Online CDA Training

Earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential

has never been easier!

A CDA -- a Child Development Associate credential -- is a nationally recognized designation awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C. The Child Development Essentials (CDA) Program prepares students for work in the early childhood care and education field. Courses are offered fully online. Participants must be working with young children regularly either in a paid or volunteer position to fulfill their coursework requirements.  Penn Consulting now offers the CDA course online.

Step 1:  Register for and complete the 120 hours of early childhood education training, covering the growth and development of children aged 3 to 5 years through online workshops. The course is designed to be completed in 12 weeks; however, candidates for the CDA may take longer.  The course is self-paced with a one year maximum completion time.  Registration for the Winter session is open and the course begins January 3, 2012.  The registration fee is $330.00/person.  Payment may be made in two installments of $165 each paid by December 23.  The textbook list and a course enrollment key and directions for access are issued once payment is received in full.

Step 2:  Obtain supplies and order the required textbooks online at http://store.cdacouncil.org/:

Step 3:  Field Experience:  Classroom observations and student teaching practicum are required 4-hours-per week.  Your employer will be required to provide feedback and assistance as you work toward preparing for the CDA Assessment.  Students enrolled in this course must be eligible for field experiences as determined by the BFTS and Georgia Department of Human Resources, Child Protective Services.  State laws require a satisfactory criminal background check.

Step 4:  Apply for Direct Assessment by the CDA Council:  Mail a completed application to the Council for Professional Recognition with the (1) $325 assessment fee, (2) training verification, and (3) original trainer signature.  The Council accepts Direct Assessment Applications on a rolling basis. Georgia provides financial assistance for individuals to obtain a CDA Credential through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Program.

Step 5:  CDA Council Representative Visit:  The Council Representative will contact you to arrange a date and place for the visit within 90 days.  At the conclusion of the Verification Visit, the Council Representative will return the Professional Resource File to you and submit the remaining materials to the Council.

Step 5:  Receive Your Credentialing Decision:  A Council Committee will review your documentation and render a decision whether to award you the Credential. If the Credential is awarded, the official Child Development Associate Credential will be sent to you. You will be eligible to participate in the BFTS/Smart Start GA INCENTIVES Program.

Step 6:  Renew Your CDA:  A CDA Credential is valid for three years from the award date, after which it may be renewed for five-year periods.

To register now:  Please complete the attached registration form and email or mail to:

Penn Consulting

P. O. Box 49254

Atlanta, GA 30359

Its as easy as 1-2-3!  All you need is an internet connection and an email address.  You will submit weekly assignments (answering 3 reflection questions), a weekly quiz, and essay paper or project (resume, lesson plan, etc.), comment on the work of your fellow students, and receive feedback from your professor online; you can easily do your work on your own time.

About the Instructor

     Althea Penn has a passion for children and the educators who serve them.  She has over twenty years of experience in education serving as a teacher, Children’s Ministry pastor and principal.  Althea has earned a Masters degree in Education Administration, undergraduate degree in Organization Leadership, certification as an Early Childhood Educator and the National Administrator Credential.  She is also an approved Bright from the Start:  Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning trainer.  This well-rounded background equips her to share with fellow educators as she regularly conducts high quality early childhood professional development seminars and church leadership workshops throughout the Southeast.  Althea is an inspirational communicator and serves as a conference speaker for The Georgia Preschool Association, the National Black Child Development Institute, Kid’s Advocacy Coalition, Quality Care for Children, The Association of Christian Schools International and other organizations.  As an educational consultant she has trained hundreds of Directors of preschools and provided guidance in the accreditation and licensing process.