some states accept a preschool or family child care CDA as a substitute even for school-age workers, at the state's discretion.

Program directors and administrators. The most widely recognized alternative is a state director credential, which about 30 states offer as a tiered or single-level certification. The National Administrator Credential (NAC) from the National Child Care Association is accepted in some states. An associate's or bachelor's degree in early childhood education or child development is the most portable option and is often required for directors in larger centers ^[3].

Bilingual and dual-language settings. The Council's bilingual CDA specialization (available for center-based preschool, infant/toddler, family child care, and home visitor tracks) is the primary option. Speak a language other than Spanish and English? The bilingual track still applies as long as you serve children whose primary language differs from the majority language of instruction.

Infant and toddler specialists. The CDA's center-based infant/toddler track exists, but some states and Infant-Toddler programs prefer the Infant-Toddler Developmental Specialist credential from Zero to Three or the PD Registry pathway. Check your state's CCDF quality improvement plan for which credentials count toward QRIS points ^[3][6].

For operators tracking credential requirements by setting type, the CDA credential guide on this site walks through eligibility and the application process in detail.

How do state licensing rules handle gaps in CDA coverage?

States vary enormously, and that variation trips up operators most. Because the CDA does not cover every setting, licensing agencies have to make a call: accept an alternative, build their own credential, or leave the requirement vague.

A few patterns show up across states ^[4][7]:

• Most states allow a college degree in early childhood education, child development, or a related field to substitute for a CDA at any level.
• States with tiered QRIS systems typically place a CDA at Level 2 or 3 of 5, so directors and lead teachers can meet higher levels only with degree credentials anyway.
• States that still reference a school-age CDA in their rules often have a waiver or equivalency process. Ask your licensor specifically about the "equivalency" or "alternative qualification" path.
• Some states, Michigan included, have a detailed staff qualification matrix that spells out which credentials satisfy which positions ^[7]. Reading your state's matrix before hiring is worth the hour it takes.

Every state submits a Child Care and Development Fund state plan to the federal Office of Child Care. Those plans describe how the state structures its quality and credential requirements. They are publicly available at the Office of Child Care website and update on a three-year cycle ^[3].

For Michigan-specific requirements, including how staff qualifications are structured by role and setting, the michigan daycare licensing page has the current matrix.

CDA credential areas by setting: comparison table

Here is a quick-reference table showing what the CDA does and does not cover, based on the Council for Professional Recognition's current offerings ^[1].

Setting	CDA Available?	Notes
Center-based preschool (ages 3-5)	Yes	Most common track
Center-based infant/toddler (0-36 months)	Yes	Separate from preschool track
Family child care home	Yes	Mixed ages, home setting
Home visitor programs	Yes	Parent-focused, not daycare
Bilingual (any of the above 4)	Yes	Requires second-language competency
School-age care (5-12)	No	Credential discontinued
Teen/youth programs (13+)	No	Never existed
Program director/administrator	No	Need director or degree credential
Special education / early intervention	No	Need state or CEC credential
Therapeutic/clinical child settings	No	Outside CDA scope entirely

The four bilingual specializations mirror the four base tracks exactly. The Council requires candidates to prove proficiency in both languages as part of the portfolio and Professional Development Specialist verification ^[1].

Does CCDF or Head Start require a CDA specifically?

Head Start is the clearest federal mandate. The Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1302) require that at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide hold an associate's or higher degree in early childhood education, and that all teachers hold at minimum a Child Development Associate credential ^[8]. That 50 percent degree requirement has been in effect since 2013 and applies to center-based preschool and infant/toddler classroom teachers.

Head Start does not list a CDA requirement for home-based home visitors or family child care partners in the same way, though those staff must meet qualifications under their own track.

CCDF is different. It does not require a CDA directly. Federal CCDF rules require states to establish health and safety standards and professional development requirements for providers receiving subsidies, but states write their own credential requirements ^[3]. The 2016 CCDF final rule strengthened those baseline requirements and left credential type to state discretion.

The upshot is simple. Receive Head Start funding, and a CDA (in the matching setting track) is the federal floor for classroom teachers. Receive CCDF subsidy payments only, and your credential requirement comes from state law, not federal mandate.

Childcarecomp.com's compliance toolkit includes a state-by-state staff qualification lookup that maps these federal and state layers, which beats parsing individual CCDF state plans on your own.

What happens if you hold the wrong CDA area for your setting?

Holding a CDA in the wrong track is a real licensing risk. A center-based preschool CDA does not satisfy a state requirement for an infant/toddler room lead teacher. A home visitor CDA does not satisfy a family childcare home requirement. Licensors check the credential area, more than that a CDA exists.

The Council for Professional Recognition does not allow credential transfers between tracks. Move from a preschool CDA into an infant/toddler role, and you apply fresh in the infant/toddler track. That means a new 480-hour fieldwork verification, a new professional development plan, and a new assessment ^[1].

A few states allow a grace period, usually 6 to 12 months, for a newly hired staff member to earn the correct credential. During that window the program may sit out of technical compliance but hold provisional status. Whether that triggers an inspection finding depends entirely on your state's enforcement policy. Do not treat a grace period as a staffing plan.

Not sure which CDA track matches your role? The Council's website has a setting-based eligibility guide. Read it before you invest the time and roughly $425 application fee the credential currently costs ^[1][9].

How does the bilingual CDA specialization work, and who needs it?

The bilingual specialization is available for all four base tracks: preschool, infant/toddler, family child care, and home visitor. It produces a credential that reads, for example, "Center-Based Preschool CDA with Bilingual Specialization" ^[1].

To earn it, candidates must work in a setting where they serve children whose home language differs from the primary language of instruction, and they must prove proficiency in both languages. The Council does not restrict the second language to Spanish. Any language pair qualifies, though the supporting materials and interview with a Professional Development Specialist (PDS) must be workable in both languages.

Who needs it? In most states, the law does not require the bilingual specialization. It is an enhancement. Some QRIS systems reward it with extra quality points, and some Head Start programs prefer it when hiring for dual-language classrooms. If your program is monolingual, skip it. If you already speak two languages and serve bilingual families, adding the specialization during your initial application costs no extra fee and strengthens your profile.

One thing the bilingual CDA is not: a credential for running a foreign-language-immersion program where English-speaking children learn a second language. The specialization is aimed at programs serving children who are native speakers of a non-English language, not at programs teaching English-proficient kids a foreign language as enrichment.

What are the alternatives to a CDA if you work in an uncovered setting?

The answer depends on your setting, your state, and your career goals. Here is a practical breakdown.

School-age care workers: Look first at your state licensing office's website for an approved school-age credential list. The National AfterSchool Association's CAP credential is nationally recognized and built on competencies that align with many states' requirements. Some states also accept a high school diploma plus specific college coursework in child development.

Program directors: A state director credential (available in roughly 30 states) is usually the fastest path. A two-year early childhood degree is more portable if you ever move states. The NAC from the National Child Care Association is accepted in some states but is not universal.

Family child care providers who want to go beyond a CDA: National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation is not a credential in the same sense, but it works as a quality benchmark that many QRIS systems reward, and it can substitute for credential points in some state tiers ^[10].

Early intervention workers: Pursue the state-specific licensure your discipline requires (speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, special education). A CDA is not a recognized substitute here.

Cost is a common barrier. Many states offer T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) scholarships that cover CDA coursework and renewal fees for eligible childcare workers ^[11]. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships generally cover the four active CDA tracks, not the discontinued school-age track, so confirm your track is eligible before applying.

CDA renewal and what happens when areas change or are discontinued

CDA credentials are valid for 3 years. Renewal requires 45 hours of professional development, a resource file update, and a renewal fee (currently $150 for online renewal as of 2024) ^[1][9].

When the Council discontinued the School-Age CDA, holders of active school-age CDAs kept them. The Council honored those credentials through their expiration date. After expiration, renewal in that track ended. Holders who wanted to keep a CDA had to apply in one of the eight active tracks.

Here is the practical lesson. Earn a CDA in a track that later gets discontinued, and you are not grandfathered in forever. You hold the credential for its remaining validity period, then you are done unless you move to an active track. The Council rarely discontinues tracks (the school-age discontinuation appears to be the only major one in recent memory), so this is mostly a theoretical risk for current applicants. Worth knowing anyway.

For operators managing staff credential records, set calendar reminders 6 months before any staff member's CDA expiration. Renewal paperwork and professional development documentation take time to gather, and a lapsed credential can trigger a licensing deficiency.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a CDA credential for school-age care programs?

No. The Council for Professional Recognition discontinued the School-Age CDA, and it is no longer available as a new application. If your state's licensing rules still reference it, contact your licensor about accepted alternatives. Many states now accept a high school diploma plus college credits in child development, or a state-issued school-age care certificate, in place of the discontinued credential.

Which CDA credential area is right for a family daycare home provider?

The Family Child Care CDA is the correct track for providers running a licensed home daycare. It covers mixed ages in a home setting. Do not apply for the Home Visitor CDA by mistake. That credential is for professionals who visit other families' homes as part of a parenting support or home visiting program, not for providers who run their own home-based childcare.

Can a program director earn a CDA as a director credential?

No. There is no CDA track for program administrators or directors. Directors typically need a state-issued director credential, a degree in early childhood education or a related field, or a credential like the National Administrator Credential (NAC) from the National Child Care Association. Requirements vary by state, so check your state licensing rules for the specific director qualification threshold.

Does Head Start require a CDA credential?

Yes, at minimum. Under 45 CFR Part 1302, Head Start requires all classroom teachers to hold at least a Child Development Associate credential in the appropriate setting. It also requires at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide to hold an associate's degree or higher in early childhood education. The CDA is the federal floor, not the ceiling, for Head Start teacher qualifications.

How many CDA credential areas are there in total?

Eight. The four base tracks are center-based preschool, center-based infant/toddler, family child care, and home visitor. Each of those four has a bilingual specialization counterpart, bringing the total to eight. The Council for Professional Recognition does not currently offer a school-age, administrator, special education, or teen-program CDA.

What is the bilingual CDA specialization and is it required?

The bilingual specialization adds a second-language component to any of the four base CDA tracks. It is not legally required in most states, but some QRIS systems award extra quality rating points for it and some Head Start programs prefer it for dual-language classroom positions. You must work in a setting serving children whose home language differs from the main language of instruction to be eligible.

What credential do I need if I work in early intervention or special education?

A CDA does not exist for early intervention or special education roles. Part C early intervention specialists need state licensure in their discipline, such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, or special education. The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) offers its own credentials for special educators. Check your state's Part C or Part B licensure requirements directly.

Can I transfer a CDA from one credential area to another?

No. The Council for Professional Recognition does not allow credential transfers between tracks. Hold a preschool CDA and move to an infant/toddler role, and you must apply fresh in the infant/toddler track. That means new fieldwork documentation, a new professional development plan, and a new assessment. Budget several months for the process.

What happens to my staff credential requirements if my state still lists a school-age CDA in its rules?

Contact your state licensing agency and ask specifically about their current accepted equivalencies for school-age care staff. Because the Council discontinued the credential, most states have updated their guidance or built an equivalency process. Do not assume the old credential still satisfies requirements. Get the answer in writing from your licensor.

Does CCDF require providers to hold a CDA?

Not directly. CCDF requires states to set their own qualification standards for providers receiving childcare subsidies. The specific credential required, whether a CDA, a degree, or a state certificate, comes from your state's CCDF plan and licensing rules, not federal CCDF law itself. Head Start is the federal program with an explicit CDA floor requirement.

What are the best alternatives to the CDA for after-school program staff?

The Certified Afterschool Professional (CAP) credential from the National AfterSchool Association is the most widely recognized alternative for school-age and after-school care workers. Some states have their own school-age care certificates. A high school diploma paired with college coursework in child development is accepted in many states. Check your state licensing agency's approved credential list before enrolling in anything.

How much does a CDA cost to apply for and renew?

As of 2024, the initial CDA application fee is approximately $425 for non-Council members. Renewal costs roughly $150 for the online renewal process every three years. Some states offer T.E.A.C.H. scholarships that cover these costs for eligible childcare workers. Fees are set by the Council for Professional Recognition and can change, so verify on their official site before budgeting.

Is the home visitor CDA the same as a family daycare CDA?

No, they are separate credentials for different roles. The Home Visitor CDA is for professionals who travel to families' homes to deliver parenting education, developmental support, or early childhood services as part of a home visiting program. The Family Child Care CDA is for providers who run their own licensed home daycare. Applying for the wrong track will not satisfy your licensing requirement.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Competency Standards and Credential Areas: The Council issues 8 CDA credential areas: center-based preschool, center-based infant/toddler, family child care, home visitor, and four bilingual specialization counterparts; the school-age credential is no longer offered.
2. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Credential Overview: The School-Age CDA credential has been discontinued and is no longer available for new applications.
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, Child Care and Development Fund: CCDF requires states to establish staff qualification standards but does not mandate a specific credential type such as a CDA; states set their own requirements in their CCDF state plans.
4. Child Care Aware of America, State Child Care Licensing Requirements: States vary in which credentials they accept as substitutes where a CDA credential area does not exist or has been discontinued; operators should confirm accepted alternatives with their state licensor.
5. U.S. Department of Education, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Part C early intervention providers must meet state-established personnel standards, typically discipline-specific licensure such as speech-language pathology or occupational therapy, for which a CDA is not a recognized qualification.
6. Zero to Three, Professional Development Resources: Zero to Three offers infant-toddler specialist professional development pathways that some states recognize alongside or instead of the CDA in their QRIS and staff qualification frameworks.
7. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Child Care Licensing: Michigan's childcare licensing rules include a detailed staff qualification matrix that specifies which credentials satisfy which roles and settings, including director and lead teacher positions.
8. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Program Performance Standards, 45 CFR Part 1302: Head Start Performance Standards require that all classroom teachers hold at minimum a CDA credential and that at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide hold an associate's degree or higher in early childhood education.
9. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Fees and Renewal: The initial CDA application fee is approximately $425 and the online renewal fee is approximately $150 every three years as of 2024.
10. National Association for Family Child Care, Accreditation: NAFCC accreditation functions as a quality benchmark for family childcare homes and is recognized in some state QRIS systems as an alternative or supplement to credential-based quality points.
11. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center: T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood scholarships help cover coursework and credential costs, including CDA coursework and renewal fees, for eligible childcare workers in participating states.