After the Council receives and processes your correctly completed CDA Application and assessment fee, you will receive a Ready to Schedule Notice. The Ready to Schedule Notice:
- informs you to proceed with the scheduling of your Verification Visit with your Professional Development Specialist
- informs you to proceed with scheduling of your CDA Exam with Pearson VUE
- includes your Candidate ID number
- includes your assessment deadline
Please refer to your Competency Standards book to learn about the Verification Visit, the CDA Exam, and the scheduling process.
Assessment Deadline
With the Ready to Schedule Notice, you will receive a six-month deadline to complete the two components of CDA assessment (Verification Visit and CDA Exam). You may schedule and complete the Verification Visit and the CDA Exam in the order that best suits your schedule, but you must complete them both before the deadline given to you in the Ready to Schedule Notice.
Verification Visit - Highlights
The CDA 2.0 Verification Visit is based on the R.O.R. Model™: Review - Observe - Reflect. During the Verification Visit, the Professional Development Specialist will:
- Review the contents of your Professional Portfolio, training transcripts/certificates, and Family Questionnaires
- Observe you working with children
- Reflect with you, focusing on your areas of strength or growth found in the Portfolio or seen during the Observation
During the Visit, the Specialist will use the Comprehensive Scoring Instrument included in your Competency Standards book to record the evidence of your competence. This Specialist will submit this evidence to the Council within 48 hours of completing the Verification Visit.
CDA Exam - Highlights
- The CDA Exam has 65 multiple-choice questions. Five of the questions have a photo and a short narrative, followed by a multiple-choice question about each scenario. The Candidate will have up to one hour and 45 minutes to complete the exam.
- Pearson VUE will be the Council's partner for delivering the CDA Exam at testing centers all over the country. Please visit the Pearson VUE website to find the testing center nearest to you.
- The only computer-based skill needed to take the Exam is the ability to point and click a mouse. The exam requires no scrolling, typing or even double-clicking. Click here to review a short exam tutorial and see how easy it will be to complete the CDA Exam at a testing center.
- Please visit Pearson VUE site if your organization would like to learn more about becoming a Pearson VUE testing center. Organizations might consider becoming a testing center to facilitate the CDA Exam for Candidates in your community.
- You may choose to take the exam in English or Spanish. Make sure to indicate your preferred exam language on the CDA Application.
Have you completed the Verification Visit and the CDA Exam?
All you need to do next is wait for your credentialing decision. Proceed to STEP 5.
TIPS & TOOLS
1. Don't forget to bring the following items to the Verification Visit:
- The original, completed Professional Portfolio
- The transcripts / certificates of your professional education
- Family Questionnaires
- The Competency Standards book you purchased
- A photo identification card (your I.D.)
No other documents are needed.
2. Things to remember about the CDA Exam:
- Choose exam location and date that best fit your schedule - remember that you will need to travel to the test center, and the exam appointment is set for two hours
- Investigate the exact location of your test center - plan ahead - decide how you will get there and check in no later than 15 minutes before your appointment
- Your friends and/or family members will NOT be allowed to wait for you at the test center
- Bring your valid photo ID that includes your signature
3. Want to receive the Ready to Schedule Notice quickly?- Apply online
- or include your email address in the CDA Application - the Council will email you the Notice as soon as your application is approved