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Information about the CDA Advisor
The following information applies to Advisors for Candidates seeking the Center-based or Family Child Care Credential. For variations applicable to Home Visitor Candidates, see section on “Home Visitor Credential”.
Advisor role
The Candidate chooses an early childhood professional—an Advisor—to collect information about the Candidate's work with young children and families. The Advisor observes the Candidate working as lead teacher with young children in an eligible setting, and records the Candidate's consistent performance using the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument . The purpose of the formal observation is to provide evidence of the Candidate's actual hands-on skill working with children. (See “CDA Assessment System” for an overview of the Candidate performance items to be rated.)
The Application Packet contains a CDA Assessment Observation Instrument book that provides detailed instructions for conducting the observation(s). Completing ratings in all 13 Functional Areas may take one visit or several visits. Observations may be written up to 6 months prior to the time Candidates submit the Direct Application Form to the Council. The Advisor places the completed observation instrument in a sealed envelope and gives it to the Candidate to take to the Verification Visit.
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The Council for Professional Recognition operates the Advisor Registry to help CDA Candidates identify and select individuals to serve as their Advisors. Upon request, the Council will provide a Candidate with a list of registered Advisors in her/his state. The list constitutes referrals, not recommendations. The Candidate is responsible for contacting, interviewing, and making a final decision about selecting his/her Advisor.
Qualified Advisors' names, addresses and telephone numbers remain on the Advisor Registry for a specified period. The Council notifies registered Advisors concerning renewal before the expiration date(Renewal Consent Form). Advisors are responsible for notifying the Council of changes in addresses and telephone numbers. The Council reserves the right to remove names from the Registry at its discretion.
Individuals interested in being listed on the Advisor Registry must meet the eligibility requirements (listed below), have an approved waiver, or complete a Waiver Request Form. Interested persons may request the Advisor Registry Consent Form from the Council at the address given below or may download the Advisor Registry General Information Packet. Completed forms should be accompanied with a copy of a current resume and submitted to:
Council for Professional Recognition
Attention: Advisor Registry
2460 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009-3575
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Preparing to observe
In addition to the observation instructions included in the Application Packet , Advisors are encouraged to view and practice recording observations and ratings using the following DVD.
"How to Use the New CDA Observation Instrument" DVD highlights key points to assist the Advisor in completing the Observation Instrument. This video also includes six observation practice segments. The short segments present ideas about the Candidate's consistent behavior that should occur for the numbered items.
The DVD is available on a two-week loan basis and may be copied before returning it to the Council. To request the DVD, email your name and mailing address to tamiekaw@cdacouncil.org or telephone 800-424-4310 or 202-265-9090 and ask for the Office Operations Department.
The Council also offers Advisor Training sessions in conjunction with early childhood conferences. Scheduled training sessions are listed in the “CDA Training Calendar”, located in the CDA Resources section of this website.
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To qualify as a CDA Advisor, a professional must meet the following eligibility requirements and provide verification on the Candidate's Application Form:
A. PERSONAL
- Affirm their ability to relate to people of various racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Be knowledgeable about local, state, and national requirements, standards, and guidelines for child care programs serving children ages birth through 5 years.
- Be familiar with the center where the Candidate will be observed and the needs of families and children in the community.
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B. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- The Advisor must meet all of the requirements in one of the three combinations of education and experience outlined in sections 1, 2, or 3 below:
Option 1
B.A., B.S., or advanced degree in early childhood education/child development or home economics/child development, from an accredited college or university. Must include 12 semester hours covering children ages birth through 5 years.
Two years of experience in a child care setting serving ages birth through 5 years, including:
• One (1) year working directly with children in the same age range as the children in Candidate's classroom as a caregiver, teacher, child life worker, social worker, or similar role; and
• One (1) year of responsibility for the professional growth of another adult.
Option 2
Associate level (two-year) degree in early childhood education/child development or home economics/child development, from an accredited college or university. Must include 12 semester hours covering children ages birth through 5 years.
Four years of experience in a child care setting in a program serving children ages birth through five years, including:
• Two (2) years working directly with children in the same age range as the children in Candidate's classroom as a caregiver, teacher, child life worker, social worker, or similar role; and
• Two (2) years of responsibility for the professional growth of another adult.
Option 3
An active CDA Credential plus twelve semester hours of study in early childhood education or child development at an accredited college or university covering children ages birth through five years.
Six years of experience in a child care setting serving children ages birth through five years, including:
• Four (4) years working directly with children in the same age range as the children in Candidate's classroom as a caregiver, teacher, child life worker, social worker, or similar role; and
• Two (2) years of responsibility for the professional growth of another adult. |
C. BILINGUAL SPECIALIZATION
In addition to meeting the requirements listed in section 1, 2 or 3, an Advisor for a Bilingual Specialization Assessment must meet the following requirements:
- Be able to speak, read, and write English and another language well enough to understand and be understood by both children and adults.
- Have had direct experience with bilingual early childhood programs and with non-English-speaking populations.
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D. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
To promote objectivity and credibility, an individual serving as an Advisor:
- May not work as co-teacher with the Candidate on a daily basis in the same room or group.
- May not be the relative of a child in the Candidate's care at any time during the assessment process.
- May not be related by blood or marriage or other legal relationship to the Candidate.
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E. WAIVERS
The Council will consider waiving certain education and training requirements, if an individual provides a written explanation and documentation of alternative formal and informal training related to early childhood/child development and experience in early childhood teacher preparation. |
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