What is the Child Development Associate® (CDA) National Credentialing Program?
The CDA National Credentialing Program is a professional development opportunity for early educators working with children ages birth to 5 years old to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the early childhood education field. The CDA credentialing program assesses Candidates using multiple sources of evidence, including an exam, observation and professional portfolio with resources and competency statements prepared by the Candidate. Visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website for Frequently Asked Questions regarding the CDA Credentialing Program.
How can KCCTO help you earn your CDA?
We know that, in addition to working through the CDA Credentialing process, many CDA Candidates have busy professional and personal lives. We want to provide you with the support and resources you need to meet all of the requirements to earn your CDA, with as little stress as possible.
KCCTO supports CDA Candidates through the following:
- Credentialing Process:
Check out an explanation of the 6 Steps to earning your CDA, learn how to review training, and read about the CDA Training Track for initial and renewal CDA Candidates HERE. - Specific Courses:
KCCTO offers 3 CDA specific courses. These courses help you gain an understanding of the overall initial CDA Credentialing process and begin work on your CDA Professional Portfolio. Additionally, most KCCTO courses will apply toward CDA professional education requirements! - KCCTO CDA Training Tracks:
Let us help you meet the professional education requirements for your Infant/Toddler, Preschool, or Family Child Care CDA, whether you’re a first-time CDA Candidate or working on renewal. We’ll help you choose your courses and plan out your schedule. - CDA Technical Assistance:
Our Professional Development Specialists want you to be successful in your KCCTO courses and use what you’ve learned from our courses in your work with young children. As you take KCCTO courses, our Professional Development Specialists will check in with you to answer any questions about the courses or the CDA Credentialing process. Visit our Technical Assistance page to learn more!
There are four CDA settings:
Work with children ages 3 to 5 years old.
The Preschool center-based setting is a state-approved child development center where a candidate can be observed working with at least 8 children, all of whom are ages 3 to 5 years. The program must have at least 10 children enrolled, not necessarily in the candidate’s group, and at least two early educators working with the children on a regular basis.
Work with children birth to 36 months.
A center-based infant-toddler setting is a state-approved child development center where a Candidate can be observed working with a group of at least three children, all of whom are under the age of 3 years old.
Work with children ages birth to 5 years.
A family child care setting is a family child care home where a Candidate can be observed working with at least two children 5 years old or younger who are not related to the Candidate by blood or marriage. The setting must meet at least the minimum level of applicable state and/or local regulations. Family child care settings are also eligible in localities where there is no regulation of family child care.
Work with families of children ages birth to 5 years.
A home visitor setting is an established program of home visits (to families with children 5 years old or younger) that supports parents in meeting the needs of their young children. In this setting, regular home visits are the primary method of program delivery. Candidates for a Home Visitor credential follow a slightly different assessment process than the other credentials. See the Council’s website for more information about obtaining a Home Visitor CDA.
KCCTO CDA Training Tracks and Scholarships
KCCTO offers a variety of training track and scholarship opportunities. Select the dropdown below that describes the type of candidate you are to learn more and apply today.
Download this Training Tracking Tool to help see progress towards earning your CDA.
First Time CDA Candidates
- Paid Training Track
- CDA Training Track AND Application Fee Scholarship
- CDA Credential Application Fee Scholarship
Paid Training Track (Training ONLY)
This scholarship is for you if you:
- Are a child care provider working in a Kansas child care program that is license exempt (ex: school district programs or Head Start programs) AND
- Have not completed all your professional education for the CDA Credential
The following CDA Credentials are eligible:
- Infant/Toddler CDA
- Preschool CDA
- Family Child Care CDA
Benefits:
- Receive up to 120 KDHE approved clock hours
- Help choosing and scheduling your courses
- Help creating your Professional Portfolio
- Professional Portfolio organizational tool
- CDA Competency Standards book
Cost: $300
The CDA Training Track AND Application Fee Scholarship is NOT available at this time. If you would like information about pursuing your CDA, please visit the KCCTO CDA Resource Center above. We encourage you to continue to take KCCTO Courses that will count towards your future CDA Training Track. Here’s a great tool to track your professional development – download here. Visit our course page or watch the video (coming soon) below to learn more.
Schedule a call with a CDA Consultant today to discuss your options.
Schedule a Call
CDA Training AND Application Fee Scholarship
Choose this scholarship option if you:
- Are a child care provider working in a licensed Kansas child care program AND
- Have not completed all your professional education for the CDA Credential and other pre-credential application requirements
The following CDA Credentials are eligible:
- Infant/Toddler CDA
- Preschool CDA
- Family Child Care CDA
Benefits:
- Receive up to 120 KDHE approved clock hours
- Help choosing and scheduling your courses
- Help creating your Professional Portfolio
- Professional Portfolio organizational tool
and…
- CDA Competency Standards book, CDA Essentials for Working with Young Children book, and CDA Essentials Workbook (a value of $95!)
- Support calls with KCCTO staff to help you through the entire CDA Credentialing process
- Online Credential application fee ($425)
Cost: FREE!
CDA Credential Application Fee Scholarship
This scholarship is for you if you:
- Are a child care provider working in a licensed Kansas child care program AND
- Have already completed the professional education for the CDA Credential and other pre-credential application requirements
The following CDA Credentials are eligible:
- Infant/Toddler CDA
- Preschool CDA
- Family Child Care CDA
Benefits:
- Online Credential application fee ($425)
Renewal CDA Candidates
- Paid Training Track
- CDA Training Track AND Application Fee Scholarship
- CDA Credential Application Fee Scholarship
Paid Training Track (Training ONLY)
The paid track is for child care providers working in Kansas programs that are license exempt (ex: school district programs or Head Start programs).
The following CDA Credentials are eligible:
- Infant/Toddler CDA
- Preschool CDA
- Family Child Care CDA
Benefits:
- Receive up to 45 KDHE approved clock hours
- Help choosing and scheduling your courses
Cost: $100
The CDA Training Track AND Application Fee Scholarship is NOT available at this time. If you would like information about pursuing your CDA, please visit the KCCTO CDA Resource Center above. We encourage you to continue to take KCCTO Courses that will count towards your future CDA Training Track. Here’s a great tool to track your professional development – download here. Visit our course page or watch the video (coming soon) below to learn more.
Schedule a call with a CDA Consultant today to discuss your options.
Schedule a Call
CDA Training Track AND Application Fee Scholarship
Choose this scholarship option if you:
- Are a child care provider working in a licensed Kansas child care program AND
- Have not completed all your professional education for the CDA Credential and other pre-credential application requirements
The following CDA Credentials are eligible:
- Infant/Toddler CDA
- Preschool CDA
- Family Child Care CDA
Benefits:
- Up to 45 KDHE approved clock hours
- Help choosing and scheduling your courses
and…
- Paid membership fee to a state or local early childhood organization
- Support calls with KCCTO staff to help you through the entire CDA Credentialing process
- Online Credential application fee ($125)
Cost: FREE!
CDA Credential Application Fee Scholarship
This scholarship is for you if you:
- Are a child care provider working in a licensed Kansas child care program AND
- Have already completed the professional education for the CDA Credential and other pre-credential application requirements
The following CDA Credentials are eligible:
- Infant/Toddler CDA
- Preschool CDA
- Family Child Care CDA
Benefits:
- Online Credential application fee ($125)
Questions?
Have questions about how KCCTO’s CDA assistance works?
- Contact us at kccto@ksu.edu or 785-532-7197.
- Visit our CDA Frequently Asked Questions page for more information!