CARE Courses

CDA Discounted Course Sets

For CDA information in Spanish, click here.

CDA Information:  Many child care providers throughout the United States have used CARE Courses to meet the training requirement to apply for the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credential.

CARE Courses does not grant the CDA.  The CDA Credential is administered by the Council for Professional Recognition.

Please note that although you may use CARE Courses to obtain the 120 clock hours needed to apply for the CDA Credential, our company is a private one and is in no way affiliated with the Council Professional Recognition.

Obtain a CDA: If you wish to use CARE Courses to apply for the CDA Credential, there are several steps you must take. Please read the following carefully.

1.      Call the Council for Professional Recognition (1-800-424-4310) and purchase an Application Packet, specific to the setting for which you will apply (PS, IT, or FCC.) When it arrives, read the CDA Competency Standards Book, specifically the six stages of assessment.

2.      Make certain that you meet the eligibility requirements to go through the CDA Direct Assessment process:

·         You are 18 years of age or older

·         Have 480 hours of experience working with young children within the past 5 years in a state-licensed home or center setting

·          Hold a high school diploma or the equivalent

3.      Complete 120 clock hours of formal childcare education. This is where CARE Courses come in. You must have 120 clock hours in eight different content areas. Any questions regarding your orders from CARE Courses and any questions regarding your courses should be directed to CARE Courses at 1-800-685-7610. Upon completion of your 120 clock hours, call or write CARE Courses to request a transcript.

4.      Once you have successfully completed the 120 hours of training, the Formal Observation Instrument, the distribution/collection of the Parent Opinion Questionnaires, and the Professional Resource File (all of which will be explained in the information you receive from the Council), complete and mail the following documents to the Council:

·         Direct Assessment Application form with all of the appropriate signatures

·         $325 assessment fee

·         Verification of the 120 hours of training

5.      Lastly, the Council will assign a Council Representative and he/she will contact you to schedule a date and time for the Verification Visit. 

These requirements are documented in the application packet.  Any questions regarding this portion of your CDA preparation should be directed to the Council.  The Council maintains a toll-free hotline to answer questions and to provide assistance. Call 1-800-424-4310 (toll-free) or 202-265-9090, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Renew a CDA: The Council requires the completion of 4.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) of training, in addition to the collection of other documents. While any of our courses may be used to renew the CDA, we highly recommend the courses Stress and Day Care plus Nurturing Children's Self Esteem or one of our discounted CDA Renewal Sets. CEUs are listed next to the course titles. Please call us if you have questions.

We offer unlimited telephone and email support to all our students.  Contact us at 1-800-685-7610 or send an email directly to Vivian Escobar: vivian@carecourses.com for help with your CDA or CDA decisions. 

Best wishes and good luck! Having a CDA is a wonderful achievement! 

Interested in learning more?  Go to: the Council for Professional Recognition site for lots more information.