For helpful information about the CDA process, visit www.CDAcouncil.org

Are you interested in pursuing your CDA? Child Care Resource can help!
We offer four 30-hour courses that can fulfill the 120 required training hours:

Stepping Stones to Achieving a Child Development Associate credential (CDA)

1st Class - Child Development-- Participants will analyze behaviors associated with the stages of child development including birth, infancy, childhood, and early adolescence. Participants will examine patterns and theories of development and behavior. Included is the preparation of a case study of an individual child. CDA Areas 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8.  ( This course also currently meets the State of VT childcare licensing requiremment for a 30 hour course in Child Development for staff working as childcare assistants in licensed early childhood programs within the first year of employment.)

2nd Class - Creating an Environment for Learning- This course focuses on an introduction to the field of teaching and learning. Educational materials will be explored in relationship to the participant's teaching environment and experiences. Participants will examine a variety of career choices and programs in education. Child, parent, and teacher communication is also a strong component of this class. CDA Areas 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7.

3rd Class - Essential Elements of Curriculum- Participants will examine developmentally appropriate curriculum based on their observations of children. There will be specific focus on play-based, child-centered, and emergent curriculum. Stuents will examine strategies for collecting objective information and observations that will be used as the basis for organization of space, materials, equipment, and considerations of health and safety issues.

4th Class -Program Management- This course is for anyone who has daily interactions with parents or teachers, plans, does record keeping, holds parent conferences, works with young children, and strives to maintain a professional attitude. Participants will develop a working philosophy, supportive policies, and skill for building partnerships with teachers and parents.  CDA Areas, 4, 5 and 6.

Each course runs for ten weeks, with one evening class of three hours each week. The dates of indivudual courses will be published in CCR workshop schedules and newsletters.

• The tuition for each course is $175. This includes a $25 book deposit fee which will be refunded at the end of class when books are returned. Scholarship assistance may be available through VSAC; call 654-3750 for more information and to see if you qualify for a non-degree grant.

Upon completion of all four courses you will have the 120 clock hours required in the training area of the CDA credential   However, there are many other components that are involved in the CDA process. . For more information, go to www.cdacouncil.org or call our Professional Development Coordinator at 863-3367, ext. 40.  We would be happy to dicsuss the process with you and connect you with a CDA mentor to work with you through each step of the CDA process.

Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals - this is a 45-hour course offered once a year.  This course will meet the licensing requirement for those looking to meet the qualifications for working as a childcare assistant in a licensed center and is a great start for people new to the field. The course is designed to mesh with the Vermont Northern Lights Career Development Center's professional development system and is a foundational course for early educators, including those beginning the CDA process. The tuition for this course is also $175, which includes the $25 book deposit fee to be refunded at the end of the class when books are handed back in.