Although the Council does not offer CDA training, the Council offers a range of materials designed to assist CDA trainers provide training to Candidates. All CDAs must be able to understand and use developmentally appropriate practices with young children in the classroom. The following publications will help CDA trainers teach Candidates the essentials of early childhood education and prepare them for the CDA assessment.

Click on the publication title to purchase it online.  Or for telephone, fax, or mail order instructions, please view and print Order Form.

Essentials for Child Development Associates, 2nd Edition

Essentials is a comprehensive curriculum for the preparation of Child Development Associates. It is designed to prepare preschool teachers and caregivers with the knowledge and skills they will need to help children master skills, develop friendships, grow in self-confidence, and move to new levels of thinking and understanding about themselves and the world.

For over a decade, it has served as the definitive textbook for formal training of CDA Candidates throughout the country. It discusses in detail the six competency goals and 13 functional areas that each CDA needs to understand and be able to put into practice.

Seminar Instructor's Guide

Designed to accompany Essentials, 2nd Edition, the Seminar Instructor’s Guide is a practical resource for teacher educators working with CDA Candidates. Drawing on the profession’s best strategies for fostering adult learning, it contains ideas for group discussions, assignments, activities, and exercises which will help Candidates clarify and expand their knowledge and skill for work in early childhood education settings.

Field Advisor’s Guide

Designed to accompany Essentials, 2nd Edition, the Field Advisor’s Guide is a practical resource for mentoring CDA Candidates while they are working in a field placement. Drawing on the profession’s best strategies for fostering adult learning, it contains ideas for group discussions, assignments, activities, and exercises which will help Candidates clarify and expand their knowledge and skill for work in early childhood education settings.

CDA Competency Standards Books

The Council publishes a Competency Standards book for each of the four settings. Competency Standards provides a description of the six Competency Goals, 13 CDA Functional Areas, CDA Assessment process, and requirements for Candidates, Advisors, Parents, and Council Representatives.

Please note that Competency Standards books are included in all CDA Application Packets and are available here as stand-alone documents for those who may not need an entire application packet.