What is it?
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is the most recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is an important stepping stone on the path to advancement in one’s ECE career.
The CDA Credential is based on a core set of competency standards that are used to guide professionals as they work towards becoming qualified teachers to young children. The Council for Professional Recognition is working to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential which can be recognized but the profession as a vital part of professional development.
CDAs incorporate knowledge of how to put the CDA competency standards into practice and provides an understanding of why those standards help children success to move from one developmental stage to another. The Credential Development Associate credentials know how to nurture and recognize the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development of children.
What are the Benefits?
With the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential a provider will be able to:
- Advance one’s career
- Meet job requirements
- Reinforce one’s commitment to early childhood education
- Provide parents with peace of mind
- Understand developmentally appropriate practice
- Increase one’s confidence
Scholarship Opportunities
Achieve: Minnesota Center for Professional Development– Career Guide
Minnesota CDA Locations
|
Organizations Offering CDA Training |
Minnesota Specific Content |
Cost |
Who is Instructor/Level of Education |
Online or In-Person? |
Language of Instruction (in addition to English) |
Approved through Achieve |
Is there an Actual Articulation Agreement between CDA program and IHE? |
Awards |
For Profit or Not for Profit |
|
Both |
$600 (reimbursable) |
Masters degree |
Online- instructor led |
English |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 1 |
Not for Profit |
|
|
No |
$300 |
Bachelors Degree |
In Person |
English |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
Not for Profit |
|
|
No |
$400 |
Self Study |
Online |
English |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
For Profit |
|
|
No |
$300 |
Self Study |
Online |
English Spanish |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
Not for Profit |
|
|
No |
$2700 |
Self Study |
Online |
English Spanish |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
For Profit |
|
|
No |
$514 |
Self Study |
Online |
English |
No |
This is an odd one |
N/A |
For Profit |
|
|
Yes |
$600 |
Approved trainer through Achieve min of Bachelors |
In Person |
English Spanish Somali Hmong |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 1 |
Not for Profit |
|
|
Martin LutherCollege |
No |
$155 per 12.5 clock hours—Approx. $1500 |
Masters or higher |
Online |
English |
Yes through Higher ed |
Yes |
College credit |
Private College |
|
No |
Free |
Achieve approved with Bachelors degree |
In person |
English |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
Not for Profit |
|
|
Yes |
$800 |
Bachelors degree in ECED |
In person |
Spanish |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 1 |
For Profit |
|
|
No |
$399 |
Self Study |
Online |
English Spanish |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
For Profit |
|
|
No |
Masters Degree or higher |
Online |
English
|
Yes through Higher ed |
Yes to their own college |
For Credit |
For Profit |
||
|
No |
$1000 |
Masters Degree or higher |
Online |
English
|
Yes through Higher ed |
Yes to their own college |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
Public University |
|
|
No |
$480
|
Unknown |
Online |
English
|
No |
See below |
NO |
For Profit |
|
|
No |
$269 or $749 with Portfolio help |
Self Study |
Online |
English Spanish |
Yes |
See below |
TEACH CDA Priority 2 |
For Profit |
|
|
No |
No Cost for eligible participants |
Unknown |
In-person |
English
|
Unknown |
See below |
Unknown |
Not for Profit |