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FAQs

Find answers to common question about the iCDA Course Preparation Series.

Who should take the iCDA Course Preparation Series?

The iCDA is a free course series for all early childhood professionals in child care or Head Start programs. It can also help people, like high school students, explore careers in early childhood. This tool was made for candidates who want to earn their Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential. 

We also invite everyone to explore the content and learn at their own pace. This course delivers useful, basic content. It's ideal for staff who want to build their skills in early childhood education.

What is a CDA® candidate?

A CDA candidate is someone working to earn their Child Development Associate credential. This certification is well-respected in the field of early childhood education. It shows you have the skills to care for young children. It also meets professional standards in early childhood education. Candidates must meet certain requirements. They need professional education hours, work experience, and to pass assessments set by the Council for Professional Recognition.

How should I take this course?

Whether you are an experienced professional or new to the field, choose to be engaged and curious! View the course through a desktop, laptop, or tablet for a better experience. 

We recommend taking the courses in numerical order, starting with Subject Area I. However, there is an exception: Candidates will need to complete Subject Area VII before Subject Area V. Content from Subject Area VII will help you complete Competency Statement V.

Where can I earn the remaining 40 hours?

As part of the iCDA Course Preparation Series, we made learning pathways for CDA candidates. These focus on:

  • Center-based infant/toddler professionals
  • Center-based preschool professionals
  • Family child care professionals

The courses in these pathways are free. You can access them through the iPD, which is the same platform used for the iCDA. These lists suggest courses that match CDA Subject Areas for each focus area. You can follow one of these paths. You can also build your own learning path from other iPD courses. Most align with the CDA Subject Areas.

Will I get my CDA® by completing this course series?

No. This course series provides 80 of the 120 education or clock hours you need. It helps you develop your CDA portfolio. And it has built-in questions to help you practice for the CDA exam. But the Council for Professional Recognition requires extra steps to earn the credential.

How will this course series support or align with state credentials?

Most state systems recognize the CDA® as a national credential. States partnering with iPD approve the iCDA courses for professional development.

Is the iCDA aligned to the National Workforce Registry Alliance?

The Council for Professional Recognition can approve state registries that align their data practices with the National Workforce Registry Alliance. This lets them give training records, or transcripts, to CDA candidates. This reduces the time and effort to gather training documents.

How do these states connect to our iPD partnership state registries?

If the state registry is on the Council's approved list and is an iPD partnership state, CDA candidates can create one compiled transcript of their training. Candidates from states that don’t participate must collect their approved training according to Council rules.

Read more:

,  Professional Development