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Preschool CDA Subject Areas and Care Courses


As part of the application requirements for a CDA you must complete 120 hours of formal child care training. This training must cover eight subject areas as outlined by the Council for Professional Recognition, with a minimum of 10 hours of training in each subject area.

To learn which courses relate to the different areas, click on the drop down menus below.

Preschool Center-Based CDA Subject Areas

Child Abuse and Neglect: A Caregiver’s Guide to Adverse Childhood Experiences

  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families

Emergency Preparedness in Child Care

  • 2 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Fun and Fitness: Addressing Childhood Obesity

  • 2 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Great Beginnings: An Introduction to Child Care

  • 3 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Development and Learning

Infants in Child Care

  • 6 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning

Keeping Infants Safe

  • 3 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Lead Safety in Child Care

  • 2 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Managing Health and Safety in Child Care

  • 10 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 2 hrs in Program Operation

Medication Procedures in Child Care

  • 2 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Preschoolers in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning

Safe Baby, Safe Child

  • 5 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Sanitation for Disease Prevention in Early Childhood Programs

  • 5 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Safe Environments in Child Care

  • 5 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Sun Safety

  • 2 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Toddlers in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning

Transportation Safety

  • 2 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Understanding and Managing Allergies in Child Care

  • 1 hr in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • 1 hr in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 1 hr in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 1 hr in Observing and Recording

Child Development and Guidance

  • 5 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 6 hrs in Program Operation
  • 3 hrs Development and Learning

Days with Toddlers: Curriculum Planning for Ages 12–36 Months

  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning

Great Beginnings: An Introduction to Child Care

  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 3 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Development and Learning

Infants in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning

Making Learning Fun

  • 20 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development

Many Ways to Learn

  • 10 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Playing Outdoors

  • 1 hr in Physical/Intellectual Development

Preschoolers in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning

Toddlers in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning

Toilet Learning

  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development

Biting Hurts!

  • 1 hr in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Observing and Recording

Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • 1 hr in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 1 hr in Observing and Recording

Challenging Behavior: Positive Guidance in Child Care

  • 5 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Development and Learning

Child Development and Guidance

  • 6 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 5 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Program Operation
  • 3 hrs in Development and Learning

Days with Toddlers: Curriculum Planning for Ages 12–36 Months

  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning

Early Childhood Stress

  • 5 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Great Beginnings: An Introduction to Child Care

  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 3 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 1 hr in Development and Learning

Infants in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 6 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning

Many Ways to Learn

  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 10 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development

Nurturing Children's Self-Esteem

  • 20 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Preschoolers in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning

Social-Emotional Development in Young Children

  • 3 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Toddlers in Child Care

  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning

Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 1 hr in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 1 hr in Observing and Recording

Child Abuse and Neglect: A Caregiver’s Guide to Adverse Childhood Experiences

  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

First Steps in Child Care: An Orientation

  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 2 hrs in Professionalism

Parents and Child Care

  • 15 hrs in Relationships with Families
  • 5 hrs in Program Operation

Supporting Breastfeeding in Child Care

  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 1 hr in Professionalism

Understanding Each Other: Communicating with Families, Staff and Your Community

  • 5 hrs in Relationships with Families
  • 4 hrs in Professionalism

Child Development and Guidance

  • 6 hrs in Program Operation
  • 5 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 3 hrs in Development and Learning

Creating Schedules and Routines

  • 4 hrs in Program Operation

The Early Childhood Professional

  • 6 hrs in Program Operation
  • 10 hrs in Professionalism

Great Days with Kids

  • 5 hrs in Program Operation

Managing Health and Safety in Child Care

  • 2 hrs in Program Operation
  • 10 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Parents and Child Care

  • 5 hrs in Program Operation
  • 15 hrs in Relationships with Families

Transitions and Other Troublesome Times

  • 6 hrs in Program Operation

Caring for Yourself and Achieving Your Goals

  • 3 hrs in Professionalism

The Early Childhood Professional

  • 10 hrs in Professionalism
  • 6 hrs in Program Operation

First Steps in Child Care: An Orientation

  • 2 hrs in Professionalism
  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families

A Joyful Life of Caregiving

  • 1 hr in Professionalism

Supporting Breastfeeding in Child Care

  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 1 hr in Professionalism

Understanding Each Other: Communicating with Families, Staff and Your Community

  • 4 hrs in Professionalism
  • 5 hrs in Relationships with Families

Biting Hurts!

  • 1 hr in Observing and Recording
  • 1 hr in Social/Emotional Development

Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • 1 hr in Observing and Recording
  • 1 hr in Relationships with Families
  • 1 hr in Social/Emotional Development
  • 1 hr in Physical/Intellectual Development

Observing, Recording, and Assessing Children's Development

  • 10 hrs in Observing and Recording

Block Play

  • 3 hrs Development and Learning

Challenging Behavior: Positive Guidance in Child Care

  • 1 hr in Development and Learning
  • 5 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Child Development and Guidance

  • 3 hrs in Development and Learning
  • 5 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 6 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
  • 6 hrs in Program Operation

Days with Toddlers: Curriculum Planning for Ages 12–36 Months

  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning
  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development
The Early Childhood Environment: Learning Centers
  • 10 hrs in Development and Learning

Great Beginnings: An Introduction to Child Care

  • 1 hr in Development and Learning
  • 3 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 2 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 2 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Infants in Child Care

  • 6 hrs in Development and Learning
  • 6 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Music and Movement

  • 3 hrs in Development and Learning

Play and Learning in Early Childhood

  • 4 hrs in Development and Learning

Preschoolers in Child Care

  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Principles of Child Development and Learning

  • 10 hrs in Development and Learning

Toddlers in Child Care

  • 8 hrs in Development and Learning
  • 4 hrs in Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
  • 4 hrs in Physical/Intellectual Development
  • 4 hrs in Social/Emotional Development

Questions? Please contact us! We are available 9-5 ET, M-F by phone: 1-800-685-7610 or days, evenings, weekends by email: info@CareCourses.com. We are happy to help!