Child Development Associate (CDA®) Program
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Child Development Associate Program Overview
The School of Education at American University offers a Child Development Associate (CDA®) Program, the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education, for educators working in preschool or daycare settings. Our program is framed from a critical literacy, social justice and antiracist perspective, and makes use of culturally responsive and culturally sustaining teaching methodology. This program is fully online and self-paced. It is available in an open enrollment format, and admission to American University is not required.
Credential & Requirements
The CDA® is a credential that early childhood educators can apply for from the Council for Professional Recognition after completing a series of requirements. The required elements include the completion of at least 120 hours of formal early childhood education coursework, preparing a professional portfolio, and obtaining professional work experience.
The CDA® program at American University is a 135-hour course of study, which fulfills the 120-hour educational component required by the Council for Professional Recognition for the Preschool, Infant-Toddler, and Family Child Care CDA® credential and some of the educational component hours required for the Home Visitor CDA® credential.
While completing your CDA® coursework at AU, you will have an opportunity to work on most of the required portfolio components. If you are in the DC area you will also have the option of obtaining some preschool or infant-toddler professional work experience through our partnership with Martha’s Table, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., as a volunteer in one of their high-quality education programs.
Program Courses
The CDA® program consists of 5 courses that can be completed in 4-8 months. Since it is self-paced and fully online, it can be completed around a schedule that meets your needs. While taking CDA® courses you will have access to an academic advisor and faculty coach, including access to distinguished faculty and staff members who work every day to achieve SOE’s vision of an antiracist and equity-driven community in which all students are given the support they need to realize their unique potential.
You may also register for individual courses to complete missing education hours or to renew a Preschool, Infant-Toddler, or Family Child Care CDA® credential.
Continue Your Education and Expand Your Career Path
Upon completing your CDA® at American University you will have an opportunity to expand your career pathway by continuing your education through a degree program at American University or Trinity Washington University. Students who complete our CDA® may transfer the equivalent of up to 6 credits to Trinity Washington University’s Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education. These students can then transfer credits to American University’s Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education or Trinity Washington University’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education.
Child Development Associate (CDA®) Program Details
This fully online, self-paced program is available with an open enrollment format. Anyone that is looking to fulfill the 120-hour educational component, necessary to obtain the Preschool, Infant-Toddler, and Family Child Care Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is welcome to register. We also offer courses that fulfill the commitment to professionalism, and understanding child development and learning subject areas for the Home Visitor CDA Credential™.
- The CDA® program is a 135-hour course of study which fulfills the 120-hour educational component required by the Council for Professional Recognition for the Preschool, Infant-Toddler, and Family Child Care CDA® credential and some of the educational component hours required for the Home Visitor CDA® credential.
- The program will address various theoretical, research-based, and practitioner-oriented issues concerning children from birth through age 5
- Emphasis on critical literacy, culturally sustaining and anti-racism in the early childhood development years
- Course is fully online and self-paced, with assigned advisor and faculty support
- Seamless academic pathway towards an AA in ECE and then a BA in ECE or Elementary Education
Admission to AU is not required, simply complete this registration form.
Advancing Early Education Collaborative (AEEC) toward earning your Child Development Associate (CDA®) Credential
The Advancing Early Education Collaborative (AEEC) is an initiative between the AU School of Education, Trinity Washington University, LIFT-DC, and Martha’s Table. The partnership provides students with a seamless academic pathway across institutions with wrap-around supports (such as free groceries, childcare vouchers, and financial coaching) that help students successfully navigate, graduate, and enter careers in early learning. A scholarship opportunity is associated with this initiative, and applicants who qualify will be notified once admitted to the program.
LEARN MORECDA® Program Course Overview
The courses are self-paced, meaning the material is completed on your time. The suggested time to complete each of the 5 courses for the CDA program is listed below.
| Course Title | AU Credit Equivalency | CDA® Hours Equivalency | Suggested Time to Complete | Cost |
| EDU 072 Culturally Responsive Learning in Early Childhood Education* | 3 | 45.0 | 16 weeks | $780 |
| EDU 073 Health, Safety, and Nutrition in the Early Years | 1 | 15.0 | 6 weeks | $260 |
| EDU 071 Child Development and Learning* | 2 | 30.0 | 12 weeks | $520 |
| EDU 075 Program Management in ECE | 1 | 15.0 | 6 weeks | $260 |
| EDU 074 Professionalism and Community Building | 2 | 30.0 | 12 weeks | $520 |
| Total Courses (5) | 9 | 135.0 | N/A | $2340 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The total cost for all five courses is $2,340. The breakdown by course is listed below, and there are scholarships available. Please contact Gabrielle Harris at harris@american.edu for more information.
There is no application deadline. Admissions are reviewed on a rolling basis.
You can register online.
There are scholarships available. For more information, please contact Gabrielle Harris at harris@american.edu.
The following courses, offered at AU, will fulfill the 120-hour educational component for the Preschool, Infant-Toddler, and Family Child Care Credential.
Culturally Responsive Learning in Early Childhood Education
Exploration of strategies, and practices for advancing young children’s physical, cognitive, communicative, creative and intellectual development from a culturally responsive, anti-racist and critical literacy perspective.
Health, Safety, and Nutrition in the Early Years
Exploration of culturally responsive strategies, policies and practices for creating, establishing, and maintaining the health, safety, and nutrition of children in the early years.
Child Development and Learning
Understanding principles of child development, including social development, emotional development, and learning, using the cultural resources (language, cultural traditions, heritage, knowledge) children bring to the learning community.
Program Management in ECE
Exploration of various forms of program management in early childhood settings including observation, documentation, planning, evaluation, record keeping, and building community, from a culturally responsive and anti-racist perspective.
Professionalism and Community Building
Exploration of the role early childhood educators play in community building to support the needs of young children and in engaging in courageous and professional leadership.
The following courses will fulfill the commitment to professionalism, and understanding child development educational component for the Home Visitor CDA® Credential™.
Professionalism and Community Building
Exploration of the role early childhood educators play in community building to support the needs of young children and in engaging in courageous and professional leadership.
Child Development and Learning
Understanding principles of child development, including social development, emotional development, and learning, using the cultural resources (language, cultural traditions, heritage, knowledge) children bring to the learning community.
CDA® Credential Requirements
The Council for Professional Recognition offers several types of CDA certificates, each with its own set of requirements.
These subject areas are covered in two of the AU CDA courses:
- Commitment to professionalism: Covered in our Professionalism and Community Building course.
- Understanding child development: Covered in our Child Development and Learning course.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
- Earn a high school diploma, GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education.
- Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages 3 to 5 years old, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of eight CDA subject areas. These subject areas are integrated into the AU CDA courses and are listed below.
- 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 principles of child development and learning
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a center-based setting with children ages 3-5 years old.
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio. Many of the components for the Portfolio are completed as part of the course work at AU.
- Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
- Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition online or complete a paper application provided in the CDA Preschool CDA Competency Standards Book.
- Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
- Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.
- Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a CDA PD Specialist and CDA Exam. (Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.)
- A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credential will be mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earn the Credential.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
Earn a high school diploma, GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education.
Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages birth to 36 months, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of the eight CDA® subject areas. These subject areas are integrated into the AU CDA courses and are listed below.
- 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 principles of child development and learning
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a center-based setting with children ages birth to 36 months, including experience in all three sub-age groups – young infants (birth to 8 months), mobile infants (9-17 months), and toddlers (18-36 months).
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio. Many of the components for the Portfolio are completed as part of the course work at AU.
- Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
- Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition online or complete a paper application provided in the Infant-Toddler CDA Competency Standards Book.
- Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
- Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.
- Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a CDA PD Specialist and CDA Exam. (Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.)
- A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credential will be mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earn the Credential.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
Earn a high school diploma, GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education.
Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages birth to 5 years old, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of eight CDA subject areas. These subject areas are integrated into the AU CDA courses and are listed below.
- 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 principles of child development and learning
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in in a group setting with children ages birth to 5 years old.
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio. Many of the components for the Portfolio are completed as part of the course work at AU.
- Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
- Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition online or complete a paper application provided in the CDA Family Child-Care Competency Standards Book.
- Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
- Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.
- Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a CDA PD Specialist and CDA Exam. (Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.)
- A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credential will be mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earn the Credential.
*These subject areas are covered in two of the AU CDA courses:
- Commitment to professionalism: Covered in our Professionalism and Community Building course.
Understanding child development: Covered in our Child Development and Learning course.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
- Earn a high school diploma, GED (equivalent).
- Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages birth to 5 years old, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of eight CDA Home Visitor subject areas.
- Promoting health and safety in the home environment
- Enhancing parents’ skills to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
- Promoting parents’ use of positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
- Understanding family systems and development
- Managing an effective home visitor program operation
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism*
- Working across the child welfare continuum
- Understanding the principles of child development and learning*
*These courses respectively fulfill the commitment to professionalism, and understanding child development educational component for the Home Visitor CDA Credential™.
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a Home Visitor program serving families with children aged birth to five years.
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
- Prepare your CDA professional portfolio.
- Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
- Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition online or complete a paper application provided in the CDA Home Visitor Competency Standards Book.
- Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
- Once your CDA application is approved, you will receive your Ready to Schedulenotice, and you can schedule your CDA Verification Visit®.
- A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credential will be mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earn the Credential.
Contact Us
If you are interested in signing up for the CDA® program, email CDA@american.edu.