Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE. The CDA is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. The Council works to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development. CDAs have knowledge of how to put the CDA Competency Standards into practice and understanding of why those standards help children move with success from one developmental stage to another. Put simply, CDAs know how to nurture the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development of children.
Earning the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ has many advantages, including exposure to the larger community of early childhood educators. Over 1 Million educators have received their CDA to date!
Earning a CDA is a big commitment, but one that creates confident practitioners with command of today’s best practices for teaching young children.
Benefits of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™
Advance your career
Meet job requirements
Reinforce your commitment to early childhood education
Provide parents with peace of mind
Understand developmentally appropriate practice
Increase your confidence
Programs for Parents offers the following to early childhood educators
Infant Toddler, Preschool, Birth to Five and Family Child Care Credential
Class Day and Times:
Classes begin in October 2026
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00pm to 9:00pm – Hybrid
Saturdays from 8:30am to 2:30pm – In Person
Classes are offered in English and Spanish
Location: Programs for Parents, 570 Broad Street, 9th Floor, in Newark
Program Cost and Payment Options
The total cost of the program is $1,500, which includes:
- Registration fee
- Books and Council materials
- 120 hours of classroom training
- Professional Portfolio development and support
- Professional development mentoring and coaching
Payment Plan Available
A $100 registration fee will be applied toward the total $1,500 program cost. Please note that the registration fee is non-refundable for participants who do not receive a scholarship.
Participants will be required to sign a payment plan agreement during orientation. Weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly payment options are available.
NJ Workforce Registry Tuition Scholarship
A NJ Workforce Registry Tuition Scholarship may be available to qualified applicants. Assistance with the scholarship application will be provided during your first week of classes.
Please note: Applicants must first be accepted into the program before they can apply for the scholarship.
Enrollment Requirements
To enroll in the program, applicants must submit documentation verifying the following. Documents may be uploaded through the application page.
- Age: Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and provide a valid photo ID.
- Education: A high school diploma, high school transcripts showing graduation, or GED is required.
- Employment or Volunteer Experience: A letter from a licensed child care center confirming your employment or volunteer status. The letter must be on the center’s letterhead and include:
- Position title
- Date of employment
- Number of hours worked each week
- Administrator’s signature
OR
- Family Child Care Provider: Registered family child care providers must submit a copy of their Family Child Care (FCC) registration.
Registration Fee
The $100 registration fee must be paid by money order or credit card only.
Candidates will be contacted by a CDA Program Administrator to make payment arrangements by the registration deadline of September 25, 2026.
Important: Please do not send credit card information by mail or email. Payments should not be brought to our offices without an appointment.
Registration for the Fall 2026 Class are now closed.
For more information please contact Denece Young at cda@programsforparents.org or 973-297-1114 x4133..