Child Development Associate Course: CDA                                                                                                                                      

Classes meet one evening per week for a three hour session, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. It will take a participant approximately 11 months to complete. Classes are offered in Monroe, Wayne and Livingston counties.

Please contact Yolanda at (585) 654-4798 for upcoming dates and to order a CDA information packet.

Description: This course will encourage participants to broaden their understanding of key issues in early childhood education as they begin their course work for the CDA credential. Through the course work, each individual will increase their knowledge on how to meet the specific needs of children and work with parents and other adults to nurture children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework. This will be done by demonstrating competence in her/his ability to meet the CDA Competency Goals through her/his work in a center-based or family child care program.

There are 13 modules covered throughout the course.

Requirements: Prior to assessment from the National Council for Professional Recognition, you must:

Have 120 clock hours of formal child care education within the past five years. The 120 clock hours of education must be documented, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the following content areas:

1. Planning a safe, healthy environment to invite learning;
2. Steps to advance children’s physical and intellectual development;
3. Positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development;
4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families;
5. Strategies to manage an effective program operation;
6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism;
7. Observing and recording children’s behavior;
8. Principles of child development and learning;

You will have completed 120 clock hours of formal child care education through the end of this course.

Obtaining your CDA Credential:

The actual Child Development Associate Credential is granted by the National Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C. In addition to the 120 hours of formal training that you will receive and the Resource file that you will complete during class instruction, you are required to be observed by an advisor of your choice. Your advisor serves as a contact for you throughout the training and conducts the classroom observation during the credentialing process. It is your responsibility to choose an advisor that meets the requirements as outlines in your CDA books. Once your training hours are complete, you will need to submit the assessment application with the assessment fee to the Council  for Professional Recognition. A representative from the Council will contact you and will set up a time to visit. During the visit, the representative will:

1. Administer the written assessment
2. Conduct the oral interview
3. Review and collect parts of your Professional Resource File, Observation booklet and Parent Questionnaires

The committee of the National Council reviews the documentation and makes a decision regarding the credential award. The credential is either awarded or the committee decides the candidate needs more training.

CDA Renewal:

A CDA Credential is valid for three years from the date of award, after which it may be renewed for five years. At YOUR request, a renewal packet will be sent from the Council of Professional Recognition. Call 1-800-424-4310 to obtain your renewal packet. You will need to request your packet at least 6 months prior to the expiration date of your CDA Credential. Within the 3 (or 5) year period of having your credential, you will need to complete 45 hours of training (4.5 CEU's), have a current first aid certificate, proof of work experience with children or families of young children, obtain a letter of recommendation from an Early Childhood professional regarding your competence in working with young children, and document proof (within current year) of membership in a national or local early childhood professional organization. It is mandatory that the 45 hours of training needed be obtained by an agency that awards CEU's (Continuing Education Units) and/or an Accredited College or University.

You will receive all necessary paperwork and books to complete your CDA Credential throughout this course. You will also be given detailed instruction as to how to complete everything. Please feel free to contact us at any time with your concerns, questions or suggestions!

For more information on the CDA program, please contact  Kristin Perrone at (585) 654-4744.