The Child Development Associate (CDA)

According to the national CDA Council, early educators who have attained their Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential are better able to meet the needs of children, work with parents and other adults, and more generally, nurture children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework.

To date, there are more than 200,000 CDAs in all 50 United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Many view the CDA Credential as an instrument for career advancement in the early childhood care and education profession. In Vermont, a CDA qualifies an early educator for a Level II certificate from the Northern Lights Career Development Center.  For Chittenden County providers who already have their CDA and would like to know how to renew it, click here. 

For more information and resources, please contact the CDA council at www.cdacouncil.org or 1-800-424-4310.