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.

CDA Professional Development Specialists Training

A huge part of getting ready for CDA 2.0 is finding and training the CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialists who will perform the new Verification Visits. The free training to become a PD Specialist will be ready to take in just a few weeks! To read more about the role and its eligibility requirements, please click here. If you have not already signed up to be on the mailing list, please click here. This will ensure that you will be notified the moment the training becomes available. So far, this mailing list includes over 6000 experienced early childhood professionals across the nation, with interest expressed from people in every state and territory!

Prospective PD Specialists will be able to take the training online, at their own pace, in under four hours. The training will provide them with all of the information they will need to conduct the new Verification Visit after June 1, using the R.O.R. Model (R - Review the Candidate’s Professional Portfolio, O – Observe the Candidate working with children and R – Facilitate a Reflective Dialogue with the Candidate). The multimedia training will include pictures and videos of a PD Specialist in action!

CDA 2.0 and Renewals

Following the launch of CDA 2.0 on June 1st, CDA Credentials and renewals will be valid for three years.  If you earn or renew your CDA Credential before June 1st , please follow the expiration date written on your Credential.

Setting Up Candidates for Success

Please know that the Council is committed to ensuring that the transition to CDA 2.0 will not impact Candidates’ credentialing experiences. Accommodations will be made to ensure that all Candidates’ diverse needs, training schedules and CDA preparation work will be supported during the transition, until all of the members of the national CDA Community are fully-transitioned to the revised credentialing system later this year. We will provide you frequent updates via special CounciLINK emails, between now and June 1, so that you can rest assured that the Council is fully supporting you during this transition. 

Here at the Council, we are fired up and ready launch! So, please buckle up, keep your hands inside the rocket and join us on this exciting ride to CDA 2.0, superior professional development for and assessment of 20,000 early care and learning professionals a year and, with that, improved outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of children they serve each and every day!