Welcome to today’s

Information Session

Please download a copy of the

CDA 2.0 Transition Guide at cdacouncil.org/cda2013

Will be effective as of June 1, 2013

What is “CDA 2.0 ”?

• The term “CDA 2.0” is the Council’s way of letting the early childhood community know that the CDA credentialing system is about to be updated, on June 1, 2013, streamlining the process and making it even more valuable as a professional development experience for Candidates.

• Once the new system goes into effect, we will stop using the term “2.0” because, at that point, it will be the one and only Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program™.

Candidate Assessment

• The credentialing system is built upon the CDA Competency Goals and Functional Areas

• Every Candidate will be required to: – collect evidence of competence into the Professional

Portfolio – compose a Professional Philosophy Statement and six

Reflective Statements of Competence – be observed working with young children – participate in a reflective dialogue– take the CDA Exam

Candidate’s knowledge and competencies will be determined using two factors:

• 65-question test of ECE practice knowledge, taken at a local testing centerCDA Exam

• Review of Professional Portfolio, transcripts/ certificates, Family Questionnaires

• Direct Observation of competencies• Reflective Dialogue – Candidate’s areas of strength and

growth

Verification Visit - The R. O. R.

Model ™

Both the CDA Exam and Verification Visit Comprehensive Scoring Instrument were designed using the CDA Competency Goals and Functional Areas, which will remain unchanged.

Comparison of the Current and Future

CDA Credentialing Processes

Current CDA Credentialing Process

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

Who participates in the CDA process?

CDA Advisor

Council Representative

CDA Candidate

CDA Professional

Development Specialist

CDA Candidate

Current CDA Credentialing Process

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

Step 1: Anytime before Application

Minimum of high school diploma/GED

or

Enrolled in a high school vocational program

Minimum of high school diploma/GED

orEnrolled in a high school

vocational program

120 hours of education in 8 Subject Areas

Current CDA Credentialing Process

(within 5 years)

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

(within 3 years)

Step 2: Before Application

120 hours of training in8 Subject Areas

480 hours of experience

480 hours of experience

Current CDA Credentialing Process

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

Step 3: Within Six Months before Application

Observation by CDA Advisor (chosen by the candidate)

Professional Resource File (PRF) completed by

Candidate

Parent Questionnaires (PQ) gathered by Candidate

Professional Portfolio completed by Candidate

Family Questionnaires (FQ) gathered by the Candidate

Current CDA Credentialing Process

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

Step 4: Application

Candidate sends to the Council:

• Application

• Fee

• Transcripts and/or Certificates of training

Candidate sends to the Council:

• Application

• Fee

• Candidate receives approval that application is complete and fee

was processed

Current CDA Credentialing Process(approval within 3 months)

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

Step 5: Council Approval of Completed Application

Verification Visit conducted by Council Representative (assigned by Council):

• Early Childhood Studies Review exam

• Oral Interview

• Review of PRF and PQs

Verification Visit conducted by CDA Professional Development

Specialist (chosen by Candidate):

• Review of PP, FQs, transcripts/Certificates• Observation

• Reflective Dialogue

• Candidate takes CDA Exam at a local PearsonVUE center

Current CDA Credentialing Process

“CDA 2.0” Credentialing Process

Step 6: After Verification Visit

Council Representative mails Verification Visit results to the

Council

Professional Development Specialist sends Verification Visit scores to the Council

online

PearsonVue sends exam scores to the Council online

Step 7: Council awards or denies CDA Credential

Credentialing Determination

Denial

Award

Upon completion of the Exam, the Candidate’s scores in each of the 13 CDA Functional Areas will be immediately transmitted to the Council.

Based on their findings from the Verification Visit, the PD Specialist will submit their Recommended Scores to the Council online.

The Council will then combine the two sets of scores into a final Cumulative Score which will determine Candidate credentialing. Awarded or denied, the Candidate will also receive feedback on their strengths and areas of growth in each of the CDA Functional Areas.

CDA 2.0 Credentialing Process

The 2013 Transition Plan• Any Candidate whose application is received by the Council with a

postmark date on or before May 31, 2013 will use the current CDA Credentialing process. The Candidate will be assigned a Council Representative who will conduct the Verification Visit, even if that Visit takes place after June 1. All applications using the current CDA Credentialing process, that therefore include Verification Visits by Council Reps, will be completed by August 31, 2013.

• Any Candidate whose application is received by the Council with a postmark date on or after June 1, 2013 will use the “CDA 2.0” Credentialing process . The Candidate will need to choose a CDA Professional Development Specialist to conduct the Verification Visit and will need to take the CDA Exam at a local PearsonVUE testing center.

Useful Resources

www.cdacouncil.org

For More InformationSign Up for the CounciLINK NewsletterBe sure to keep up with all the news from the Council. CounciLINK, our

monthly newsletter, is our primary way to provide you with the most current information you need to succeed! If you are not yet on our emailing list, please sign up: www.cdacouncil.org/newsletter.

Email UsHave other CDA 2.0-related questions or concerns? Please feel free to contact cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org or pdspecialist@cdacouncil.org for questions about the

CDA Professional Development Specialist role.