-
- The CDA® program is a 135-hour course of study which fulfills the 120-hour educational component required by the Council for Professional Recognition for the Preschool, Infant-Toddler, and Family Child Care CDA® credential and some of the educational component hours required for the Home Visitor CDA® credential.
- The program will address various theoretical, research-based, and practitioner-oriented issues concerning children from birth through age 5
- Emphasis on critical literacy, culturally sustaining and anti-racism in the early childhood development years
- Course is fully online and self-paced, with assigned advisor and faculty support
- Seamless academic pathway towards an AA in ECE and then a BA in ECE or Elementary Education
Advancing Early Education Collaborative (AEEC)
The Advancing Early Education Collaborative (AEEC) is an initiative between the AU School of Education, Trinity Washington University,LIFT-DC, and Martha’s Table.The partnership providesBlack and Latinx women who live or work in Washington, DC's Wards 7 or 8with a seamless academic pathway across institutions and wrap around supports (like free groceries, childcare vouchers, and financial coaching) that help students successfully navigate, graduate, and enter careers in early learning.There is also the potential for high school dual enrollment.
ճChild Development Associate (CDA®) Programis a key steppingstone on the path of career advancement in Early Childhood Education (ECE)with further educational opportunities at Trinity Washington University and American University.
Students who complete courses at AU can transfer the equivalent of up to 6 credits to Trinity Washington University’s Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education.These students can then transfer credits to Trinity Washington University’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education or American University’s Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. The AU advantage is having access to distinguished faculty and staff members who work every day to achieve our vision of an antiracist and equity-driven community in which all students are given the support they need to realize their unique potential.
Advancing Early Education Collaborative (AEEC)applicants should apply to AU’s CDA program using. Qualification for the AEEC Advancing Cities scholarship will be verified based on the information in your CDA application. To see if your home or work address falls within the required Wards to receive this scholarship, please .
-
- Admission to AU is not required, simply complete this .
CDA®Credential Requirements
The Council for Professional Recognition offers several types of CDA certificates, each with its own set of requirements.
*These subject areas are covered in two of the AU CDA courses:
- Commitment to professionalism: Covered in our Professionalism and Community Building course.
- Understanding child development: Covered in our Child Development and Learning course.
Before Applying for a CDA
-
Earn a high school diploma, GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education.
-
Complete 120 hoursof formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages 3 to 5 years old, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of eight CDA subject areas.These subject areas are integrated into the AU CDA courses and are listed below.
-
Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
-
Advancing children's physical and intellectual development
-
Supporting children's social and emotional development
-
Building productive relationships with families
-
Managing an effective program operation
-
Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
-
Observing and recording children's behavior
-
Understanding principles of child development and learning
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a center-based setting with children ages 3-5 years old.
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio. Many of the components for the Portfolio are completed as part of the course work at AU.
-
Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
-
Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition onlineor complete a paper application provided in theCDA Preschool CDA Competency Standards Book.
-
Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
-
Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.
-
Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a CDA PD Specialist and CDA Exam. (Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.)
-
A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credentialwillbe mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earnthe Credential.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
Earn a high school diploma, GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education.
Complete 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages birth to 36 months, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of the eight CDA® subject areas. These subject areas are integrated into the AU CDA courses and are listed below.
-
Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
-
Advancing children's physical and intellectual development
-
Supporting children's social and emotional development
-
Building productive relationships with families
-
Managing an effective program operation
-
Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
-
Observing and recording children's behavior
-
Understanding principles of child development and learning
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a center-based setting with children ages birth to 36 months, including experience in all three sub-age groups – young infants (birth to 8 months), mobile infants (9-17 months), and toddlers (18-36 months).
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio. Many of the components for the Portfolio are completed as part of the course work at AU.
-
Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
-
Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition onlineor complete a paper application provided in the Infant-Toddler CDA Competency Standards Book.
-
Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
-
Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.
-
Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a CDA PD Specialist and CDA Exam. (Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.)
-
A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credentialwillbe mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earnthe Credential.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
-
Earn a high school diploma, GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education.
-
Complete 120 hoursof formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages birth to 5 years old, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of eight CDA subject areas.These subject areas are integrated into the AU CDA courses and are listed below.
-
Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
-
Advancing children's physical and intellectual development
-
Supporting children's social and emotional development
-
Building productive relationships with families
-
Managing an effective program operation
-
Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
-
Observing and recording children's behavior
-
Understanding principles of child development and learning
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in in a group setting with children ages birth to 5 years old.
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Prepare your CDA Professional Portfolio. Many of the components for the Portfolio are completed as part of the course work at AU.
-
Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
-
Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition onlineor complete a paper application provided in the CDAFamily Child-Care Competency Standards Book.
-
Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
-
Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.
-
Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit with a CDA PD Specialist and CDA Exam. (Scores are electronically submitted to the Council by the CDA PD Specialist and Pearson Vue testing center.)
-
A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credentialwillbe mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earnthe Credential
*These subject areas are covered in two of the AU CDA courses:
- Commitment to professionalism: Covered in our Professionalism and Community Building course.
- Understanding child development: Covered in our Child Development and Learning course.
1. Before Applying for a CDA
-
Earn a high school diploma, GED (equivalent).
-
Complete 120 hoursof formal early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children ages birth to 5 years old, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of eight CDA Home Visitor subject areas.
-Promoting health and safety in the home environment
-Enhancing parents’ skills to advance children’s physical and intellectual development
-Promoting parents’ use of positive ways to support children’s social and emotional development
-Understanding family systems and development
-Managing an effective home visitor program operation
*Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
-Working across the child welfare continuum
*Understanding the principles of child development and learning
*These courses respectively fulfill the commitment to professionalism, and understanding child development educational component for the Home Visitor CDA Credential™.
2. Within 3 years of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Obtain 480 hours of professional work experience in a Home Visitor program serving families with children aged birth to five years.
3. Within 6 months of submitting your CDA application to the Council for Professional Recognition:
-
Prepare your CDA professional portfolio.
-
Find a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist. The Specialist will conduct your Verification Visit when you will be observed and evaluated working with children in a specific age group. (CDA PD Specialist Directory https://www.cdacouncil.org/pd-specialists/role-a-responsibilities/354-pd-specialist-directory)
The Application Process
-
Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition onlineor complete a paper application provided in the CDA Home Visitor Competency Standards Book.
-
Submit the non-refundable / non-transferable application fee with your application.
-
Once your CDA application is approved, you will receive yourReady to Schedulenotice, and you can schedule your CDA Verification Visit®.
-
A Council committee will review the results of your assessment and render a decision whether to award you the CDA Credential. If your credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate® credentialwillbe mailed to you. If the committee decides you need more training, the Council will let you know the next steps to take to earnthe Credential
Contact Us
If you are interested in signing up for the CDA® program, please contactCDA@american.edu.
In the Media
SOE's Child Development Associate (CDA®) program and Dean Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy are featured in the of the insightful DCTV documentary series, Stronger Start: Building Better Child Care. details the challenges of (and solutions for) early childhood education in Washington, DC.
In the News
SOE is featured in “American” magazine in the article “ABCs of Thriving” about the new, three-year, $5 million grant from JPMorgan Chase will advance the work of SOE and its partners to ensure the littlest learners soak up enough stimuli from qualified teachers to meet all their emotional, developmental, and educational milestones.