Frequently Asked Questions about the

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Training Program

 

Montgomery College Education Department offers the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Training Program.  Upon successful completion of this program, students/candidates will receive:

 

·        Nine college credits toward an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and fulfill the candidate’s formal education training requirement to earn the CDA credential.

 

·        CDA guidance to

Ø      Develop a Professional Resource File

Ø      Prepare for the CDA written assessment

Ø      Prepare for the Oral Situational Interview

Ø      Distribute/collect Parent Opinion Questionnaires

 

What are the requirements of earning the CDA Credential?

To receive a CDA credential, candidates must have:

  • 120 clock hours of formal education training/CDA coursework within the past five years.
  • 480 hours of experience working with children within the past five years.
  • Documents that verify their competence in early child care and education. These include:

Ø      A Professional Resource File

Ø      Parent Opinion Questionnaires

Ø      The CDA Assessment Observation Instrument

Ø      An Oral Interview

Ø      A Written Assessment

 

What are the CDA coursework and schedule at Montgomery College?

CDA coursework includes three education courses which can be completed within two semesters:

 

First Semester              ED 120 Child Growth and Development (3 credits)

 

Second Semester          ED 121 Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education

                                    (3 credits)

Choose one of the following ED courses (3 credits), according to the type of CDA Credential that you want to receive:

ED 123 Infant and Toddler Development and Curriculum Planning (Infant/Toddler CDA)

                                    ED 213 Social Development in Young Children (Preschool CDA)

                        ED 215 Child Care Administration (Family Child Care CDA or Home

Visitor CDA)

What other CDA courses should I take after receiving the 90-Hour Course Certificate?

If you have received 90-Hour Course Certificate at Montgomery College within the past four years, you only need to take one of the following classes to meet the CDA education training requirement:

            ED 123 Infant and Toddler Development and Curriculum Planning (Infant/Toddler CDA)

            ED 213 Social Development in Young Children (Preschool CDA)

ED 215 Child Care Administration (Family Child Care or Home Visitor CDA)

 

What requirements do I need before applying to the training program?

Candidates must:

  • Be 18 years or older
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be currently employed in an child care setting (center-based or family day care)

 

How do I register for CDA courses?

To register for ED 120 (one of the first CDA courses) please call the Office of Admission, Records, and Registration on any campus:

 

Germantown                             (240) 567-7823

Rockville                                  (240) 567-5034

Takoma Park/Silver Spring       (240) 567-1501

 

How much do the CDA courses cost?

The tuition for three CDA courses (9 college credits) is about $1,110.  If this is the first time you are taking course at Montgomery College, a $25.00 admission fee is required.

 

Is financial assistance available to help CDA Candidates?

Child Care Quality Enhancements Scholarships are available through Montgomery County’s Early Childhood Initiative.  Child care providers can receive scholarships for CDA courses at Montgomery College.  For more information or to receive a scholarship packet, please contact Jody Burghardt at (240) 777-3249.

 

Who should I contact to receive or renew the CDA Credentials?

Please contact CDA Council for Professional Recognition at www.cdacouncil.org or

Call 1-800-424-4310.

 

Where should I receive CDA guidance for meeting the CDA requirements?

CDA workshop will be held during spring and fall semester each year.  The workshop

  • Introduces candidates to the CDA assessment process and options;
  • Offers guidance in compiling the CDA documentations;
  • Provides opportunities for candidates to share their writing with the instructor and other candidates.

To register for the CDA workshop, please call the Education Department at (240) 567-1757 or complete the attached Registration Form.

Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Training Program

Registration Form

 

 

Name____________________

 

Phone Number_____________________

 

Email Address_____________________

 

 

Current Mailing Address_________________________________________

 

Check one of the CDA settings:

 

____Center-based Preschool

____Center-based Infant/Toddler

____Family Child Care

____Home Visitor

 

List CDA courses (ED 120, 121, 123 or 213/215) that you plan to take during the following semesters:

 

Summer 2008 ___________________________________________________

 

Fall 2008_______________________________________________________

           

Spring 2009_____________________________________________________

 

Check one of the CDA workshop schedules:

 

____Workshops during Fall 2008

 

____Workshops during Spring 2009

 

 

 

Please mail your Registration Form to:

Dr. Jeannie Ho

Education Department

51 Mannakee Street

Rockville, MD 20850