The 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 early childhood education (ECE) by expanding professional pathways beyond the foundational Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™.
Building on four decades of leadership in early childhood educator credentialing, the Council proposes the CDP™ as the “Best Next Step” after earning the CDA®. This advanced, competency-based national credential would be designed to recognize experienced educators who have mastered the CDA® Competency Standards and demonstrate excellence in leading classroom practice, mentoring peers, and improving quality in programs serving children from birth to age 5.
Why a New Credential?
As outlined in the concept paper, the ECE workforce continues to face challenges similar to those that first inspired the creation of the CDA® in the 1970s. Today’s issues are compounded by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic inequities, and persistent staffing shortages. The field is continuing to experience ongoing workforce turnover, a high percentage of vacancies, and challenges filling open positions. These workforce challenges demand a scalable, inclusive credential that validates real-world experience and creates accessible career advancement options. The CDP™ concept proposes a viable workforce solution.
Unlike traditional degree pathways that may be financially or logistically out of reach for many practitioners, the CDP emphasizes supervised, in-service learning and recognizes paid work experience as academic credit. Candidates would be required to demonstrate leadership in teaching and program quality, not just through coursework, but through knowledge, skills and abilities demonstrated in the classroom. Like the CDA, the CDP would require multiple sources of assessment and evaluation to earn the credential.
Why the Council for Professional Recognition?
The Council is uniquely positioned to introduce the proposed CDP™ credential, given its legacy of success with the CDA® and its deep roots in the early education profession.
- Established Trust: In 1975, the first CDA was awarded. Since its formation in 1985, the Council has continued this legacy, credentialing over one million early educators and setting the standard for competency-based ECE certification.
- Workforce Alignment: The CDP concept reflects input from national ECE leaders and organizations addressing workforce needs highlighted by Head Start, state agencies, professional associations, and higher education institutions.
- Equity-Focused Design: The CDP will offer diverse pathways into the profession and promotes additional opportunities for practice-based professional credentialing that reflects extensive work experience.
The Road Ahead
The concept paper sets forth a roadmap to integrate the CDP™ into state career lattices, connect with higher education through credit for prior learning and articulation agreements, and create a nationally authorized lead teacher credential opportunity with the capacity to raise compensation and retention rates. This CDP answers the call for an advanced credential that is relevant, respected, and ready to meet the needs of today’s educators, children, families, and communities.
While the CDA® is nationally recognized as “The Best First Step”, the CDP will be “The Best Next Step.”
Read the Full Concept Paper
We invite ECE practitioners, program leaders, policymakers, agency representatives and champions to read the full concept paper, The Child Development Professional Credential™: Building on the Child Development Associate® to Advance Lead Teacher Competency and Promote Equitable Career Pathways. We look forward your engagement in this exciting effort to uplift the profession. The paper outlines:
- The Problem
- Opportunities
- The Goal
- Objectives
- Expectations of CDAs and CDPs
- The Road Ahead.
While you read, be sure to explore the references provided to learn about the professional entities expressing the need for a national lead teacher certification.
🔗 Download the CDP™ Concept Paper
Subscribe to our newsletter and be on the lookout for engagement opportunities with Council leaders, during which stakeholders can learn more, ask questions and provide feedback on the CDP concept. The Council will provide opportunities for feedback from the ECE field throughout 2025 with the goal of setting credential guidelines in 2026.
Together, we can shape a more robust and equitable early childhood workforce.