If you plan on serving as a CDA Advisor, you must meet the following Eligibility Requirements:

A. PERSONAL

• Affirm your 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.
• Be familiar with the center where the Candidate will be observed and the needs of families and children in the community.

B. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Your must meet all of the requirements in one of the three combinations of education and experience outlined as options 1, 2, or 3 below:

Option 1

I. B.A., B.S., or an 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 aged birth through 5 years.

II. Two years of experience in a child care setting serving children aged 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

I. 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 aged birth through 5 years.

II. Four years of experience in a child care setting in a program serving children aged birth through 5 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

I. An active CDA Credential plus 12 semester hours of study in early childhood education or child development at an accredited college or university covering children aged birth through 5 years.

II. Six years of experience in a child care setting serving children aged birth through 5 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 A and B, 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.

D. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

To promote objectivity and credibility, the CDA 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.

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. Advisors may use the Waiver Request Form.