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Child Development Associate (CDA)Credential GuidelinesElizabeth Rafferty career cluster consultant spring 2017

What is the ChildDevelopment Associate(CDA) Credential?

Child Development Associate Credential The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is the most widelyrecognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is designed toassess and credential early childhood education professionals. The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is based on a core set of competency standards whichguide early care professionals as they work towardbecoming qualified teachers of young children. TheCouncil works to ensure that the nationallytransferable CDA is a credible and valid credential,recognized by the profession as a vital part ofprofessional development.Council for Professional Recognition, Advancing the professional development and recognition of early childhood education. (2017, February 10)Retrieved from http://www.cdacouncil.org/about/cda-credential

Child Development Associate Credential CDAs have knowledge of how to put the CDACompetency Standards into practice andunderstanding of why those standards helpchildren move with success from onedevelopmental stage to another. Put simply,CDAs know how to nurture the emotional,physical, intellectual, and social developmentof children. The Council recognizes and credentialsprofessionals who work in all types of earlycare and education programs - Head Start,pre-k, infant-toddler, family child care, andhome visitor programs.Council for Professional Recognition, Advancing the professional developmentand recognition of early childhood education. (2017, February 10) Retrieved fromhttp://www.cdacouncil.org/about/cda-credential

Alignment toOccupations

Job Alignment The Child DevelopmentAssociate (CDA) credentialaligns directly to four areas:– Center-Based, Preschool Work with children ages three to fiveyears old– Center-Based, Infant-Toddler Work with children ages birth—36months– Home-Based, Family Child Care Work with children ages birth to fiveyears old– Home Visitor Work with families of children agesbirth to five years old

Employment OutlookThe table below shows the estimated Employment Wage Statistics forindividuals in Tennessee employed as Preschool Teachers, Except SpecialEducation in 2015.**The Childhood Development Associate Credential is industry valued andrecognized that leads to high quality employability that translates into jobopportunities above entry level positions.

Employment OutlookEarly Childhood Education Related Occupations with the Most Annual AverageOpenings in Tennessee (2014-2022)OccupationsTotal PercentChangeTotal Annual Avg.OpeningsChildcare Workers26.50%1,545Elementary School Teachers20.00%1,270Kindergarten TeachersPreschool TeachersSpecial Education Teachers,Preschool, Kindergarten, andElementary SchoolTeacher AssistantsTeachers and Instructors, 150Source: TN Dept of Labor & Workforce Dev, Div Emp Sec, R&SDownloaded: 02/15/2017 10:42 AM8

Early Childhood Education Seamless Pathway9

AppropriatePathways for CDA

Importance of a Pathway Industry certifications must be tied to a student’s program of study andserve either as a complement or capstone to a student’s learningexperience. Stand-alone certifications with no ties to a student’s learning experienceplace the student in jeopardy of being unprepared not only to sit for thecertification but also to apply the content moving forward in a career path.

Early Childhood Education Pathway CDA Credential will be delivered within the Early Childhood Education POSonly. Early Childhood Education POS is appropriately aligned to the content required to passthe CDA Credential.The CDA National Credentialing Program is a professional development opportunity forearly educators working with children ages birth to five years old to demonstrate theirknowledge, skills, and abilities in the early childhood education field. The CDAcredentialing program assesses candidates using multiple sources evidence, includingan exam, observation and professional portfolio with resources, and competencystatements prepared by the candidate.

CDA Competency Standards The CDA CompetencyStandards are the nationalstandards used to evaluate acaregiver's performance withchildren and families duringthe CDA assessmentprocess. The CompetencyStandards are divided intosix Competency Goals,which are statements of ageneral purpose or goal forcaregiver behavior. TheCompetency Goals apply toall child care settings.

CDA Competency Standards The six goals are defined in detail in the 13 Functional Areas,which describe the major tasks or functions that a caregiver mustcomplete in order to carry out the Competency Goal. ADevelopmental Context, a brief overview of relevant childdevelopment principles, explains each Functional Area. Although the six Competency Goals are the same for all settings(center-based, family child care, home visitor), the Functional Areadefinitions and sample behaviors differ for each setting and agegroup. The setting-specific materials available through theCouncil's online bookstore include detailed information appropriatefor each setting.Council for Professional Recognition, Advancing the professional development and recognition of early childhood education.(2017, February 14) Retrieved from http://www.cdacouncil.org/about/cda-credential

Earning a CDACredential

CDA Credential Settings There are four CDA Credential Settings that best describe an individual’s work withchildren to earn a CDA as noted in the graphic.Center-Based Programs and the Family Child Care Program have the same applicationand hour submission process. Home Visitor Programs work slightly differently.

Center-Based ProgramsPreschool A center-based preschoolsetting is a state-approvedchild development centerwhere a Candidate can beobserved working with agroup of at least eightchildren, all of whom areaged three through five yearsold. In addition, a centerbased program must have1.2.at least ten children enrolledin the program (notnecessarily in theCandidate's group) andat least two caregiversworking with the children ona regular basis.Infant/Toddler A center-based infant-toddlersetting is a state-approvedchild development centerwhere a Candidate can beobserved working with agroup of at least threechildren, all of whom areunder age three. In addition,a center-based programmust have1.2.at least ten children enrolledin the program (notnecessarily in theCandidate's group) andat least two caregiversworking with the children ona regular basis.17

Family Child Care Programs (Home-Based)Family Child Care Programs A family child care setting is a family child care home where aCandidate can be observed working with at least two children 5years old or younger who are not related to the Candidate byblood or marriage. The setting must meet at least the minimumlevel of applicable state and/or local regulations. Family child caresettings are also eligible in localities where there is no regulationof family child care.18

Home Visitor ProgramsHome Visitor Programs A home visitor setting is an established program of home visits (tofamilies with children five years old or younger) that supportsparents in meeting the needs of their young children. In thissetting, regular home visits are the primary method of programdelivery. Candidates for a Home Visitor credential follow a slightlydifferent assessment process.19

Prepare for ApplicationAnytime Before Application: Earn a high school diploma, GED, or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a highschool career and technical program in early childhood education. Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering thegrowth and development of children ages birth to five years old, with no fewerthan 10 training hours in each of the eight CDA subject areas.– Planning a safe and healthy learning environment– Advancing children's physical and intellectualdevelopment– Supporting children's social and emotionaldevelopment– 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 andlearningCouncil for Professional Recognition, Advancing the professional development and recognition of early childhood education. (2017,February 10) Retrieved from http://www.cdacouncil.org/about/cda-credential

After Submission of ApplicationWithin three years of submitting application: Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in acenter-based setting with children ages birth to five years.Within six months of submitting application: Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio - You are requiredto put together a collection of reference materials related toyour work. Please follow the detailed instructions inyour Competency Standards book to prepare your CDAProfessional Portfolio. Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist - Tolearn more about CDA PD Specialist's role in the CDAcredentialing process click here.21

CDA Application ProcessApply Apply online for your CDA Credential using the YourCDAonline application system or complete a paper applicationprovided in the CDA Preschool CDA Competency StandardsBook. The non-refundable / non-transferable application feeof 425 must be submitted with your application. Make sureto secure the funds before you submit your application. Once your CDA application has been reviewed and acceptedyou will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from theCouncil.22

Earning a CDADemonstrate Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from theCouncil, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit andCDA Exam.Earn Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PDSpecialist and Pearson Vue testing center. A Council committee will review the results of your assessmentand render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. Ifyour credential is awarded, the official Child DevelopmentAssociate credential will be mailed to you. If the committeedecides you need more training, the Council will let you know thenext steps to take to earn the Credential.23

Bilingual Specialization A bilingual setting is a child development program thathas specific goals for achieving bilingual development inchildren; where two languages are consistently used indaily activities; and where parents are helped tounderstand the goals and to support children's bilingualdevelopment. Candidates for bilingual specializationmust1.2.work in a bilingual program that requires the Candidate tospeak both languages daily and consistently andhave a working knowledge of two languages.24

Assessment andRegistration Details

Assessment DetailsExam CodesChild Development Associate (CDA) sonvue.com/cdaexam/ExamDescriptionThe Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is the most widelyrecognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is the best first stepon the path of career advancement in ECE.Number ofQuestions65 questionsType ofQuestionsMultiple forms of each Exam have been designed. The version given to anycandidate will be chosen at random by PearsonVUE. The CDA Exam will have 65multiple-choice questions. Five of the questions will have a photo and a shortnarrative, followed by a multiple-choice question about each scenario.Length of Test1 hour 45 minutesPrice 425.00