Council for Early Childhood Recognition. (1997, January). Infant/toddler caregivers in center-based programs: The Child Development Associate assessment system and competency standards. Washington, DC: Author.

A CDA assessment is the process by which a caregiver's competence is evaluated by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (the Council). In preparation for assessment, the Candidate documents her/his skills in relation to the CDA Competency Standards. Five components make up the documentation:

1. The Professional Resource File
2. The Parent Opinion Questionnaires
3. The CDA Assessment Observation Instrument
4. The Early Childhood Studies Review
5. The Oral Interview

The results are submitted to the Council for review by a committee, which makes the decision whether to award the CDA Credential to the Candidate.

Stages of Assessment

There are six stages in the CDA Assessment system: (1) Inquiry; (2) Collection of Documentation by the Candidate; (3) Application; (4) Verification Visit by the Council Representative; (5) Credential Award; and (6) Credential Renewal. These stages are summarized here and explained in detail in Part II of this book.

1. Inquiry

   Individuals who meet all the Candidate eligibility requirements in Part II of this book and who can be observed in an eligible setting should purchase a packet of application materials from the Council. The packet contains all the instructions and forms necessary for the next stages of assessment.

2. Collection of Documentation by the Candidate

   The Candidate chooses an early childhood professional --an Advisor-- who conducts a formal observation using the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument.

   The Candidate distributes and collects Parent Opinion Questionnaires to determine parents' opinion of her or his work with children.

   The Candidate also prepares a Professional Resource File, which contains an autobiographical statement, written examples of her or his competence in each of the six CDA Competency Areas, and a collection of resource materials.

3. Application

   When the collection of documentation is complete, the Candidate, Advisor, and the program director sign the Direct Assessment Application Form, which the Candidate sends to the Council with the assessment fee and training documentation.

4. Verification Visit by the Council Representative

   The Council assigns a specially trained early childhood professional to administer a written examination of knowledge of good practices -- the Early Childhood Studies Review. This person will conduct an oral interview with the Candidate and check the Professional Resource File, the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument, and the Parent Opinion Questionnaires.

   At the conclusion of the Verification Visit, the Council Representative will send the results to the Council in Washington, DC.

5. Credential Award

   A committee of the Council conducts a review of the Candidate's documentation of competence and makes a decision regarding credential award. If a Credential is awarded, the official Credential is sent to the new Child Development Associate. If the committee decides the Candidate needs more training, the Council notifies the Candidate and informs her/him of appeal procedures and other subsequent options.

6. Renewal

   A CDA Credential is valid for three years from the date of award, after which it may be renewed for five-year periods. CDAs may renew their Credential only for the original setting, age-level endorsement, and specialization.

Pacing the Assessment

The Council schedules Verification Visits four times a year, on a quarterly system. Before preparing their documentation of competence, Candidates should decide which quarter they want to have a Verification Visit scheduled; then submit the Direct Assessment Application Form by the deadline for that quarter:

It is very important for Candidates to project the quarter for their Verification Visit. The information that is submitted to document competence must be collected within six months prior to the time the Candidate submits the Direct Assessment Application Form.

"Becoming a CDA is not a far-away dream
that you can't touch;
rather, it is a process that is well within
the grasp of reality."

For Additional information contact:

Mary Beth Van Why
Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
2460 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009-3575
Phone (202) 265-9090 or (800) 424-4310
fax (202) 265-9161

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