CDA York County


Welcome!
      We are excited about starting up our next 9-month CDA Credentialing Training Program. This could be one of the most important career decisions that you can make. Advancing your knowledge and skills as a teacher is an exciting and rewarding commitment to children and their families in helping them grow and develop to their fullest potential.
       We offer a supportive learning environment that is grounded in actual hands-on experiences, as well as theory.  Training takes place both in the classroom and through guided field experiences with children. Over the past few years more than 150 students have completed our program and been awarded with the CDA Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C.


What is a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential?
The CDA Credential is recognized nationally as the quality standard for training of professional early childhood teachers. CDA training helps teachers work effectively with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families in either a center-based or family child care setting.


The CDA York County Training Philosophy
CDA York County’s training program is committed to the idea that quality care makes a positive difference in the lives of the teachers, children, and families.Working in the field of child care is an important job requiring specialized skills and knowledge in early child development. CDA Credentialed teachers are able to demonstrate an appropriate learning environments for children to reach their highest potential. The course curriculum is based on the knowledge of the most current research, Early Childhood theory and practice, and the NAEYC ‘s standards for developmentally appropriate practice.



What a CDA Means for You
We have found that those child care teachers who have taken this course report that they were able to be more effective at their jobs and that they actually enjoyed their work more!!!
Beyond that, there are some very real professional advantages to getting this credential.
If you are a Family Child Care Provider, once you receive your CDA credential:
  • It brings you to a step 4 under staffing and development in compliance with the quality rating system (QRS).

  • Continued professional growth and development toward family accreditation and quality recognition (NAFCC).

  • You can more effectively “market” your program to prospective families looking for quality child care.

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If you are working in a Child Care Center, the CDA credential opens up the door for professional advancement.
  • This credential is increasingly required to become or remain a Head Teacher.

  • The CDA credential is also an essential component to the NAEYC Accreditation Process.

  • As part of this process, CDA York County Staff will work with you to develop your classroom to help you use your space and materials in the most productive way possible.

Applying for Your CDA Credential
Prior to receiving this credential, you will need to
(1)  Document your 120 training hours
Click here to see the course content.

(2)  Document 480 hours working with children. This is referred to as your “fieldwork.” See more information about fieldwork here.
If you are currently employed as a child care teacher in a licensed child care setting, you can meet this requirement right where you work. If you are not currently working as a child care teacher, we can place you in a licensed facility in your community. CDA York County assist all students interns in finding a quality center that matches their individual interests.
One of our best features is having one-on-one assistance for each student from a Field Advisor. A Field Advisor will visit the student’s work site for individual support and guidance.

(3)  Complete and submit a “Portfolio”.
CDA York County staff will work with you to develop this document. This is to demonstrating that you have certain “competencies” when it comes to working with young children.   It is also a practical tool that you can use as your own personal “reference book” when working with the children you care for.

(4)  Pay the $325.00 assessment fee to the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C. (Scholarships to cover this assessment fee are available to some students.)
To apply online, click here.

Tuition
CDA York County’s tuition is an all-inclusive cost of $2,000. This includes the Field Advising, 120 hours of Early Childhood Education instruction, the Essentials Textbook, the CDA Application package, First Aid Certification Training.
CDA York County is one program of Child Care Services of York County, a non-profit agency and partially supported by the United Way of York County. We offer this training at the lowest possible cost to us. We want to make it available to as many people as possible, so we have a flexible payment plan. Don’t forget that educational expenses can be a tax deduction.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, ONE AND ALL!
We look forward to meeting you all and assisting you in any way we can as you embark on path to becoming a CDA Credentialed early childhood teacher!

                   For more information about our program, please click on one of the links below:

        Home           What Is a CDA?             Why CDA York Co?            Links to Other Resources
        Course Content            Field Work                     About Us            Application

Post Office Box 512   Sanford, ME.  04073
Tel.  207-286-1445 or 207-324-6844
Email: cdayc@gwi.net

                        CDA York County is a program of Child Care Services of York County    

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