A CDA certificate can open doors, boost your confidence, and advance your career.
Whether you work with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers in a classroom or home-based setting, the CDA is a respected credential that helps you meet job requirements, grow professionally, and earn the trust of families.
This guide walks you through the entire process from training and eligibility to the final assessment. You’ll also learn how ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) can support you with flexible, accredited online courses designed for busy educators.
What Is a CDA Certificate?
The CDA certificate is a nationally recognized credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition. It is designed for early childhood educators working with children from birth to age five and is widely accepted across center-based programs and family child care settings. In many states, it serves as a requirement for lead teacher roles, licensing compliance, or career advancement.
The CDA certificate invites you to reflect on your teaching philosophy, deepen your understanding of child development, and strengthen the care and learning experiences you provide each day.
CDA Training and Experience Requirements
To apply for the CDA certificate, you must meet three key requirements:
First, you’ll need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be a junior or senior in a high school career and technical education program focused on early childhood education.
Second, you’ll complete 120 hours of formal training in eight core 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
- Understanding the principles of child development and learning
Your training must include a minimum of 10 hours in each subject area.
Third, you’ll need 480 hours of work experience in your chosen setting (infant-toddler, preschool, or family child care). But, you don’t have to wait to apply for your credential until you complete all 480 hours; you have three years from the date you apply to complete this requirement.
CCEI’s Online CDA Course
CCEI’s CDA certificate program is fully online and designed to fit your schedule. You can choose a self-paced format or receive instructor support, depending on your learning style. The course is available in both English and Spanish and includes all 120 required hours of training aligned with CDA standards.
Want to learn more about the CCEI CDA certificate experience? Hear from our graduates about how CCEI’s training helped them grow as educators.
How To Apply for Your CDA Certificate
Once you complete your coursework and begin logging your required experience hours, you’re ready to apply for your CDA through the Council for Professional Recognition.
The application process is completed online and includes uploading your training certificate, selecting your setting (Infant-Toddler, Preschool, or Family Child Care), and submitting payment. Once your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll move on to the final assessment phase.
Portfolio and Site Visit
Building Your Professional Portfolio
As part of the assessment, you will prepare a Professional Portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge, planning, and reflection. It includes three core elements:
- Reflective Statements of Competence, which are short essays describing how you apply the CDA subject areas in your work
- A Resource Collection featuring sample materials you use or create in your role—like schedules, procedures, and handouts
- Family Questionnaires completed by families you have worked with, offering insight into your relationships and communication practices
The CDA Competency Standards book includes detailed instructions for compiling your portfolio. Many educators find this process to be one of the most personally enriching parts of certification.
Scheduling the Verification Visit
Next, you’ll schedule a Verification Visit with a Council-approved Professional Development Specialist. During the visit, the specialist will observe your teaching, review your portfolio, and engage you in a reflective dialogue. They’re not looking for perfection, but rather for evidence of consistency, care, and a clear understanding of best practices in early childhood education.
The specialist then submits their assessment to the Council for review.
The CDA Exam
The final step is the CDA Exam, a 65-question, computer-based assessment administered at a Pearson VUE testing center. The questions cover all eight CDA subject areas and are designed to reflect real-world classroom scenarios.
The Council combines your exam results with your Verification Visit feedback to make the final credentialing decision.
CDA Scholarships
In many states, scholarship funding is available to help offset or even fully fund the cost of your CDA training. Programs like T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® and other workforce development grants often provide full or partial funding. You can use the Council’s Find a Scholarship tool to explore what’s available in your area.
Begin Your CDA Journey with CCEI
Earning your CDA certificate is a meaningful step forward in your work as an early educator. CCEI is here to help you succeed with flexible, accredited training and ongoing support every step of the way.
Learn more and begin your CDA course today!