The Child Development Associate (CDA) program represents a national effort to credential qualified caregivers who work with children from birth to age five.
These caregivers, Child Development Associates, demonstrate their ability to nurture children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework.. Some are center-based caregivers, others are family child care providers, and still others are home visitors. The proof of their competence is the CDA credential.
To date, there are over 90,000 CDAs across the country. In order to earn a CDA credential, one must be eighteen years or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and be currently employed or routinely volunteer in a state licensed early childhood setting. The Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition operates the CDA credentialing program as a major national effort to improve the quality of child care. For more information call 1-8090-424-4310. Or visit the Academic Excellence website: http://members.aol.com/acadexcell/accexhome.html.