It’s 2013 – the Year of CDA 2.0!  At the Council right now it’s “all hands on deck” as we prepare for the milestone transition coming on June 1.  We are very excited about the launch of CDA 2.0 and are delighted that so many of you are joining us in our excitement.  It has been rewarding for us to be able, with your help, to revise the CDA credentialing process to an enhanced version that defines what every early childhood educator should do in the service of young children and their families.  Thank you for your contributions, by phone, email and in-person, that have supported our work as we continue to advance the field of early care and learning.

It’s very important to us that you stay updated every step of the way as the big day approaches. With that in mind, here are some key details of which you should be aware:

Transition Guide Updates

Have you downloaded the CDA 2.0 Transition Guide yet? (an expanded version was released in October) If you have not yet done so, please click here for a free pdf. Please note: One key procedural detail we’ve updated since October is the decision to allow Candidates six months to complete their assessment requirements (the CDA Exam and Verification Visit) rather than 30 days. While CDA 2.0 will allow all Candidates the chance to complete their assessments more quickly than ever, we believe that by widening the window of allowable time, many future Candidates will be set up for greater success by providing them the flexibility to schedule and accomplish their assessment responsibilities in timeframes that work best for them.

CDA 2.0 and Application Packets

In saying hello to CDA 2.0, we say goodbye to application packets! With the new system, everything a Candidate will need to prepare for a CDA will be included on perforated pages in the new Competency Standards books, including the observation tool, the family questionnaire master that will be ready to copy/distribute and the full paper application (though applying online will always be far easier and faster than using the paper application that will be included in the book!).

Many of you have shared your excitement about the revised Competency Standards books.  The new books will be ready long before the launch of CDA 2.0, starting with the Preschool Competency Standards book in English, followed by the Infant/Toddler and Family Child Care versions. All three books will be released in Spanish shortly thereafter.  Please know that you can still confidently use your current materials and resources, as well as the information found in the CDA 2.0 Transition Guide,  until then.  Since the CDA Competency Standards and Functional Areas will not be changing, all of the exceptional work currently being accomplished by training organizations will continue to effectively prepare Candidates to earn their credentials.  Please keep your eye out for a special Council newsletter in the next few weeks that will provide further details on the release dates of the Competency Standards books as well as other key CDA 2.0 information.