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CDA - Child Development Associate

ClassesOnline4U CDA Package
ClassesOnline4U NOW offers a CDA Package that provides you with all 120 hours of training for one low price ($400). Additionally you may purchase a Support Package ($250) that will provide you with an in-person contact who can help guide you through the CDA application process. Just Register, Login and Click on the CDA Package to begin!

The CDA Program
CDA training programs do NOT award the CDA credential.  This must be obtained from the CDA Council.  A summary of what is required in order to obtain your CDA credential follows:

Stage 1: Inquiry – You should verify that you are working in an eligible setting and that you have or will be able to meet the initial CDA requirements prior to requesting the application packet. Assessment Requirements include:

Be 18 hears of age or older
Hold a high school diploma or GED
Have 480 hours of experience working with children within the past five years
Have 120 clock hours of formal child care education within the past five years (this is where our package/classes fit in).

Stage 2: Collection of Documentation – You will need to select an Advisor (who will conduct the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument), prepare a Professional Resource File and distribute and collect Parent Opinion Questionnaires. If you already meet the initial requirements for work and training, this will still need to be done. If you have not yet met the initial requirements, this can be done as you proceed through the training and in your workplace.

Stage 3: Application
– The Candidate and the Advisor prepare and send in documentation with the application to the CDA Council.

Stage 4: Verification
– This involves a visit by a Council Representative which includes a written exam of knowledge of good practices – the Early Childhood Studies Review, an oral interview and verification of collected documentation.

Stage 5: Credential Award – The Council committee reviews all relevant information and makes a decision regarding the awarding of the credential.

Stage 6: Credential Renewal – Initially in 3 years and every 5 years thereafter, the credential must be renewed by documenting 45 clock hours (4.5 CEUs) of relevant instruction over the previous 3-5 years.

For more detailed information, please visit the CDA Council website.

Taking Individual CDA Classes
To obtain your CDA, the CDA Council requires that you have a minimum of 10 hours in each of the 8 subject areas. Our CDA Package automatically meets this requirement, but if you are just looking for additional hours toward your CDA We can offer you individual training hours in all subject areas. The list below shows you the number of hours we offer individually, apart from our CDA Core, in each subject area.

CDA Subject Area # of Hours
CDA Subject 1. Safety, health and learning environment, 34 hours.
CDA Subject 2. Physical and intellectual development, 29 hours.
CDA Subject 3. Social and emotional development, 33 hours.
CDA Subject 4. Productive relationships with families, 10 hours.
CDA Subject 5. Managing an effective program operation, 17 hours.
CDA Subject 6. Professionalism, 13 hours.
CDA Subject 7. Observing and recording children's behavior, 8 hours.
CDA Subject 8. Principles of child growth and development, 11 hours.

A list of our classes along with which category they apply to may be found at ClassesOnline4U. We also offer a CDA Renewal Package (good for Staff and Director Credential renewals as well) of up to 45 hours at a greatly reduced cost to you.