CDA Professional Development Specialist
Using the new R.O.R. Model™, the CDA PD Specialist brings the mentoring/coaching skills and ECE expertise needed to assess the Candidate's competencies and facilitate the Candidate's self-reflection.
How to Become an Active CDA Professional Development Specialist (PD Specialist)
1. Verify that you are eligible to be a PD Specialist
The requirements to become a PD Specialist can be found here. We encourage any qualified person to consider being a CDA PD Specialist. In addition, Specialists must have access to the Internet and an active email account.
2. Apply for the PD Specialist online training
All eligible ECE professionals must complete the Council's online PDS training to officially serve in the role of a CDA Professional Development Specialist. If you are eligible, you may fill out and submit an online PD Specialist application. The Council will review every application. Once approved for training, you will receive an email from the Council to proceed.
3. Complete the online training, sign a contract, receive a PD Specialist ID number
ECE professionals whose application is approved receive all of the required training and resources through convenient online training modules. The Council is pleased to offer the training free of charge for the first year of the program. At the end of the training, a short online exam verifies mastery of the material. Passed the exam? Congratulations! You are now a CDA Professional Development Specialist. All PD Specialists will need to sign a contract online and submit a W-9 tax form in order to receive an ID number.
4. Join the Council's Find-A-PDSpecialist online directory
All PD Specialists have the option to be included in the Council's online PD Specialist Directory.
Serving as a CDA Professional Development Specialist
1. Connect with Candidates who are searching for a PD Specialist
On the CDA application every CDA Candidate must identify a PD Specialist who will conduct her/his Verification Visit. Candidates may reach out to you, the PD Specialist in the following ways:
-They heard about you within their community. In this case, they will ask if you are willing to serve as their PD Specialist.
-Candidates may find you using the Council's Find-A-PDSpecialist online directory. In this case, you will receive an email that a certain Candidate is looking for a PD Specialist. You should contact this Candidate as soon as possible if you are interested in conducting their Verification Visit.
-Candidates can call the Council. In this case, the Council will provide names of local PD Specialists, and the Candidates will contact you directly.
In any of the above cases, if you are available and agree, you will need to provide your ID number to the Candidate, who will then include it on the CDA application.
Before you agree to conduct a Verification Visit consider the Council's Conflict of Interest Policy
When accepting Verification Visit requests from CDA Candidates, all CDA PD Specialists must follow the Council's Conflict of Interest policy. The policy supports the validity of the credentialing process and provides flexibility to the many varied training scenarios that are enacted across the country. Click here to review the complete Conflict of Interest policy.
2. Receive e-notification from the Council that a Candidate is Ready to Schedule the Verification Visit
After the Council processes a Candidate's CDA application, the PD Specialist and the Candidate will be notified to arrange and complete the Verification Visit within a six month deadline. As a PD Specialist you must contact the Candidate within five days of receiving this notification. However, the Candidate may also contact you sooner.
3. Conduct the Verification Visit and submit score recommendations to the Council
The PD Specialist training will prepare you to complete the Verification Visit according to the Council's protocol. Once the Visit is completed, you will use the online PD Specialist portal to submit to the Council your score recommendations within 48 hours of the Verification Visit. As part of the Verification Visit, you will make sure that the Candidate has completed her/his 120 hours of training and has a valid certificates for any first aid course and an infant/child (pediatric) CPR course (learn more about this).
4. Receive honorarium from the Council
PD Specialists will receive a $100 honorarium for each completed Verification Visit. The Specialist will not be allowed to charge the Candidate any additional fees.
To learn more about the PD Specialist role, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .