Child Development Associate Certification

The CDA® is a credential for early childhood educators

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Guidelines

The CDA® is a credential that early childhood educators can earn to demonstrate certain competencies and, in turn, can help them advance their careers. The Child Development Associate credential is carefully administered to ensure that those who earn it know how to put important Early Childcare Education (ECE) understandings into practice. Our CDA educators know how to nurture the emotional, physical, intellectual and social development of children.

Ready to get started?

*You must already be employed with Matrix Human Services to join the CDA program. Apply for a substitute teacher or assistant teacher position with Matrix Human Services and our CDA program will help you become trained in a career as a full-time teacher! 

Visit our list of open careers here

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Program Components

Receive 120 hours of classroom training covering the eight subject areas and six core competencies.

Continual coaching to prepare students for the CDA exam and CDA verification site visit. 

Job referral opportunities within the early childhood education field.

Placement at an early childcare center to gain the needed 480 hours of work experience.

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CDA exam cost included once all requirements are fulfilled.

Wrap-around services of financial coaching and resource navigation.

Benefits of working in the sector:

Early childhood education is a wide and varied career path. If you enjoy working with children and are willing to put in the work necessary to earn the CDA credential or even a degree, you’ll find that it’s a rewarding career path. It is also a growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs available for preschool teachers is expected to grow 15% over the next 10 years, which is considered ‘much faster than average’. 
 
In 2021, the median annual salary for preschool teachers was $30,210, with the highest 10% of earners making more than $58,530. The top employers of early childhood educators are:
 
  • Head Start programs
  • State, local, and private schools.
  • Individual, family, non-profit services.
  • Religious, grant making, professional and similar organizations.
  • Child daycare services.
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For more information please contact:

Carla Garrett
313-526-4000 Ext. 1245 or cgarrett@matrixhs.org

Ready to get started?

Apply Today