Child Development Associate Training

The CDA credentialing program is administered by the CDA Council at the Council for Professional Recognition, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “promote improved performance and recognition of professionals in the early childhood education of children ages birth to 5 years old.” The CDA Credential is acknowledged and accepted Nationwide and serves as proof that the person holding the CDA is an educated, qualified, early childhood professional.

Becoming a CDA is a big commitment, but one that creates confident practitioners with a command of today’s best practices for teaching very young children.

• Advance your career
• Meet job requirements
• Reinforce your commitment to early childhood education
• Provide parents with peace of mind
• Understand developmentally appropriate practice

Increase your confidence

1. 120 Hours of CDA Training
2. Work experience
3. Professional Portfolio
4. Apply for CDA Credential with the CDA Council of Professional Recognition.
5. Verification Visit & CDA Exam

Students enrolled in the CDA program at NCCC will complete 120 hours of training needed to apply for the CDA credential. The training includes at least 10 hours in each of the CDA’s eight subject areas:

1. Planning a safe and healthy learning environment  
2. Advancing children's physical and intellectual development  
3. Supporting children's social and emotional development  
4. Building productive relationships with families  
5. Managing an effective program operation  
6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism  
7. Observing and recording children's behavior
8. Understanding principles of child development and learning

In addition to earning the 120 required hours in child care and development, NCCC’s CDA students will get assistance with starting the professional portfolio, CDA exam preparation, and guidance with applying for the CDA credential and scheduling the verification visit. We can also help connect you with a local childcare center for possible volunteering or employment if you have not yet met the CDA work experience requirement. An advantage of NCCC’s CDA training is that NCCC’s CDA training provides exposure to New York-specific childcare laws and regulations, networking with local agencies, and support from area childcare and early childhood educators.

NCCC’s CDA training combines the flexibility of online lessons with some face-to-face discussions, networking, guidance, and support. As a class, we will work out how often to meet face-to-face and on what campus. An alternative virtual meet-up can be scheduled for those who do not live in the area and/or cannot make it to campus. The goal is a balance of flexibility, convenience, and connection!

The training runs from June 23 to October 31, 2025. Most weeks, you will have outside-of-class work, live video lessons, and some occasional in-person meet ups to work on the tasks that are hard to accomplish virtually. The outside-of-class work can be done anytime throughout the week as long as you have the tasks done before our next class. This flexibility will allow you to work out a time-management plan that will work best with your other responsibilities (e.g. family, work, summer fun, etc.).

Example week:

Outside of class *approx. 2.5-4 hours

• Readings (e.g. chapter, articles, research, etc.)
• Online lesson (watch online lesson videos & answer comprehension/CDA-test prep questions)
• Prep for weekly class (gather documents, complete tasks)
• Portfolio work (application of learning to your setting/age group)

Live Video Class *2.5 hours

• Meet Mondays 6-830pm via zoom (online video call)

In-Person Occasional Meet-up

• Currently planned for the fourth Saturday in July, August, September, and October but we will adjust depending on the needs of the group.

You will need a laptop or desktop to zoom (online video call), do internet searches, complete online video lessons, and compose documents. High-speed internet access is a must. If you are not tech-savvy, a phone call or meet-up (virtual or in-person) can be arranged before the start of the training to help reduce concerns.

To apply for the actual CDA credential you need 480 hours of professional experience working with children. The 480 hours is to be completed within three years of formally applying with the CDA for the exam/visit portion of the CDA process. So, that means you do not have to have the experience completed before starting the training, you can finish the experience portion after NCCC’s CDA training. If you do not work at or volunteer in an early childhood education/childcare setting at the time of the training, please contact KRodriguez@nccc.edu or KDowd@nccc.edu ASAP so we can help you arrange to volunteer at a childcare center to be able to complete the portfolio/application tasks (you will likely need a background check, so getting this arranged ASAP is important). If you work in a licensed childcare or early childhood education setting, you can use that towards the 480-hour experience requirement. The experience must be with the age/setting group that matches the setting for which you are applying (i.e. infant/toddler, preschool, or family child care).

You will need to pick an age/setting group at the start of the training. The book you use, the tasks you complete in the training, the portfolio focus, and the experience requirement will center on the age/setting group you pick. Options include center-based infant-toddler (birth to 3yr), center-based preschool (3-5yrs), or family childcare (birth-5yr). If you want a second age/setting credential, it is necessary to complete the CDA credentialing process again focusing your work on the new age/setting group.

The NCCC 120-hour training is $1800. The books for the training are $55 for the required text only or $120 for the required text with supplemental/optional books.

There are! 

Educational Initiative Program: Go to https://www.ecetp.pdp.albany.edu/eip.aspx and expand the CDA tab for more details. The entire cost of training and books could be covered! This scholarship requires employment at a daycare center registered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

After you get your CDA coursework certificate from NCCC, you will need to take your the CDA exam and schedule a verification visit with the CDA Council of Professional Recognition. They do charge a fee for applying for the test/visit. The CDA application fee is $425.00 if you apply online.  However, many states have either a scholarship and/or a reimbursement program in place to cover the cost of that test. 

The required textbook, Essentials, is $55.There are other books that you may want to purchase that are specific to the setting/age group you are applying. The bundle for the required text and the additional/optional books is $120.

A heavy-duty 2-inch three-ring binder is required. A 3-ring hole punch is recommended.

A professional portfolio is a required part of the CDA credentialing process. Throughout NCCC’s CDA training, portfolio tasks will be assigned and, when approved, added to your portfolio (2” 3-ring binder). The Professional Portfolio is composed of Education Documentation, Family Questionnaires, Six (6) Reflective Statements of Competence, and Ten (10) Resources. Details and guidance will be provided throughout the training. If the portfolio tasks are completed as assigned, your portfolio will be ready for review by the CDA Specialist during the CDA verification visit (the last step of the CDA credentialing process). The portfolio must be prepared/updated within 6 months of applying to the CDA Council of Professional Recognition.

• Be 18 years of age or older 
• Hold a high school diploma or GED or be enrolled as a junior or senior in a high school career and technical program in early childhood education
• Be currently employed, or able to arrange routinely to volunteer, in a state-licensed early childhood setting 
• Work with infants/toddlers, pre-school, or family home daycare.

Dr. Kelli Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of Social Sciences and Chair of the Social Sciences department at NCCC. She has taught at the college level since 2009 and at NCCC since 2012. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Services with a concentration in Marriage and Family Services and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Much of her academic work and teaching has focused on development, socialization, and diversity. Prior to college teaching, she owned and operated a family childcare business in the Plattsburgh area. This will be her fourth cohort of students for this CDA training. 

Kelli Rodriguez krodriguez@nccc.edu, Kathleen Dowd KDowd@nccc.edu, or Records@nccc.edu

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