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CDA Credential Settings – Your CDA Certification Guide

What is a CDA Credential?

A CDA credential is an early childhood education (ECE) certification offered by the CDA Council for Professional Recognition. What does CDA stand for? CDA stands for Child Development Associate Credential. Also called an ECE certificate or certificate in early childhood development, a Child Development Associate certification is a great first step along your early childhood career. 

Start Online CDA Training (120 Hours)

Care Courses’ CDA training prepares you to earn your CDA credential. Our self-paced online courses let you start and stop anytime and include unlimited, free CDA trainer and customer support. Prefer books? Choose our CourseBook format for a hands-on, tactile experience.

How do you get a CDA Credential?

CDA Steps: To earn CDA certification, complete 120 clock hours of formal ECE training, build your professional portfolio, meet work-experience requirements, and pass the CDA exam and verification visit. Care Courses provides the full 120 hours and is an official partner of the CDA Council and one of the original “CDA Gold Standard Training Organizations.” Learn the CDA steps here:

Steps to get your CDA 

Choose your CDA Setting and Training

The Council offers CDA Credentials in the following childcare settings: infant and toddler center-based, preschooler center-based, birth to five center-based, family childcare, and home visitor. Choose your CDA setting below. 

Infant/Toddler Center-Based CDA Credential

Care Courses Infant/Toddler CDA training thumbnail showing caregivers with young children Infant / Toddler CDA Credential & Training
Choose this setting if you work in a center setting and primarily care for infants and toddlers. Learn more about the Infant / Toddler Child Development Associate credential and Care Courses' CourseBook and online CDA training.

Preschool Center-Based CDA Credential

Care Courses Preschool CDA training thumbnail showing teachers and preschool children engaged in learning Preschool CDA Credential & Training
Choose this setting if you work in a center setting and primarily care for preschoolers (ages 3-5). Learn more about the Preschool Child Development Associate credential and Care Courses' CourseBook and online CDA training.

Birth to Five Center-Based CDA Credential

Care Courses Birth to Five CDA training thumbnail showing caregivers working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers Birth to Five CDA Credential & Training
Choose this setting if you work in a center setting and care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Learn more about the new Birth to Five Child Development Associate credential and Care Courses' CourseBook and online CDA training.

Family Child Care CDA Credential

Care Courses Family Child Care CDA training thumbnail showing a home child care provider engaging with young children Family Childcare CDA Credential & Training
Choose this setting if you work in a residential home setting. Registered, licensed, and group home child care facilities fall in this category. Learn more about the Family Child Care Child Development Associate credential and Care Courses' CourseBook and online CDA training.

Home Visitor CDA Credential Information

Care Courses Home Visitor CDA training thumbnail showing an educator meeting with parents and children during a home visit Home Visitor CDA
Choose this setting if you make home visits and do not work in a home or center child care facility. You must be making home visits or work in a program that teaches parenting skills to adults to choose this setting. Learn more about the Home Visitor Child Development Associate credential process.

Why Choose Care Courses for CDA Training?

Accepted Training
Care Courses provides training accepted for earning or renewing the CDA · CDA renewal
Free CDA 101 Tutorial
Learn all about the CDA process. Start the Free CDA 101 Tutorial
CDA Exam Prep
Appropriate for anyone preparing for the CDA Exam or looking to improve test-taking and reduce anxiety. Take our CDA Exam Prep
Helpful Support
Questions about requirements or enrollment? Call 1-800-685-7610 (Mon–Fri, 9–5 ET) or email info@carecourses.com.
Certificates & Policies
Download official certificates after passing. See our refund policy and privacy & security.
CDA Partnership
Learn about our partnership with the CDA Council. CDA Council Partnership.

Frequently Asked Questions

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The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a nationally recognized early childhood credential from the Council for Professional Recognition. Candidates complete 120 hours of formal training, build a professional portfolio, gain work experience, and pass an exam and a verification visit.

You need 120 clock hours of ECE training covering the CDA Subject Areas. Care Courses offers complete online and CourseBook options that meet the 120-hour requirement.

Infant/Toddler Center-Based, Preschool Center-Based, Birth to Five Center-Based, Family Child Care, and Home Visitor. Choose the setting that matches your role.

Yes. Care Courses provides self-paced online courses (and CourseBooks) with trainer support. You receive instant printable certificates for finished courses and a transcript when you complete a full set.

Renewal is every three years and generally requires 45 hours of training and documentation. Care Courses offers 45-hour renewal sets with printable certificates. Learn more on our CDA renewal page.

What our students say

“I am enjoying the courses, I am on my second one and the process is very organized and user-friendly. I have a degree in secondary education and history. I taught preschool for 15 years and kindergarten for 20 years and I am pursuing my CDA. The courses are very informative. Great program!”

- Rosemary from Red Lion, Pennsylvania

“Everything is going great! I love being able to take the [Preschool CDA] courses at my convenience.”

- Christy from Salineville, Ohio

“I wanted to improve myself and decided to take [infant/toddler] CDA courses. The courses were interesting and I learned more about children and preschool. The more I got involved and understood, the more I like the CDA courses. It helped develop my potential for working with children. After obtaining my CDA certificate I applied and got a full-time job in a full-day classroom.”

- Ana from Montrose, Colorado

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