Image for CDA Training

Welcome to Care Courses' CDA Credential Training!

Care Courses offers formal child care training for your CDA certification and unlimited instructor support for every step of the CDA credential process.

What Care Courses offers:

  • Free printable Steps to the CDA checklist to help you on your CDA journey. Download it here

  • Unlimited free telephone support for all areas of your CDA preparation, including training, application and portfolio. We are available Monday - Friday from 9-5 Eastern Time. Ask for one of our CDA Specialists.

    • Call: 1-800-685-7610

  • Unlimited email support.

    • Email: cda@CareCourses.com

  • Certificates documenting your completion of 120 clock hours of training required by the CDA Council.

Steps to follow:

  1. Start with Principles of Child Development and Learning (included with your CDA course set). When you have completed this course, continue to do the remaining courses in any order you wish.

  2. If you haven't already done so, visit the CDA Council's website (www.CDACouncil.org) to purchase a CDA Competency Standards Book. Specify the setting you have chosen: Preschool Center-based, Infant/Toddler Center-based, or Family Child Care. Read the contents of the Competency Standards Book carefully.

  3. Be sure to watch our video on creating your professional portfolio: How to Prepare Your Professional Portfolio.

  4. When you have successfully completed all of the courses in your CDA course set as well as the requirements described in the Council's CDA Competency Standards Book (mentioned in step 2 above), identify a CDA Professional Development (P.D.) Specialist and obtain their ID# before submitting your application.

  5. You are ready to apply when you have successfully completed step 3 above.

  6. The Council will send a "Ready to Schedule" notification to you and your PD Specialist after your CDA Application and Assessment Fee have been processed. You then have six months from the date of your "Ready to Schedule" notification to complete the following:

  7. Following the completion of the Verification Visit and the CDA Exam, the Council will make a final credentialing decision and send you the results.