Who is in charge of credentialing CDA applicants?

Last updated 2026-07-09

What organization is actually in charge of the CDA credential?

The Council for Professional Recognition, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the only organization authorized to award the Child Development Associate credential in the United States ^[1]. No state licensing board, community college, Head Start office, or child care agency can issue a CDA. They can require one, accept one, or help you pay for one. Only the Council grants it.

The Council started in 1971 under a federal initiative to professionalize early childhood care. It has run as an independent, nonprofit credentialing organization since 1985. The credential itself covers six setting-specific pathways: Center-Based Preschool, Center-Based Infant/Toddler, Family Child Care, Home Visitor, Adult Learner, and Bilingual Specialization ^[1].

This distinction matters for daycare operators because the Council's requirements apply nationwide, no matter which state you're in. Your state licensing office tells you what credentials your staff need. The Council tells you how to earn and keep the CDA.

What is the Council for Professional Recognition and how long has it existed?

The Council for Professional Recognition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose entire mission is credentialing early childhood professionals. It runs a direct application system, maintains a national registry of credential holders, and sets the competency standards behind the CDA ^[1].

The organization has awarded more than 900,000 CDA credentials since the program began ^[1]. That number gets cited a lot as proof of the credential's reach, but it counts everyone ever credentialed, not active holders. The Council publishes its own data on credential volume, and recent reports put annual awards and renewals in the range of 50,000 to 60,000.

One thing the Council is not: a trainer. It doesn't run the coursework you need before applying. The 120 clock hours of early childhood education training come from a separate provider, such as a community college, a Child Care Resource and Referral agency, or an approved online program. The Council evaluates your portfolio and verifies your competencies after you've finished that training somewhere else. Two separate transactions. Two separate entities.

How does the CDA credentialing process actually work?

The process has five main steps, and the Council controls the last two ^[1].

First, you build 480 hours of professional experience working with children in the age group and setting that matches your credential type. Second, you finish 120 clock hours of formal early childhood education (ECE) training, with at least 10 hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas. Third, you assemble a Professional Portfolio documenting your competencies across the six CDA Competency Standards. Fourth, you apply through the Council's online portal, pay the application fee, and submit your documentation. Fifth, a Council-approved Professional Development Specialist (PDS) conducts a verification visit: an on-site or virtual observation of you working with children, followed by a portfolio review ^[1].

The PDS does not work for the Council as a salaried employee. The Council trains and approves PDS candidates, and those specialists then operate independently to conduct visits. You find a PDS through the Council's PDS locator. If you're rural or can't find a local one, virtual visits are available for some pathways.

After the PDS submits a report and your portfolio is reviewed, the Council makes the final credentialing decision. You get a physical certificate, and your name goes into the national credential registry. The CDA is valid for three years, after which you renew through the Council directly ^[1].

For a full breakdown of what the credential requires and how it fits into your career path, see our guide on the CDA credential.

What does it cost to get a CDA through the Council?

As of 2024, the Council's application fee is $425 for a new CDA credential. Renewal is $150 if you renew before your credential expires ^[1]. If your credential lapses, fees are higher.

That fee covers only the Council's portion. Your total out-of-pocket cost depends on where you complete your 120 training hours. Community college coursework can run $600 to $2,000 depending on your state. Some online programs approved for CDA preparation run $150 to $500. Head Start and many QRIS programs offer training reimbursement or scholarships, and the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by the Office of Child Care at HHS lets states use federal funds for professional development, including CDA preparation ^[2].

Many states run their own T.E.A.C.H. scholarship programs that cover a large share of the training cost for child care workers. The Council itself keeps a list of financial assistance resources on its website.

Bottom line: the Council's fee is fixed and published. Your training cost is the variable, and it's almost always bigger than the Council fee.

How does the federal Child Care and Development Fund connect to CDA requirements?

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), administered by the Office of Child Care within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sets baseline requirements that states must follow to receive federal child care subsidy dollars ^[2]. CCDF rules require states to have a professional development framework in place and to support the career advancement of child care workers. In practice that means many states tie subsidy eligibility, licensing requirements, or quality rating incentives to credentials including the CDA.

The CCDF final rule published in 2016, updated through later guidance, requires states to address workforce qualifications in their state plans ^[6]. But CCDF does not mandate the CDA specifically at the federal level. States decide how to turn qualification requirements into rules within CCDF parameters.

What this means for you: if your program takes child care subsidy (often called "subsidy" or "CCAP" depending on the state), your state's CCDF-aligned licensing rules may require lead teachers to hold a CDA or its equivalent. Subsidy payment rates and eligibility can hinge on whether your staff holds the CDA. For more on subsidy dynamics, see childcare subsidy.

The Council and the federal government are separate. HHS does not administer the CDA, and the Council does not administer CCDF. They run in parallel, and their requirements meet at the state level.

Do states recognize the CDA, or do they have their own credentialing systems?

All 50 states plus Washington D.C. recognize the CDA credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition in some capacity, though how they use it varies a lot ^[3].

Some states require the CDA for lead teachers in licensed child care centers. Others accept it as one option among several (an associate degree, a state-issued credential, or the CDA). Still others require it only in programs that participate in their Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A small number of states have built their own state-level early childhood credentials, which may count as CDA equivalents for licensing purposes. Those state credentials are issued by the state, not the Council, and they are not the same as the CDA.

Child Care Aware of America tracks state-by-state qualification requirements in its annual "Demanding Change" report series. Its 2023 data shows most states require lead teachers in center-based care to hold at minimum a CDA or equivalent ^[3]. Home-based family child care rules vary even more widely.

For family child care operators, the CDA with the Family Child Care specialization is usually the most relevant pathway. State licensing requirements for home-based programs frequently differ from center rules. If you run a home daycare, your state licensing page is the first place to check. See our Michigan daycare licensing guide as one example of how state rules interact with CDA requirements.

State Requirement Type	Description	Examples
CDA required for lead teacher	Must hold CDA or higher degree	Several Southern and Midwestern states
CDA as one acceptable option	CDA, associate's, or state credential accepted	California, New York, many others
CDA tied to QRIS rating	CDA earns points for higher subsidy rates	Most QRIS states
No minimum credential required	Experience-only requirements	A handful of states, declining
State-specific credential accepted	State credential can substitute for CDA	A few states with developed systems

Who are the Professional Development Specialists and who oversees them?

Professional Development Specialists (PDS) are the individuals who conduct verification visits during the CDA application process ^[1]. The Council for Professional Recognition trains, approves, and monitors them. A PDS must meet the Council's own eligibility requirements: typically a bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood education or a related field, plus relevant professional experience.

The Council maintains a searchable PDS locator on its website where applicants find an approved specialist in their area. PDS candidates apply to the Council, complete required training, and get listed in the directory once approved. If a PDS conducts verification visits improperly, the Council is the entity with authority to investigate and remove them from the approved list.

Applicants do not pay the PDS directly in most standard pathways. The Council fee covers the verification visit. This confuses people a lot: some older CDA processes and some third-party training programs used to charge separately for PDS-related services, but under the Council's current direct application model, the $425 application fee is the all-in fee to the Council.

If a PDS recommends non-approval, the Council has an appeals process. The Council makes the final call, not the PDS. The PDS is an evaluator. The Council is the credentialing authority.

Can an employer or training program award or revoke a CDA?

No. An employer cannot award a CDA, and an employer cannot revoke one.

The credential belongs to the individual, not the employer. If a teacher earns a CDA while working at your center and then leaves, she takes the CDA with her. Her name stays in the Council's registry as a credentialed professional. You as the employer have no role in the credentialing transaction.

Same goes for a training program (community college, online provider, Head Start training office). It can prepare someone to apply for a CDA. It can issue completion certificates for the 120 hours of training. It cannot issue the CDA itself. When someone says a training program "helped them get their CDA," that means the program provided the prerequisite training, not that the program awarded the credential.

Revocation runs the same way in reverse. If a credentialed professional is found to have falsified application materials, the Council can revoke the credential. An employer with a concern reports it to the Council, which investigates. Your state licensing office can revoke your program's license, but it cannot reach into the Council's system and revoke an individual's CDA.

This separation protects workers and creates a portable credential that travels with them throughout a career.

How does the CDA renewal process work and who handles it?

CDA credentials are valid for three years from the issue date. Renewal goes back to the Council, the same organization that issued it ^[1].

To renew, credential holders must complete 45 hours of professional development during the three-year period, have a current employer (or professional reference) complete a formal observation, write a reflective statement about professional growth, and pay the $150 renewal fee to the Council ^[1].

Renewal does not require another verification visit with a PDS. It's a documentation review handled through the Council's online portal.

If a credential expires, renewal is still possible, but the requirements get more involved and the fee goes up. The Council's website has the current fee schedule. If a credential has been expired for more than five years, the holder may need to go through the full initial credentialing process again.

For daycare directors tracking staff credentials, the Council's registry lets you verify whether a specific individual holds an active CDA. The registry lookup is public and free. That's useful during licensing inspections, when your state may ask for proof that staff credentials are current.

Does Child Care Aware of America have any role in CDA credentialing?

Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) is a national membership organization of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs). It does not credential anyone. Its role in the CDA ecosystem is indirect but worth understanding ^[3].

CCAoA publishes annual state-by-state data on child care licensing, affordability, and workforce requirements. That research is the most widely cited source for comparing state qualification requirements. Its reports don't set requirements. They document what states have decided.

CCR&R agencies at the local level often provide or connect caregivers to CDA training, scholarships, and coaching. Your local CCR&R may keep a list of approved CDA training providers in your area. Find your local CCR&R through Child Care Aware's agency directory.

For tax implications of professional development expenses including CDA preparation, the childcare tax credit article covers what providers can and cannot deduct.

What happens if you're denied a CDA credential?

If the Council does not award a CDA after reviewing your application, you have the right to appeal. The Council's appeals process lets applicants submit additional documentation and request reconsideration ^[1].

Denials are not common. Most rejections happen when an applicant submits an incomplete portfolio, cannot verify the required hours of experience or training, or when the PDS verification visit raises competency concerns. In most of those situations, the Council contacts the applicant for more information before a final denial.

A denial does not block you from reapplying. The Council allows reapplication after you address the deficiencies that caused the denial. There may be additional fees depending on what stage the process was at when the denial happened.

For daycare directors who sponsor or require staff to earn CDAs, build extra lead time into your hiring and compliance timelines. An application to credential takes roughly six to eight weeks on average under normal processing, but it can take longer if PDS availability is limited or if documentation issues need to be sorted out.

If you're tracking staff qualifications against state licensing deadlines, tools like those in the ChildCareComp compliance toolkit help you see where each staff member sits in the credentialing pipeline.

How do CDA requirements interact with Head Start staffing rules?

Head Start programs have federal staffing requirements that go beyond most state child care licensing rules. Under the Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1302), at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide must have an associate degree or higher in ECE or a related field by a set date. A CDA alone does not satisfy the associate degree requirement, but teachers with CDAs who are working toward degrees satisfy interim requirements ^[4].

The Head Start Act, as amended, spells out these qualification timelines and thresholds directly ^[5]. The Office of Head Start, which sits within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS, oversees Head Start compliance, not the Council for Professional Recognition.

For non-Head Start programs, the CDA is usually enough to meet state licensing requirements for lead teacher qualifications in many states. Directors and program administrators generally need higher credentials (an associate's or bachelor's degree) even when lead teachers need only a CDA.

This creates a two-tier qualification landscape in most states: CDA for direct care, degree for leadership. Figuring out which tier applies to which position is where any workforce development planning starts.

Where can you apply for a CDA and what's the timeline?

Applications go directly to the Council for Professional Recognition through its online portal at cdacouncil.org ^[1]. There's no intermediary application. No state agency, no employer, and no training program can submit an application for you.

The Council recommends finishing all prerequisites (480 experience hours, 120 training hours, portfolio assembly) before you apply. You can start assembling your portfolio and tracking your hours anytime. You apply to the Council when you're ready for the formal review.

Once you submit your application and fee, you have six months to complete your verification visit with a PDS. Miss that window and your application may be voided, forcing a reapply.

The Council processes applications on a rolling basis. There's no cohort schedule and no enrollment window. You apply when you're ready. That's one of the CDA's practical advantages over degree programs: you're not waiting on a semester to start.

For operators running a licensed daycare center, understanding the credentialing landscape for your staff is one part of a bigger compliance picture. The daycare center guide covers what licensing looks like at the program level, which complements what this article covers at the individual credential level.

Frequently asked questions

Can a state agency issue a CDA credential?

No. State agencies cannot issue a CDA. States can require the CDA for licensing compliance, accept it as proof of qualification, or fund training that leads to it through CCDF. But the credential itself comes from one place only: the Council for Professional Recognition. Any document from a state agency is a state credential, not a CDA, even if both satisfy the same licensing requirement.

How much does it cost to get a CDA credential in 2024?

The Council's application fee is $425 for a new CDA credential and $150 for renewal. Those fees go directly to the Council for Professional Recognition. Your 120 hours of prerequisite training from a college, CCR&R, or approved online program is a separate cost, typically $150 to $2,000 depending on provider and state. T.E.A.C.H. scholarships and CCDF funding can offset both costs significantly.

Is the CDA a federal or state credential?

Neither. The CDA is issued by the Council for Professional Recognition, a private nonprofit, not a government agency. It's a nationally recognized credential with consistent standards in all 50 states. Federal programs like Head Start and state licensing systems reference or require it, but no government body administers it. Think of it like a professional certification, similar to how nursing boards or accounting boards work.

How do I verify that a staff member's CDA is currently active?

Use the Council for Professional Recognition's online credential registry at cdacouncil.org. The lookup is free and public. Search by the credential holder's name to confirm the credential is active and see when it expires. This is the same verification method state licensing inspectors use. Keep a record of the verification date in your personnel files.

What are the six CDA credential types?

The Council for Professional Recognition offers six credential pathways: Center-Based Preschool (ages 3-5), Center-Based Infant/Toddler (birth to 36 months), Family Child Care (birth through school age in a home setting), Home Visitor, Adult Learner (for trainers), and Bilingual Specialization (add-on). Choose the type that matches your actual work setting and the age group you serve, because that's what your state licensing rules will specify.

Can my employer revoke my CDA if I quit or get fired?

No. The CDA belongs to the individual who earned it, not the employer. Your employer has no access to the Council's credentialing system and cannot revoke or suspend your credential. Only the Council for Professional Recognition can revoke a CDA, and only for documented reasons such as falsification of application materials. The credential travels with you from employer to employer throughout your career.

Do I need a CDA to run a home daycare?

It depends entirely on your state. Many states do not require a CDA for licensed family child care providers, especially those running smaller home daycares. Some states require it only at higher QRIS quality levels or for providers serving subsidy-funded children. Check your state licensing office directly. Child Care Aware of America's annual state licensing report is a good reference for comparing state requirements.

How long does it take to complete the CDA credentialing process?

Plan for six to twelve months if you're starting from scratch. Building 480 experience hours and 120 training hours takes most people four to nine months depending on schedule. Portfolio assembly takes another four to eight weeks. After you apply to the Council and pay, you have six months to complete the PDS verification visit. Actual Council processing after the visit typically takes two to four weeks.

What is a Professional Development Specialist and who trains them?

A Professional Development Specialist (PDS) is an early childhood professional trained and approved by the Council for Professional Recognition to conduct CDA verification visits. PDS candidates must meet the Council's eligibility requirements (typically a bachelor's degree or higher in ECE and relevant experience), complete Council training, and be listed in the Council's PDS directory. They evaluate your portfolio and observe you working with children during the verification visit.

Does the CDA meet Head Start teacher qualification requirements?

Partially. A CDA satisfies some Head Start qualification requirements but not all. Under 45 CFR Part 1302 and the Head Start Act, at least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide must hold an associate degree or higher in ECE. A CDA alone does not fulfill the degree requirement, but CDA holders who are actively pursuing a degree satisfy interim requirements. Check the Office of Head Start's current guidance for your program type.

Can I use CCDF subsidy funds to pay for CDA training?

Potentially yes. The Child Care and Development Fund lets states use federal funds for child care workforce professional development, and many states have designed programs that cover CDA training costs for providers and teachers. The specifics depend on your state's CCDF plan. Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency to ask about T.E.A.C.H. scholarships and other professional development funding in your state.

What happens when a CDA expires?

A CDA is valid for three years. If you renew before expiration, the renewal fee is $150. If the credential lapses, renewal is still possible but requires more steps and higher fees. If it's been expired for more than five years, the Council may require you to complete the full initial credentialing process. For daycare directors, tracking expiration dates across your staff is a real compliance risk, since an expired CDA may not satisfy state licensing requirements.

Is a CDA the same as an associate's degree in early childhood education?

No. A CDA is a competency-based credential requiring 120 training hours and 480 experience hours. An associate's degree is a two-year college degree typically requiring 60+ credit hours. They are different credentials that satisfy different requirements. Many states accept either for lead teacher positions, but some states and most Head Start programs require the associate's degree for certain roles. Some CDA training hours may transfer as credit toward a degree, but that depends on your specific program.

Sources

1. Council for Professional Recognition, CDA Credential Overview: Council for Professional Recognition is the sole issuer of the CDA credential; application fee is $425; renewal is $150; credential is valid three years; over 900,000 CDAs awarded; PDS verification visit is required
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF Program: CCDF allows states to use federal funds for professional development including CDA preparation; states must address workforce qualifications in state plans
3. Child Care Aware of America, Demanding Change: Repairing Our Child Care System: All 50 states recognize the CDA in some capacity; majority of states require CDA or equivalent for lead teachers in center-based care per 2023 data
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start, Program Performance Standards 45 CFR Part 1302: At least 50 percent of Head Start teachers nationwide must hold an associate degree or higher in ECE; CDA alone does not satisfy degree requirement
5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Act: Head Start Act specifies teacher qualification timelines and thresholds; Office of Head Start oversees Head Start compliance
6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care, CCDF Final Rule 2016: 2016 CCDF final rule requires states to have a professional development framework in place and support child care worker career advancement
7. Child Care Aware of America, State Fact Sheets: State-by-state child care licensing data and workforce qualification requirements tracked annually
8. National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, CCDF State Plans: States must address workforce qualifications including professional development frameworks in CCDF state plans submitted to federal government