
CDA Gold Standard Comprehensive Program
About the CDA
The Child Development Associate Credential™ is a national credential in early childhood education that is based on a core set of six Competency Standards and thirteen Functional Areas. The purpose of the CDA Credential is to meet the developmental needs of young children, ages birth to five years old. It was created to enhance the quality of early care and education by defining, evaluating, and recognizing competence, based on the training and performance of the child care professional.
The CDA candidate will need to complete 120 CDA professional development hours of formal early childhood education at any time before applying in each of the following CDA subject areas:
- Subject Area 1: Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
- Subject Area 2: Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development
- Subject Area 3: Supporting children’s social and emotional development
- Subject Area 4: Building productive relationships with families
- Subject Area 5: Managing an effective program operation
- Subject Area 6: Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
- Subject Area 7: Observing and recording children’s behavior
- Subject Area 8: Understanding principles of child development and learning

Pathways
The CDA Credential is a professional path to help prepare early educators to work with young children and their families. CDA candidates will need to identify a chosen CDA setting when applying.

Center-Based Infant-Toddler
Work with children birth to 36 months

Center-Based Preschool
Work with children ages 3 to 5 years old

Family Child Care
Work with children ages birth to 5 years
133
Hours of training
65
Courses
13.3
CEUs Awarded
Courses in this credential
21st Century Skills in Early Childhood
2 hour
A Critical Look at Family Child Care Spaces
2 hours
ADHD
2 hours
Advocating for Early Childhood Care
2 hours
Art and Sensory Experiences that Foster Creativity
2 hours
Assessing and Implementing a Safe Child Care Environment
2 hours
Benefits of Connecting Seniors and Young Children
2 hours
Brain Development in Infants and Toddlers
2 hours
Building Foundations for Language and Literacy Development
2 hours
Child Care in Mixed-Age Groupings
2 hours
Children's Temperament: A Practical Approach to Meeting Individual Needs
2 hours
Coping with Crying
2 hours
Coping with Food Allergies in Child Care Spaces
2 hours
Creating a Supportive Classroom Community
2 hours
Cultural Competency for Children and Families
2 hours
Daily Schedule Development with Child-Centered Activities
2 hours
Developing Children’s Emergent Literacy Skills
2 hours
Developing High Quality Inclusion Practices
2 hours
Developing Important and Successful Communications Skills
2 hours
Developing Methods of Observation
2 hours
Developing Your Professional Philosophy Statement
2 hours
Enhancing Emotional Literacy in Children Ages 3 Through 5
2 hours
Enhancing Emotional Literacy in Children from Birth to Age 3
2 hours
Family-Teacher Relationships
2 hours
Food Allergy Basics in Early Childhood
3 hour
Food Safety Practices
2 hours
Foundation for School Success
2 hours
Fundamental Tools to Monitor Child Development
2 hours
Growth and Development of Infants and Toddlers
2 hours
Growth and Development of Preschoolers in Family Child Care
2 hours
Hands-On Math Learning Activities
2 hours
Identifying Essential Components of Child Care Supervision
2 hours
Incorporating Physical Activity Into Every Day
2 hours
Individualized Care and Routines
2 hours
Infectious Diseases in Early Childhood
3 hour
Management of Effective Preschool Child Care Environments
2 hours
Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA)
2 hours
Multi-Age Learning and Interaction
2 hours
Observation and Assessment of the Learning Environment
2 hours
Planning and Implementing Everyday Physical Activities
2 hours
Planning for and Implementing Transitions
2 hours
Positive Guidance Toward Problem-Solving
2 hours
Prompting Executive Function Skills
2 hours
Reduce the Spread of Germs in Child Care Programs
2 hours
Respecting the Child's Perspective
2 hours
Safe Infant Sleep in Early Childhood
2 hour
Selecting and Implementing Curriculum to Support Learning
2 hours
Serving Nutritious Meals and Snacks Using CACFP Meal Patterns
2 hours
SIDS and Safe Sleep
2 hours
Sleep is Essential to Good Health
2 hours
Social Emotional Development – Problem Solving
2 hours
STEM in Early Childhood
3 hour
Strategies for Dealing with Anger
2 hours
Strengthening Relationships for Families with the Community
2 hours
Successfully Implementing STEAM into the Curriculum
2 hours
Supporting Children and Families Through Transitions
2 hours
Take it Outside!: The Importance of Outdoor Play
2 hours
The Importance of Sensory-Rich Play
2 hours
The Importance of Stimulating and Focused Interaction
2 hours
The Purpose for Ethical Commitment
2 hours
The Relevance of the Child-Caregiver Attachment
2 hours
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
2 hours
Understanding Learning Theories
2 hours
Understanding Poverty and Practical Strategies
2 hours
Understanding the CDA Credential and Process
2 hours