thread staff can help you obtain a CDA Credential by:

• Providing training accepted by the Council for Professional Recognition.
• Offering financial assistance to help pay for the CDA application or renewal fee, training costs, and/or travel costs to obtain training.
• Advising you on the CDA process, eligibility, and requirements.
• Reviewing your training/education transcript to determine which credits will be accepted by the Council for Professional Recognition, and providing advisement to ensure the requirements for formal child care education are met.
• Conducting Verification Visits as part of the assessment process.

To learn more about the CDA Credential, visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website.

To receive a response from a thread PDS, please click here:

To be eligible to apply for a CDA, early childhood professionals must:

• Have a high school diploma or GED, or be a high school junior or senior enrolled in an early education/child development vocational program.
• Volunteer or work in a licensed/regulated child care program.

The costs related to obtaining a CDA Credential include:

• Training and/or education fees needed to achieve the 120 clock hours of professional education covering the eight CDA Subject Areas.
• $28, plus shipping and handling, to purchase a CDA Competency Standards Book.
• $425 for the online initial CDA Credential application fee (or if submitting a paper application, the fee is $500).
• $125.00 to renew your CDA Credential after three years (or if submitting a paper renewal, the fee is $150)