Cda

A l t h e a P e n n , M . E d . A d m .

I n s t r u c t o r

Welcome to Child Development Associate (CDA)

Training

The Child Development Associate (CDA)

National credential administered by the Council for Professional Recognition

A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed a CDA assessment and has been awarded the CDA Credential.


The Credential is awarded for three child care settings: 1) Center-based, for which Candidates receive

endorsements to work with infants and toddlers or preschool children;

2) Family Child Care; and 3) Home Visitor.


Assessment

Candidates are assessed based upon CDA Competency Standards

Competency Standards are divided into six competency goals

The six goals are defined in more detail in 13 functional areas, which describe the major task or functions that a caregiver must complete to carry out the competency goal.


Candidate Eligibility Requirements

Personal-

Be 18 years old or older

Hold a High School diploma or equivalent

Be able to speak, read, and write well enough to fulfill the responsibilities of a CDA Candidate

480 hours of experience working with children within the past five years


Steps To Earn A CDA Credential

(1) Purchase a CDA packet for Infant/Toddler Center Based, Preschool Center Based, or Family Child Care. This CDA packet contains all necessary CDA information booklets and forms. Packets can be purchased with a credit card from the Council for Professional Recognition by calling 1-800-224-8103, or visit their website at: www.cdacouncil.org

http://www.cdacouncil.org/


(2) Complete 120 hours of child care training in 8 content areas (a minimum of 10 hours needs to be completed in each content area).

The CDA Training areas are:

1. Planning a safe, healthy, learning environment. 2. Steps to advance children's physical and intellectual development. 3. Positive ways to support children's social and emotional development. 4. Strategies to establish productive relationships with families. 5. Strategies to manage an effective program operation. 6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism. 7. Observing and recording children's behavior. 8. Principles of child growth and development.

Verification of Training Provided

Transcript

Certificate

Letter

Candidate must cite the number of clock hours completed in each

required area of study on the Direct Assessment Application Form

8

Textbooks 9

Order from the CDA Council store

http://store.cdacouncil.org/cdaapplicationpackets.aspx

http://store.cdacouncil.org/cdaapplicationpackets.aspx


(3) Secure an Advisor

Work supervisor or

$28 (+$.505 per diem if more than 50 miles)

Observations by Althea Penn,

Educational Consultant

Penn Consulting

[email protected] 678.557.8684


(4) Complete the Professional Resource File,

(instructions are in CDA packets.)

(5) When 120 hours of Formal Training, Advisor Visit and Professional Resource File are complete, distribute parent questionnaires to the parents of the children in your care. The parent questionnaires must be returned to you and kept in a sealed envelope until the Assessment visit.


(6) Apply for assessment by - March 1, June 1,

September 1 or December 1 of any year. The Direct Assessment Application Form is in CDA packet. Your advisor and director (if center employee) are required to sign the application.


Application for assessment should include: Completed Direct Assessment Application Form Verification of completed Formal Education CDA Assessment fee of $325.00. A copy of your Autobiography and the Six

Competency Goal Statements Completed Parent Questionnaires Completed CDA Assessment Observation. Professional Resource File

SCHOLARSHIPS for the $325 CDA Assessment Fee can be applied

for by students who have completed a preparation course and earned

their 120 clock hours Initially, 85% of the assessment fee ($276.25)

is awarded and paid directly to the Council for Professional

Recognition. The balance of $48.75 is paid by the applicant to the

Council. SCHOLARSHIPS will refund this portion of the fee if the

applicant presents a valid credential from the Council and continues

to meet all the program eligibility requirements.

1.800.227.3410 or 770.642.6722 to request an application.

http://www.caresolutions.com/docs/SCHOLARSHIPSrev07-29-

11_website.pdf

Applications should be mailed to:

SCHOLARSHIPS and INCENTIVES C/o Care Solutions, Inc.

1117 Perimeter Center West Suite W-300

Atlanta, GA 30338

http://www.caresolutions.com/docs/SCHOLARSHIPSrev07-29-11_website.pdf






(7) Credential Award After an assessment visit by the Council Rep, a

committee of the Council conducts a review of the Candidate's documentation of competence and makes a decision regarding credential award. 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 her/him of appeal procedures and other subsequent options.


(8) Renewal

A CDA Credential is valid for 3 years from the date of award, after which it may renewed for five-year periods. Renewal includes completion of 3 college credits or 4.5 CEUs.


Benefits Quality Care - Possess the knowledge and skills

needed to meet the specific needs of children Employment opportunities - instrument for career

advancement Educational opportunities - stepping stone for

higher education/degree programs Financial incentive - financial bonuses/higher

reimbursement rates may be available (depending on location)


For more information on the CDA and/or the process for obtaining the credential:

www.cdacouncil.org

Or 1-800-424-4310

http://www.cdacouncil.org/

Assessment Stages

19

1. Inquiry

2. Collection of Documentation by the Candidate

3. Application

4. Verification Visit by the Council Representative

5. Credential Award

6. Credential Renewal

Professional Resource File

Collection of materials used by the Candidate

Provides a picture of what Candidate values in their work

Provides opportunity to locate resources and articulate their own view of their work in early childhood programs

20

Professional Resource File

Arrangement Portable, creative, professional, manageable

Contents Autobiography

300 word statement (who you are and why you chose to work with young children )

Statements of Competence


• Writes six based on competency goals, 200-500 words each

Resource Collection (17 specific items)

Organized by Competency Goal areas

Numbered for easy reference

21

Formal Observation

22

Conduct one or more

(2.5-3 hours in length)

Conducted by the advisor and

dated within six months before

submission of application

(original returned to the

candidate in sealed envelope)

Pacing

Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Verification visit occurs within 90 days from the date the Council receives your complete and correct application

23

Suggestions and Tips

Develop and implement a timeline and follow it Use the Candidate Checklist Check the Direct Assessment

Application for any mistakes or omissions before mailing it to the Council

24

Verification Visit

25

The original, completed Professional Resource File

Include a copy of the Autobiographical Statement

Include a copy of the Statements of Competence

A sealed envelope containing the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument

A sealed envelope containing the Parent Opinion Questionnaires

The Competency Standards book you purchased A photo identification card (your I.D.)

Conclusion of Visit

The Original Autobiography

The Original Statements of Competence

The 17 item Resource Collection from the Professional Resource File

26

What does the Council Receive?

Copies of:

Autobiography


Assessment Observation Instrument

Parent Opinion Questionnaires

The Early Childhood Studies Review

Oral Interview Booklet

27

Student Handbook Overview

Course Learning Objectives & policies p. 5

Obtain necessary materials

Field Experiences

Child Development Associate Competency Profile p. 10

Semester One Infant and Child Development Syllabus p. 11

Course Activities and Requirements p. 12

Calendar p. 14

Semester Two Learning and Early Childhood Environments Syllabus p. 16

First Assignment Due 08/23/12

Personal Child Development Theory

Assignment

After reviewing the major theoretical

perspectives on child development in Chapter

1, formulate your own personal theory of child

development. Prepare a 2-3 page paper or 15

slide Powerpoint presentation describing your

theory (an orderly, integrated set of statements

that describes, explains and predicts behavior).

From application to award Candidates are flying through the new streamlined credentialing process, most receiving "Ready to Schedule Notices" from the Council within just 48 hours of application. If you haven't applied for your CDA yet, applying online is the fastest and easiest way to earn your CDA Credential...don't delay, apply online today! The YourCDA online application is easy to use and comes with additional benefits, like the certainty that your application is filled out correctly, the ability to check the status of your application and more! You must have an active email address to use the YourCDA online application. Before you apply, be sure to purchase a Competency Standards book in your appropriate setting. Application packets are a thing of the past; all you need now is located in one book. Each Competency Standards book contains instructions on how to complete your Professional Portfolio, an application, reproducible family questionnaires and forms needed to complete the CDA Verification Visit with your PD Specialist. Purchase yours online today!

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A teacher affects eternity: (s)he can never tell where his(her) influence stops. Henry Adams

Althea Penn, m.ed.adm., NAC [email protected] 678.557.8684

Copyright © 2005 Penn Consulting