5Facts about the Child Development Associate (cda) Credential and Process
• Early childhood education or child care programs that pro-
vide training, such as family services, school districts, Head
Start, or employer-sponsored in-service trainings
• Programs offered by the state or federal government or by
branches of the U.S. military services
Please note that training obtained at conferences or from indi-
vidual consultants is not accepted by the Council. A candidate may
acquire the 120 clock hours of training from one single training
program or from a combination of programs. Most CDAs receive
their training through credit courses or continuing education units
(CEUs). On its website (www.cdacouncil.org), the Council provides
the National Directory of Early Childhood Preparation Institutions
listed by state to which you can refer.
Is Financial Assistance Available to Help Pay
for My Training?
Some state and local organizations offer financial assistance
for training, as well as for the CDA assessment fees. For ex-
ample, some states participate in the Teacher Education and
Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood Project.
This program, which originated in North Carolina, provides
scholarships for coursework in early childhood education so
child care providers can work to increase their compensation.
You can visit the Child Care Services Association website at
www.childcareservices.org/ps/teach.html to learn more about the
T.E.A.C.H. program and to see a listing of participating states. Be
sure to inquire through your employer or local early childhood
professional association for more information about financial
assistance. You may also be able to find free or low-cost training
through your local resource and referral agency.
Do I Have to Provide Some Kind of Proof
That I Had This Training?
Each agency or organization providing the training must provide
proof of your education by means of a letter, certificate, or tran-
script. Break down the 120 hours into the required subject areas
on the Direct Assessment Application form. See appendix A on
page 179 for a listing of the CDA subject areas, along with examples
of training or course topics that would be covered under each of
them.
CDA chap 1.indd 5 8/11/11 12:31 PM