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Our Products / CDA (English)
Child Development
Associate® (CDA)
Join more than a million educators who’ve advanced their careers with CCEI, the child care industry’s most trusted provider of accredited, online training. Our CDA Certification Program is available for all three pathways — Infant/Toddler, Preschool, and Family Child Care plus Renewals — with flexible options to match your learning style and live, human support to carry you confidently to the finish line.
Choose Certificate Designation
Infant-Toddler, Preschool, or Family Child Care
Choose Your CDA Status
New Applicant or Renewing
Choose Program Type
Self-Study or Instructor-Supported
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Ready To Take the Next Step in Your Career?
The CDA is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education, and often a required step for leadership roles in the classroom or in administration.
Explore your pathway options — Infant/Toddler, Preschool, Family Child Care, or Renewal — and learn more about program structure, enrollment details, and everything you need to earn your credential with confidence.
Looking for CDA enrollment options in Spanish? Visit the Spanish CDA product page.
Program Objectives
Upon satisfactorily completing the CDA Certificate program, students should be able to:
- Define the requirements to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment for young children
- Identify the components to advance the physical, cognitive, communicative and creative development of young children
- Define positive guidance techniques to support appropriate social and emotional development of young children
- List the guidelines to establish productive relationships with families
- Identify the components required to ensure a well-run, purposeful early childhood program responsive to the needs of the participants
- Identify the requirements to maintain a commitment to professionalism
Program Start & End Dates
Start your program at anytime - all CDA program types have rolling enrollment, with no need to join set class or test times.
180 or 365 days to complete - Depending on the program type, the program will end in either 180 or 365 days after your enrollment date.
Student Assessment
Students enrolled in the CDA Certificate program are assessed using the following methods:
- Competency based multiple choice questions
- Open-ended essay questions
- Student activity and/or observations with written feedback
- End of Course Quizzes in multiple choice format – Students must pass each quiz with a grade of 70% or better to complete the course
- Cumulative Final Exam in multiple choice format – Students must pass with a grade of 70% or better to complete the CDA certificate program
Enrollment Requirements
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Must have access to a computer and printer
- Must have a valid email address
- Must have access to the Internet through a CCEI supported JavaScript-enabled web browser (i.e. Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.)
- Must be able to speak, read, and write well enough in the language the course is presented in to understand and complete the course material
- Several courses within this program require observation, assessment, and practical application of learning principles in an early childhood learning environment. Students must be working in or have access to an early childhood environment to successfully complete this program
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to check with their licensing representatives to determine each program’s applicability toward state requirements.
Textbook Information
Certificate Renewal Programs - No textbook is required to complete the CDA Credential Renewal Certificate program.
New Certificate Programs -Textbook is required and must be purchased at the student’s expense.
Textbook Details - After purchasing your course, textbook details will be shared with each student based on their certificate designation and program type.Instructor-Supported CDA | Infant-Toddler
- Program Code: 1206-CDAI
- Program Length: 130 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 13.0 CEUs
- Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $1,300
- Application Fee: $100
- Approximate Book Cost (Not Included): $75 for 2 books
Total Program Cost: $1,400
Enroll Now:
Purchase Infant-Toddler | Instructor-Supported CDA
Self-Study CDA | Infant-Toddler
- Program Code: 1302-CDAI
- Program Length: 125 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 12.5 CEUs
- Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $775
- Application Fee: $75
- Approximate Book Cost (Not Included): $50
Total Program Cost: $850
Enroll Now:
Instructor-Supported CDA | Preschool
- Program Code: 1206-CDAP
- Program Length: 130 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 13.0 CEUs
- Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $1,300
- Application Fee: $100
- Approximate Book Cost (Not Included): $75 for 2 books
Total Program Cost: $1,400
Enroll Now:
Purchase Preschool | Instructor-Supported CDA
Self-Study CDA | Preschool
- Program Code: 1302-CDAP
- Program Length: 125 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 12.5 CEUs
- Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $775
- Application Fee: $75
- Approximate Book Cost (Not Included): $50
Total Program Cost: $850
Enroll Now:
Instructor-Supported CDA | Family Child Care
- Program Code: 1206-CDAF
- Program Length: 130 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 13.0 CEUs
- Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $1,300
- Application Fee: $100
- Approximate Book Cost (Not Included): $75 for 2 books
Total Program Cost: $1,400
Enroll Now:
Purchase Family Child Care | Instructor-Supported CDA
Self-Study CDA | Family Child Care
- Program Code: 1302-CDAF
- Program Length: 125 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 12.5 CEUs
- Program End Date: 365 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $775
- Application Fee: $75
- Approximate Book Cost (Not Included): $50
Total Program Cost: $850
Enroll Now:
CDA Renewal Certificate
CCEI’s CDA Renewal Certificate Program makes it easy to complete the 45 hours of professional development required by the Council for Professional Recognition. Whether you hold an Infant/Toddler, Preschool, or Family Child Care CDA, our 100% online program is designed to fit your schedule and support your next step.
- Program Length: 45 Hours
- IACET CEU Value: 4.5 CEUs
- Program End Date: 180 days from enrollment
- Tuition Cost: $424
- Application Fee: $75
Total Program Cost: $499
Enroll Now:
Infant-Toddler Program Code: 1408-CDA
Purchase Infant-Toddler Renewal
Preschool Program Code: 1407-CDA
Family Child Care Program Code: 1409-CDA
Purchase Family Child Care Renewal
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