Join the Celebration!

Explore the Council’s Top Campaigns in 2025:

  • Earn the CDA® Credential: By earning the CDA credential, educators demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in providing high-quality early childhood experiences.
  • Make Your Expired CDA® Active Again: The CDA Renewal Amnesty program is available now through July 31, 2025 (11:59 PM EST). Eligible candidates have the opportunity to renew an expired credential from as far back as 2020.
  • Register to Attend the Early Educators Leadership Conference (EELC): Join us October 8-11 in Orlando, Florida as we celebrate 10 years of growth, learning, and networking in the ECE field.
  • Visit the Council Store: Shop and save 20% on all publications and merchandise now through June 30, 2025. Use code CDA50. New CDA® anniversary collection, now in stock for a limited time.

Important CDA® Price Update:

Effective August 1, 2025 there will be a price increase for both the initial CDA application and CDA renewal application. Click here to learn more and explore our FAQs.

If you have additional questions, please contact Customer Support at 800-424-4310 or email us at CDAfeedback@cdacouncil.org. Thank you!

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BlogSpotlight: EELC Scholarship Recipient Darrell Brown Shares His Journey of Passion and Purpose in Early Childhood EducationDarrell Brown, Director of Teaching Learning & Quality Practice at It Takes A Village Family of Schools (ITAVA) in Chicago, was recently selected from hundreds of ...Read More
BlogThe Birth to Five CDA® Credential:
A Way to Expand Your Scope
Do you want to widen your career options in the early learning field and work with more than one age group of children? Many educators do, ...Read More
BlogAnnouncing the Child Development Professional™ (CDP) Concept: The Best Next StepThe Council for Professional Recognition is proud to present the Child Development Professional™ (CDP) concept paper—presenting a bold vision for a nationally recognized credential to elevate ...Read More
BlogNurturing Classroom Heroes: Showing Appreciation for Professionals Who Shape Our FutureThe month of May is a time of heartfelt gratitude and thoughtful reflection. Not only is it the month we honor mothers, but we also celebrate ...Read More
BlogHonoring Resilience, Celebrating Identity: A Spotlight on Thia Fox During the Month of the Military ChildAt the Council for Professional Recognition, we celebrate April as the Month of the Military Child—a time to recognize the resilience, adaptability, and global perspective that ...Read More
Press ReleasesStatement from the BoardFROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Council for Professional Recognition Statement Regarding Threats to Head Start Funding As the Board of Directors of the Council for Professional ...Read More
BlogNational Child Abuse Prevention Month: Ensuring the Protection and Well-being of Young ChildrenA Shared Responsibility in Protecting Children  Children’s well-being has always been the focus of attention in the early childhood field. However, the abuse and neglect of ...Read More
BlogSpecial Interview with Dr. Robert LeeThe Early Educators Leadership Conference (EELC) is an opportunity for ECE leaders to network and learn from one another. During EELC 2024, the Council engaged several ...Read More
BlogCelebrating the Council for Professional Recognition’s 40th Anniversary: A Story of Impact and LeadershipMarch 2025 marks a milestone for the Council for Professional Recognition’s 40th anniversary. While we recognize early childhood educators’ invaluable contributions every day, this month is ...Read More

Who We Are

Our History

Back in the early 1970s, a group of early childhood pioneers convened to think about how to improve the quality of early care and education. Their solution was to create a new credential based on competence in the early childhood field.

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Our Stories

Members of our community work in all types of early childhood education programs serving children from birth to 5 years old. Our educators’ stories reveal their wit, wisdom and wonderful sense of devotion to our youngest children.

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Where We Are Now

The Council has issued more than one million CDA credentials to date. We’re now expanding our reach across the globe, and there’s a world of ways for you to be part of our success!

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