CDA applicants must complete 120 hours of training for professional early childhood education. Training must include at least 10 hours in each the CDA’s eight subject areas:

1. Planning a safe and healthy learning environment  
2. Advancing children's physical and intellectual development  
3. Supporting children's social and emotional development  
4. Building productive relationships with families  
5. Managing an effective program operation  
6. Maintaining a commitment to professionalism  
7. Observing and recording children's behavior 
8. Understanding principles of child development and learning  

Up to 3 years prior to applying, you’d need to achieve at least 480 hours of professional experience working with young children.  The experience must be with the age group that matches the setting for which you are applying, i.e., infant/toddler or preschool.​ ​

Refer to page 10 in the CDA Competency Standards Book. ​ 

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