Cda professional development specialist application for training

Washington CDA Training

Step 3: Within six months before submitting application to the CDA Council.

Professional Portfolio

Refer to the CDA Competency Standards Book starting on page 10.
The Professional Portfolio is compiled independently by each Candidate as part of the CDA credentialing process. The compiled resources and documents are reviewed by the CDA PD Specialist during the CDA Verification Visit.

Education Documentation
Family Questionnaires
Six (6) Reflective Statements of Competence
Ten (10) Resources
A Professional Philosophy Statement

Your Professional Portfolio MUST be prepared within 6 months of submitting the application to the CDA Council of Professional Recognition.

You should be working on the components of the Professional Portfolio while completing the CDA training. If it takes you more than 6 months to complete the CDA training, be sure to go back and update the Professional Portfolio components that you completed to reflect current information.

What are Family Questionnaires?
Family Questionnaires are a required component of the CDA Professional Portfolio. Candidates are required to distribute the questionnaires to the families they serve and include them in their CDA Professional Portfolio. The Family Questionnaires allow the Candidate to review and address feedback from the families they serve to aid in their professional development.

Step 4: Submit application to the CDA Council.

Apply online for your CDA Credential using the YourCDA online application system on the Council website.
The non-refundable / non-transferable application fee of $425 must be submitted with your application to the CDA Council of Professional Recognition. Learn about CDA scholarships in your state.
Once your CDA application has been reviewed and accepted by the CDA Council of Professional Recognition you will receive a Ready to Schedule notification from the Council.

Childcare courses

Step 5: Within 6 months after the Council accepts your completed application.

Verification Visit

Refer to the CDA Competency Standards Book starting on page 22/23.
Once you receive your Ready to Schedule notification from the CDA Council, you are ready to schedule your CDA Verification Visit and CDA Exam.

Review your Professional Portfolio, transcripts and/or certificates from your Professional Education coursework, and Family Questionnaires.
Observe you working with children and record applicable evidence or information.
Reflect with you about your strengths or opportunities for growth as noted from items #1 and 2.
Remember to get your director’s signature before the visit, and afterward, obtain your PD Specialist’s ID number.

After you have completed all the required steps, you should receive your credentialing decision from the Council within a week if there are no errors or missing information. Exam Envelope with Congratulations inside and Verification Visit scores are generally transmitted within 24-48 hours of completion, and the decision takes 1-3 business days from that point.

However, if information is missing or there are errors, it could take 4-6 weeks to receive your credentialing decision as errors are corrected and/or missing information is retrieved. You will receive a notice by mail about your credentialing decision.