Como obter seu certificado CDA (guia passo a passo)

Are you passionate about working with children and eager to build a meaningful career in early childhood education? But here’s the challenge: How can you demonstrate your skills and qualifications to potential employers? Without the proper credentials, breaking into or advancing in the field can feel overwhelming, and you might wonder what steps to take to stand out.

The answer lies in earning your CDA Certificate (Child Development Associate). This nationally recognized credential validates your knowledge and experience in child development and opens up numerous career opportunities in childcare and early childhood education settings. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to obtain your CDA Certificate.

Curious about how to get started? In the following sections, we’ll explain the steps needed to earn your CDA certificate, including eligibility, training, and what to expect throughout the process. Keep reading to discover how this valuable certification can help you take your career in early childhood education to the next level!

What is a CDA Certificate?

The CDA certificate (Child Development Associate Certificate) is a nationally recognized credential in early childhood education. It is a testament to the professional’s ability to provide high-quality care and education to young children. Earning the CDA is a key step for individuals serious about pursuing a career in early childhood education, whether working in daycare centers, preschools, or other early childhood settings.

The CDA certificate is awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, an organization that aims to improve the quality of early childhood education through professional development. By obtaining a CDA certificate, educators demonstrate their commitment to the development and well-being of children and their ability to meet specific standards of care and learning.

The CDA Certificate is not just a qualification but a powerful tool for career advancement in early childhood education. It provides a structured pathway to develop expertise and refine teaching methods, making educators more competitive in the job market. Whether you’re a new teacher or looking to further your career, earning your CDA can open up numerous opportunities to enhance your professional growth.

Benefits of the CDA Certificate

Earning your CDA Certificate (Child Development Associate) offers numerous advantages for your career and the children you work with. This nationally recognized credential is a powerful tool that enhances your professional standing in early childhood education. Here are several key benefits of obtaining a CDA Certificate:

1. Increased Job Opportunities

The CDA Certificate is a widely recognized qualification in the early childhood education industry. Many employers require or prefer candidates with a CDA Certificate because it demonstrates high competency and dedication to the profession. With a CDA, you become more competitive in the job market, opening the door to various roles in daycare centers, preschools, and early childhood programs.

2. Career Advancement

Earning a CDA Certificate can be a stepping stone to career advancement for those already working in early childhood education. It can qualify you for higher-paying positions, leadership roles, or specialized jobs within the field. Whether you’re aiming for a lead teacher position, a supervisor role, or even a position in educational program development, the CDA can set you on the path to greater professional growth.

3. Enhanced Skills and Knowledge

Earning a CDA Certificate involves comprehensive training in child development, teaching strategies, and classroom management. This helps deepen your understanding of child growth and learning, equipping you with the skills to create an enriching and effective learning environment. The knowledge gained from CDA coursework and field experience is valuable for working with children of varying ages, needs, and backgrounds.

4. Boosted Credibility and Professional Reputation

A CDA Certificate enhances your professional credibility and demonstrates your commitment to high standards in early childhood education. Employers, parents, and colleagues recognize the value of the certification, which can help build trust in your ability to provide quality care and education. It’s a mark of professionalism that signals others that you’re serious about shaping children’s futures.

5. Greater Earning Potential

With a CDA Certificate, you may be eligible for higher wages compared to those who do not have the certification. Education and qualifications are highly valued in early childhood settings, so individuals with a CDA Certificate often enjoy better compensation packages. This can contribute to long-term financial benefits as you grow in your career.

6. Ability to Meet State Licensing Requirements

In many states, obtaining a CDA Certificate is part of the requirements for working in licensed childcare centers. This certification ensures that you meet the minimum qualifications for early childhood education and childcare professional roles, particularly in regulated environments. If you aim to work in a state that mandates CDA certification, earning it will allow you to meet these legal and professional standards.

7. Personal Satisfaction and Impact

Beyond the professional advantages, earning your CDA Certificate can bring immense personal satisfaction. As a certified early childhood educator, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to make a real difference in the lives of children and their families. Helping children reach their full potential while fostering a safe, nurturing environment is a rewarding experience, and the CDA Certificate strengthens your ability to do so.

8. Continuing Education and Networking Opportunities

Once you earn your CDA, you’re part of a network of early childhood educators who share similar goals and values. The CDA certification process often encourages continued professional development, updating you on the latest educational techniques and research. Additionally, CDA holders often gain access to valuable networking opportunities that can further enrich their careers.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a CDA Certificate?

The cost to apply for a CDA certificate can vary depending on several factors, including the type of application and where you are located. On average, the application fee for the CDA certificate is $425 for the online application. The fee is slightly higher if you prefer a paper application, generally $500.

In addition to the application fee, there are other costs to consider when applying for the CDA:

1. Training and Coursework Fees: You must complete 120 hours of professional development in early childhood education. While some training programs are free, many require a fee, depending on the provider. These courses’ costs can vary, but expect to pay for quality, accredited programs that fulfill the CDA requirements.
2. Portfolio Preparation: You need to submit a professional portfolio as part of the CDA application. This portfolio includes documentation such as work samples, evaluations, and reflection papers. Whether you prepare it digitally for an online submission or in hard copy for a paper application, there may be additional costs for printing, binding, or organizing the materials.
3. Renewal Fees: Your CDA certificate needs to be renewed every three years, and there is a fee for this renewal. For online renewals, the fee is typically $125. If you choose to renew your CDA certificate through a paper application, the fee is slightly higher, usually around $150.

Planning and budgeting for these expenses is crucial when applying for the CDA certificate. While the costs may seem steep, the benefits of earning this credential, such as increased job opportunities, better pay, and professional recognition, often far outweigh the initial investment.

How To Get a CDA Certificate？

Obtaining a CDA certificate requires meeting specific criteria set by the Council for Professional Recognition. Below, I’ll walk you through each step to ensure you understand what it takes to successfully earn your CDA.

Age and Diploma

Before applying for the CDA certificate, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements. The first criterion is that you must be at least 18 years old. Additionally, you must possess a high school diploma, GED (General Educational Development), or a high school junior or senior in an early education/child development Career and Technical Program. This ensures that applicants have a foundational level of education before pursuing professional development in early childhood education.

Select Your Preferred Early Childhood Setting

Choosing the right early childhood setting is vital in your CDA certification process. The CDA certificate offers four distinct specializations or settings, each focusing on different age groups and types of care. These settings include:

1. Center-Based Preschool

This setting is for those who want to work with children ages 3 to 5 in a center-based preschool environment. It focuses on preparing children for school by enhancing their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. This might be the right choice if you’re passionate about fostering school readiness and early childhood education in a group setting.

2. Center-Based Infant-Toddler

If you prefer to work with younger children, the Center-Based Infant-Toddler setting is designed for those who work with children from birth to 36 months. In this setting, you’ll focus on infants’ and toddlers’ essential early development needs, such as attachment, motor skills, and language development. It is ideal for educators interested in nurturing the youngest learners in a center-based environment.

3. Family Child Care

The Family Child Care setting is for those who provide care in a home-based setting, typically caring for children in a smaller, more intimate environment. In this setting, you may care for children from various age groups, often from infants to preschoolers, and may be responsible for a small group of children. This setting is a great option for educators who prefer a flexible, home-based learning environment and want to work in a more personal setting.

4. Home Visitor

The Home Visitor setting focuses on working with families in their own homes. If you enjoy directly supporting families and helping them foster positive child development in their environments, this option may be right for you. Home visitors work with parents and caregivers to provide education, resources, and support to enhance the child’s development, often to families with children 5 years old or younger.

Formal Early Childhood Education Training

For the CDA (Child Development Associate) certificate, candidates must complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training. This training must focus on the growth and development of children from birth to 5 years old. Additionally, no fewer than 10 hours of training must be completed in the 8 CDA subject areas. These areas are essential for ensuring that candidates gain comprehensive knowledge and skills across key components of early childhood education.

8 CDA Subject Areas:

• Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
• Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development
• Supporting children’s social and emotional development
• Building productive relationships with families
• Managing an effective program operation
• Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
• Observing and recording children’s behavior
• Understanding principles of child development and learning

Candidates must provide documentation or certificates of completion for the 120 hours of training, ensuring that the content is relevant and approved by the CDA council or recognized accrediting bodies.

Professional Work Experience

To qualify for the CDA certificate, you must have at least 480 hours of professional work experience in an early childhood education setting. These hours should have been completed within the past three years before you apply for the CDA. This experience must be in direct contact with children in a setting that aligns with your chosen CDA certificate, whether it be preschool, infant-toddler care, family child care, or home visiting. The work experience should be hands-on and focused on child development, and you must be actively involved in daily activities with children.

While completing your professional work experience, it is important to work under the supervision of an experienced early childhood educator or program supervisor. The individual supervising your work should have the qualifications to assess your progress, provide guidance, and sign off on your work hours and performance. You must document your work experience and provide evidence of the 480 hours required for your CDA application.

The work experience you accumulate should align with the specific age group you are applying for the CDA. While you must meet the hour requirement in one of the designated settings, it’s worth noting that your work experience can be accumulated in various environments as long as it fits the criteria. For example, you can work in a daycare center, preschool, or even a home-based child care setting, as long as the children you work with are within the required age group for your chosen CDA credential.

Some of your hours may be counted if you have volunteered in an early childhood education setting, as long as the experience is supervised and meets the same standards as paid work. The required 480 hours can be completed part-time or full-time, but they must have been completed within the past three years and reflect a minimum of six months of direct work with children.

Prepare Your CDA Professional Portfolio

A professional portfolio is a critical component of the CDA application process. The portfolio showcases your growth as an early childhood educator and demonstrates how you meet the CDA competency standards. It should include a collection of documents and evidence that highlight your knowledge and skills, including:

Education Documentation

You must include documentation of your education to verify that you have completed the required 120 hours of formal early childhood education training. This may consist of transcripts, certificates, or course completion records that show you’ve met the CDA training requirements. The documentation should cover relevant topics such as child development, learning environments, and positive relationships with children and families.

Family Questionnaires

The family questionnaires are an essential part of the portfolio. These questionnaires are designed to gather feedback from families of the children you have worked with. The responses provide insight into your ability to build strong, supportive relationships with families and your commitment to understanding their needs and perspectives. These questionnaires should be completed by the families you work with and included in your portfolio.

Six Reflective Statements of Competence

You must submit six reflective statements of competence and short written reflections demonstrating your understanding and application of the CDA competency standards. These statements should reflect your experiences and professional growth in child development, curriculum planning, and maintaining a safe learning environment. Each statement should align with the specific competencies required for the CDA certificate.

Ten Resources

Your portfolio should also include ten useful resources in early childhood education. These resources could be articles, books, websites, or other educational materials that have influenced your practice. The resources should support your teaching strategies, child development knowledge, or overall professional development.

A Professional Philosophy Statement

Finally, you must include a professional philosophy statement articulating your beliefs and approach to early childhood education. This statement provides insight into your teaching style, values about child development, and how you create a supportive and engaging learning environment. Your professional philosophy is a key component of the portfolio as it showcases your commitment to the field and your reflective thinking about your role as an educator.

Scheduling Your CDA Verification Visit

The CDA Verification Visit is crucial in obtaining the Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate. This visit involves an in-person evaluation by a trained professional who assesses your skills and practices in a real-world early childhood education setting. Here’s what you should know about the CDA Verification Visit:

What is the CDA Verification Visit?

The CDA Verification Visit is an on-site assessment conducted by a CDA Professional Development Specialist (PDS). This specialist visits the early childhood education environment where you work, such as a preschool, daycare, or home-based child care setting. During the visit, the PDS evaluates your ability to apply the knowledge and skills required to earn the CDA certificate.

Purpose of the Verification Visit

The purpose of the CDA Verification Visit is to verify that you meet the standards of competence set by the Council for Professional Recognition. The visit ensures that you:

• Have the necessary skills to support children’s growth and development.
• Use developmentally appropriate practices in your teaching methods.
• Communicate effectively with children, families, and colleagues.
• Create and maintain a safe, nurturing, and well-organized learning environment.

What to Expect During the Visit: R.O.R. Model

1. Review the Candidate’s Professional Portfolio: Before the visit, you must submit your required documentation, such as your CDA professional portfolio, work samples, and reflections. These materials will be reviewed by the specialist.
2. Observes the Candidate working with children: During the visit, the specialist will observe you working directly with children in the classroom or care setting. They will observe your interactions with children, your use of teaching strategies, and your approach to handling classroom management. The specialist may also observe your communication with families and your ability to work collaboratively with others in the setting.
3. Facilitates a reflective dialogue with the Candidate: The PDS may interview you to discuss your practices, your understanding of child development, and how you use your CDA training in the classroom. You may be asked to explain how you implement specific activities, handle challenges, and meet the needs of the children in your care.
4. Assessment: After the visit, the specialist will complete an assessment form based on their observations and discussions. This form will reflect how well you meet the CDA Competency Standards and how effectively you integrate your training into your daily work.

Preparing for the CDA Verification Visit

To ensure success during the Verification Visit, here are some tips:

• Be prepared to showcase your work: Have your CDA portfolio ready, including evidence of your teaching practices, child observations, and lesson plans.
• Demonstrate developmentally appropriate practices: Be prepared to show how you use age-appropriate teaching methods that foster children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
• Be open to feedback: The verification visit is an opportunity to learn and grow, so be open to constructive feedback from the specialist.
• Showcase communication with families: Highlight how you engage with families, share updates, and involve them in their child’s learning process.

After the Visit

Once the verification visit is complete, the specialist will submit their evaluation to the CDA certification body. If you meet all the required standards, you will proceed to the final stages of obtaining your CDA certificate.

The CDA Verification Visit is an important component of the certification process. It provides a real-world assessment of your abilities as an early childhood educator. Being well-prepared will help you demonstrate your competence and move closer to earning your CDA certificate.

Taking the CDA Certification Exam

The CDA exam is a multiple-choice test that evaluates your knowledge of child development, effective teaching strategies, classroom management, and the application of early childhood education principles. The CDA Exam has 65 multiple-choice questions – 60 questions and 5 scenario questions (with a short narrative and photo). The Candidate will have up to one hour and 45 minutes to complete the exam. These questions assess your ability to apply best practices in various situations within early childhood education.

To schedule the CDA Certification Exam, candidates must complete the CDA application and have their Professional Portfolio reviewed. Once the Council for Professional Recognition approves your application, you will receive instructions on how to proceed with scheduling the exam.

The CDA exam is administered through Pearson VUE, a trusted testing service provider. To schedule your exam, visit the Pearson VUE website, where you can choose a convenient testing location. You will then be able to select a date and time that fits your schedule.

The exam can be taken at a Pearson VUE test center, or, depending on availability and location, you may have the option to take it through online proctoring. This allows you to take the exam from home under the supervision of a remote proctor.

Once you have completed your CDA Verification Visit and CDA Exam, in either order, your results are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.

Credentialing Decision for Your CDA Certificate

Once you have completed all the necessary steps in the CDA certification process, including the CDA application, Professional Portfolio review, CDA exam, and Verification Visit, the Council for Professional Recognition will make the final credentialing decision regarding your CDA certificate. This decision is based on thoroughly reviewing your materials, performance, and qualifications.

There are three possible outcomes:

• CDA Certification Granted: If you meet all the requirements and pass the necessary assessments, you will be awarded the CDA certificate, valid for three years.
• Further Steps Needed: If additional information is required or any process component needs to be revised or resubmitted, you may be asked to take additional steps before certification is granted.
• Certification Denied: In some cases, if the required standards are not met or there are discrepancies in your application, certification may be denied. You will be provided with information on how to proceed or reapply.

CDA Training Providers

One key requirement for earning your CDA Certificate is completing 120 hours of formal early childhood education training. This training must cover various topics related to child development, education, health and safety, and professional practices. Selecting the right CDA training provider is crucial to ensure your education aligns with the Council for Professional Recognition standards and adequately prepares you for certification. Below are some CDA training providers:

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

CCEI provides flexible and convenient online CDA training for busy professionals. Their accredited programs cover various CDA subject areas, including child development, health and safety, and positive guidance. CCEI is a popular choice for those seeking comprehensive, self-paced training with a wide selection of courses.

Penn Foster

Penn Foster offers an accredited CDA certificate training program for individuals working with young children. The program includes comprehensive child development, safety, and curriculum development lessons. Penn Foster’s online platform allows students to learn at their own pace, with personalized support, and earn a nationally recognized credential upon completion.

Care Courses

Care Courses is a reputable online training provider for early childhood educators pursuing the CDA Credential. They offer self-paced courses covering all eight CDA subject areas, including child development, health and safety, and positive guidance. As an official partner of the CDA Council, Care Courses provides unlimited support throughout the certification process, ensuring candidates are well-prepared to meet the 120-hour training requirement. Their flexible online platform allows educators to effectively balance coursework with professional responsibilities.​

ProSolutions Training

ProSolutions Training specializes in professional development for early childhood educators, offering CDA courses approved by the CDA Council. They provide engaging, self-paced courses that strongly focus on developing practical skills and knowledge to support children’s growth and learning. ProSolutions Training also offers professional development opportunities for ongoing education.

CypherWorx

CypherWorx offers online training for early childhood educators pursuing the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. Their courses cover all CDA subject areas, including child development, health, and safety. With a flexible, self-paced platform, educators can complete the required 120 hours of training at their convenience. The courses are accredited and meet the CDA Council’s standards, helping educators prepare effectively for certification.

Frequently Asked Questions: You Need to Know

What is The R.O.R. Model?

The R.O.R. Model stands for Review-Observe-Reflect. The PD Specialist undertakes the R.O.R. Model tasks, which contribute to assessing the Candidate’s competency.

• Review: The PD Specialist reviews documentation such as the candidate’s Professional Portfolio, which includes the required resources and evidence of the candidate’s work with children and families. They examine the candidate’s written reflections and their understanding of key early childhood concepts.
• Observe: The PD Specialist observes the candidate in action while they are interacting with children in a real classroom or childcare setting. This helps them see how the candidate applies their knowledge and skills in a practical environment.
• Reflect: After the observation, the PD Specialist and the candidate discuss the observation. The candidate reflects on their practices, and the PD Specialist provides feedback and guidance. This reflective discussion helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, allowing the candidate to grow and enhance their professional skills.

What are Family Questionnaires?

Family Questionnaires are tools used in early childhood education to gather important information from families about their child’s development, needs, and experiences. These questionnaires are often part of the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification process. They provide insight into the child’s home environment, cultural background, family dynamics, and other factors that may influence their learning and behavior.

Who is PearsonVUE?

Pearson VUE is the official testing provider for the CDA Certification Exam. As part of the CDA certification process, you’ll need to complete the exam after meeting all eligibility requirements, including the 120 hours of training. Pearson VUE manages the exam scheduling, testing locations, and the secure delivery of the CDA exam.

You can take the CDA exam at Pearson VUE test centers, which are available worldwide, or, in some cases, you may be able to take the exam online through Pearson VUE’s online proctoring service. This means you can take the exam from home while being monitored remotely to ensure exam integrity. Pearson VUE provides detailed instructions on scheduling your exam and what to expect during the test.

How long will it take for the Council to make a credentialing decision?

​The Council for Professional Recognition typically reviews and makes credentialing decisions within 1 to 3 business days after receiving all required documentation from your Verification Visit and exam. However, if there is missing or incorrect information, the process may extend to 4 to 6 weeks as corrections are made.