The content of this Information Sheet is from The Child Development Associate Assessment System and Competency Standards for Infant/Toddler Caregivers (1995), Home Visitor (1992), Family Child Care Providers (1996) and the CDA Professional Preparation Program brochure.

Introduction

The Child Development Associate is a national credentialing program administered by the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition in Washington, DC that is designed to enhance the quality of child care. The national standards used to evaluate a caregiver's performance with children and families are divided into six goals which are common to all child care settings and 13 functional areas. These goals describe the major functions that a caregiver must complete in order to carry out the competency goal.

According to the Final Rule - Head Start Program Performance Standards, if Early Head Start teachers are not otherwise qualified, staff working as teachers with infants and toddlers are required to obtain a CDA credential for Infant and Toddler Caregivers or an equivalent credential. We also recommend that Early Head Start programs, who have staff working as Home Visitors and Family Child Care Providers, consider obtaining the Home Visitor and Family Child Care CDA as a process for ensuring that staff have the knowledge, skills, training and experience they need to perform their functions well.

1. Ways to Obtain a CDA for Infant and Toddler Caregivers in Center-based Programs (Teachers in EHS Center Based and Combination Programs), and Family Child Care Providers

   Candidates interested in pursuing an Infant/Toddler CDA or Family Child Care CDA have the option to choose one of the following ways which are outlined in The Child Development Associate Assessment System and Competency Standards guides for infant and toddler caregivers and for family child care providers.

   • The CDA Assessment System requires all candidates pursuing the Infant/Toddler CDA or Family Child Care CDA to document a total of 120 clock hours, within the past 5 years of formal education with no fewer than 10 clock hours in eight content areas. In addition, 480 hours of experience is required, working with children ages birth to 3 years, in a group setting for young and mobile infants and toddlers, for the Infant/Toddler CDA and ages birth through 5 years for the Family Child Care CDA within the past 5 years.

   • The CDA Professional Preparation Program is an intensive one-year program of study designed for currently employed child care workers, or individuals who have no experience but wish to become trained in child care work. The program consists of 480 hours of field work, 120 hours of coursework, weekly conferences with instructional personnel and additional hours completing reading and writing assignments.

   Candidates interested in pursuing a Home Visitor CDA should follow the Local Assessment Team procedures which are outlined in The Child Development Associate Assessment System and Competency Standards guide for home visitors. Training for the home visitor is not available through the CDA Professional Preparation Program.

   • Local Assessment Team consists of a team comprising the Candidate, an Advisor, a Parent/Community Representative, and a Council Representative. Each team member has a specific responsibility for collecting information about the Candidate's performance and participating in a Local Assessment Team meeting.

   
   
   

2. Setting Options for CDA Assessment

   Regardless of which setting a candidate chooses (home or center), the CDA Standards are divided into six competency goals or (13) functional areas which are the same in all settings, however, the specific skills that a candidate must achieve will vary according to the setting in which the CDA credential is being obtained.

3. Eligibility Requirements for All Candidates and Advisors

   Candidate:

   • Be 18 years of older.
   • Hold a High School diploma or equivalent.
   • Sign a statement of ethical conduct.
   • Be able to speak, read, and write well enough to fulfill the responsibilities of a CDA Candidate.
   • For the candidate who is pursuing the Home Visitor credential, he or she must be able to participate in an interview with the Council
   • Representative and in the Local Assessment Team meeting.

   Advisor:

   • Affirm her/his ability to relate to people of various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
   • Be knowledgeable about local, state, and national requirements, standards, and guidelines for child care
   • Be familiar with the home visitor program, center or family child care home where the candidate is observed and the needs of families and children in the community.
   • Meet one of the three combinations of education and experience as outlined by the Council.
   
   
   
4. Stages of CDA Assessment

   Infant/Toddler and Family Child Care Setting:

   1. Inquiry - Obtain a packet of application materials from the Council which contains all the necessary instructions and forms for the next stages of assessment.
      
      
   2. Collection of Documentation by the Candidate - A formal observation by the candidate's advisor is conducted and recorded, Parent Opinion Questionnaires are distributed and collected and a collection of materials for the Professional Resource File is compiled.
      
      
   3. Application - Submission of the Direct Assessment Application Form and assessment fee.
      
      
   4. Verification Visit by the Council Representative - The Council will assign a trained early childhood professional to conduct an oral interview, administer a written examination and review all the required documentation.
      
      
   5. Credential Award - The Council conducts a final review and makes a decision regarding credential award.
      
      
   6. Renewal - The CDA Credential is valid for 3 years and may be renewed for five year periods for the original setting, age-level endorsement, and specialization.
   
   
   

5. Phases of the CDA Professional Preparation Program

   The Professional Preparation Program is based on the Essentials for Child Development Associates training curriculum that divides the study experience for students into three phases.

   • Phase 1: Field Work - This phase takes approximately six months and consists of guided field work experience (480 hours) in the Candidate's chosen field placement with his/her chosen Field Advisor. Both work together to complete the first six units of study.
     
     
   • Phase 2: Seminar - During this phase, students are assigned to Seminars (120 clock hours) that are conducted by nearby community college or post-secondary institution. At the conclusion of the Seminar phase, the Seminar Instructor administers a written Early Childhood Studies Review that tests the Candidate's knowledge of appropriate early childhood practice.
     
     
   • Phase 3: Final Evaluation - The candidate completes the final series of exercises and two units of the Essentials curriculum. The Field Advisor conducts a formal observation, assists the Candidate to distribute a Parent Opinion Questionnaire, and oversees the completion of a Professional Resource File. The Council Representative verifies the candidates competence by conducting an interview to assess the Candidate's competence and a review of all materials (parent opinion questionnaires, formal observation by field advisor and professional resource file). The Council conducts a final review and makes a decision regarding credential award. Successful Candidates then receive the Child Development Associate Credential with a specific setting and a specific age level endorsement.
   
   
   

6. Stages of CDA Assessment for the Local Assessment Team

   Home Visitor Setting:

   1. Application - Obtain a packet of application materials from the Council which contains all the necessary instructions and forms for the next stages of assessment.
   2. Team Formation/Information Collection - A Local Assessment Team is chosen and members collect the required information; candidate submits Assessment Request Form and interviews and observations are conducted by a Council Representative.
   3. Team Meeting - Review and evaluation of the Candidate's work and recommendation of the Candidate's competence is made to the Council.
   4. Credential Award - After careful review of the assessment materials the Council awards a CDA credential valid for 3 years.
   5. Credential Renewal - The CDA completes the renewal process and the CDA is renewed for five years for the original setting and specialization.

Early Head Start Programs are encouraged to contact the Council for specific information about the CDA Assessment and the Professional Preparation Program. The Council maintains a toll-free hotline to answer questions and provide assistance from 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday, Eastern Standard Time:

Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition
1341 G Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-424-4310 or 202/265-9090
Fax - 202/265-9161

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