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Quality Care Resource & Referral Services, Inc.

Child Development Associate Training Program

 

Quality Care Resource & Referral Services is excited to offer our providers this remarkable opportunity for professional growth and development.  While we are making various transitions with the state of New Jersey, Quality Care is committed to providing those we serve with every opportunity for success and advancement. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your educational Journey.

              ~Susan T. James, Quality Care President/CEO

 

What is a CDA?

CDA stands for the Child Development Associate.  This is a person who has successfully completed the CDA assessment process and has been awarded the CDA Credential.  Receiving the CDA Credential demonstrates one's ability to meet the specific needs of children, work with parents and other adults, and promote and nurture children's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth in a child development program.  The CDA has shown competence in the ability to meet the CDA Competency Goals through work in a center based of family child care setting.                                   (Council for Professional Recognition 2006)


What are the three child care settings?

All candidates must be able to identify an appropriate setting where they can be observed working as the lead caregiver.  The CDA Credential can be awarded in one of three child care settings:

  • Center-based Credential with endorsements to work with preschool children, or with infants and toddlers.
  • Family Child Care Credential
  • Home Visitor Credential
Bilingual endorsements are available for all of the settings.  The Council also offers a Second Setting CDA Credential for CDA's who hold one credential and wish to obtain a second credential in a different setting. 


What are the requirements?
  • Must be 18 years or older.
  • Must hold a high school diploma or GED.
  • Must have 480 hours of experience working with children within the past 5 years.
  • Must have 120 clock hours of formal child care education within the past 5 years. 
Bilingual endorsement candidates must meet the above requirements in addition to be able to speak, read, and write well enough in both English and another language to understand and be understood by both children and adults.

What are the training/educational requirements?

All CDA Candidates must have 120 clocked hours of formal child care education.  The hours must be through and agency, organization or school with expertise in early childhood teacher education.  The agency must provide verification of the candidate's education in the form of a transcript, certificate or letter. 

The 120 clocked hours must be documented, with no fewer than 10 hours in each of the following content areas:
        
         CDA Subject Area:

  1. Planing a safe, healthy, learning environment. (safety, first aid, health, nutrition, space planning, materials and equipment)
  2. Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development. (large and small muscle, language and literacy, discovery, art, music)
  3. Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development. (self-esteem, independence, self-control, socialization)
  4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families. (parent involvement, home visits, conferences, referrals)
  5. Strategies to manage effective program operation. (planning, record-keeping, reporting)
  6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism. (advocacy, ethical practices, workforce issues, professional associations)
  7. Observing and recording children's behavior. (tools and strategies for effective information collection)
  8. Principles of child development and learning. (developmental milestones from birth through age 5, cultural influences on development)
What is the application process?

The application process is completed in three phases: preparation of the necessary materials: filing of application; and verification of competences and knowledge.

The first set of requirements involves the Candidate documenting evidence of her or his competence from the following three sources:
  1. The Professional Resource File (prepared by the Candidate)
  2. The Parent Opinion Questionnaires (collected by the Candidate)
  3. The CDA Assessment Observation Instrument (completed by the Advisor)
When the above documentation is complete, the Candidate and Advisor sign the Application Form and send it to the Council with the assessment fee ($325) and training documentation.  This begins the CDA Assessment Process and the council assigns a Council Representative to conduct the Verification  visit. 

What is the Verification visit?

The Verification visit is when the Council assigns a specially trained early childhood professional called a Council Representative to:
  • Administer the written examination called the Early Childhood Studies Review.
  • Collect and review the required Collection of Documentation materials.
  • Conduct the oral interview.
The Council for Professional Recognition states that the Verification visit will occur within 90 days from the date they receive a correct and complete application. 

How is the Credential awarded?

A Council committee conducts a review of the candidate's documentation and renders a decision whether to award the credential.  If a Credential is awarded, the official Credential is sent to the new Child Development Associate.  If the committee decides the Candidate needs more training, the Council notifies the Candidate and informs them of the appeal procedures and other subsequent options.

Juliet Jones

Child Development Associate Training Program Coordinator

(856) 628-8600 x2618


Contact the Council for Professional Recognition for more information about the CDA. http://www.cdacouncil.org/

 

 

 
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