 Child Development Associate (CDA) Training Program (Onsite)
Working in a child care center is an important job requiring specialized
skills and knowledge in early child development. The state of Florida
has set the standard that at least one caregiver per every 20 children
in a center hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or
its equivalent - the training is that essential.
What is a Child Development
Associate (CDA) credential?
The CDA credential is recognized nationally as the quality standard
for training of professional early childhood caregivers. CDA training
helps caregivers work effectively with infants, toddlers, preschool
children, and their families within an early childhood program environment.
Why choose the Mailman Segal
Institute for Early Childhood Studies?
NSU's Mailman Segal Institute provides a range of programs designed
to educate and train early childhood practitioners. Training takes place
both in the classroom and through guided field experiences with children,
creating a learning environment grounded in experience as well as theory.
CDA training focuses on eight essential
content areas:
- Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
- Advancing
children's physical and intellectual development
- Supporting children's social and emotional development
- Establishing positive relationships with families
- Effectively managing a child development program
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
- Observing and recording children's behavior
- Applying principles of child growth and development
The Institute's program offers the
following additional benefits:
- Small class size enables students to work
closely with instructors
- Instructors visit the student's
work site for individual consultations
- Students may
select any of the specializations for the national
CDA credential: center based infant/toddler, center
based preschool, or family child care
- Students compile
a professional resource file of information, references,
and resources
- The acclaimed textbook and trainee's manual,
All About Child Care and Early Education, written
by Marilyn Segal, Ph.D., are utilized for instruction
Who awards the credential?
Students receive a Florida Child Care Professional Certificate (FCCPC) from the State of Florida. The program is based on the national CDA program format and prepares students for the national credentialing assessment.
Will I receive academic credit?
Students complete three, 3-credit CDA courses, which provide nine undergraduate
credits in early childhood education. These courses may be accepted
at many colleges for credit toward early childhood degree programs.
What educational requirements
do I need before applying to the program?
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of
age
- Hold a high school diploma or GED
- Work or volunteer regularly in an early childhood program
Program completion requires 480 hours of experience working with young
children in a child care setting.
When does the program meet?
The program consists of three, 8-week sessions, and may be completed
in about eight months by attending class once a week. Classes meet in
the evenings to accommodate the work schedules of busy professionals.
Sessions start in January, March, June, and September. Students can
enter the program at the start of any session. Information regarding
specific dates and locations of upcoming classes is available by request.
Click Here for Schedule
Is there financial aid available?
For scholarship information, please contact the state TEACH Program. Call TEACH toll free at (877) 358-3224.
How do I enroll?
For more information
- In Broward County, please call (800) 836-8326, extension 26931
- In Hillsborough County, please call (813
)393-4440
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