We're Here for You

Dear CDA Community,

During the current health crisis, the Council will accept online training to fulfill the First Aid and Infant and Child CPR requirement for initial and renewal CDA applications.

• Online training will only be accepted until September 30, 2022.
• Training must still meet all other guidelines outlined on page 7 of the CDA® Renewal Procedures Guide.
• The certificate or card issued by the training agency must still meet the Council’s documentation requirements outlined on page 7 of the CDA® Renewal Procedures Guide.
• Infant and Child CPR documentation must specify Infant and Child or Pediatric CPR on the certificate/card in order to be accepted.
• Courses must be completely online and all forms of supporting documentation must verify certification in First Aid and Infant and Child CPR. Blended courses that have an online portion and an in-person portion must be fully completed to be accepted.

Thank you.

The CDA® Advisory Committee provides insights, perspectives and best practices to CDAs and other early childhood professionals.

The committee members have reviewed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention details about the COVID-19 vaccine and the specific pages for the early educator community; they’ve reviewed the American Academy of Pediatrics web pages and its report of a nearly sevenfold increase in new child COVID infections in one month. All committee members have received the recommended vaccines.

“Essentials for Working with Young Children,” the study guide for candidates working toward their CDAs, states the following: “Quality early childhood education begins with a safe environment. Safety has been identified as one of the top priorities used by families in selecting a childcare option. Your first and most important responsibility is to keep their children free from harm.”

Therefore, the CDA Advisory Committee shares the following:

• Vaccines are widely accessible in the United States. Everyone aged 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
• FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines protect against Delta and other known variants.
• These vaccines are effective at keeping people from getting COVID-19, getting very sick and dying.
• People who are vaccinated are also less likely to spread COVID-19 to children, colleagues, visitors, families and others.

The committee members are:

• Patty Berron, Mission, Texas: CDA for 29 years at an early childhood education center.
• Keisha McClendon, Atlanta, Georgia: CDA Professional Development Specialist™, held a CDA for seven years, and currently works at a Head Start center.
• Charvella McKaye,Columbus, Ohio: Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Development and Education, Columbus State Community College; oversees CDA preparation program.
• Gina Pope, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Alaska: CDA for over 20 years.
• Aaron “Buddy” Rhodes, Alexandria, Virginia: CDA Professional Development Specialist™, held a CDA for three years and currently works at a Head Start center.

The Council is aware of the ongoing constraints to completing CDA Verification Visits®. As a result, the Council is launching a virtual verification visit accommodation. This accommodation will only be extended to candidates meeting specific eligibility criteria. These candidates will be contacted directly by the Council via email to complete the approval process.

Once a virtual verification visit accommodation is approved by the Council an email notification will be sent to the candidate. Upon receipt of the Council notification, the virtual verification may be scheduled. The Council is the only approval entity for the virtual accommodation.

The Council recognizes the importance of completing the verification visit in a timely manner and we are diligently working to accommodate the needs of all candidates. At this time, candidates are unable to request a virtual visit accommodation through our customer care team. If you have not been approved for a virtual visit, the current policy for conducting CDA Verification Visits remains in place.

We have selected a team of CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialists™ that have been endorsed to conduct the virtual verification visit. Only approved PD Specialists are authorized to complete virtual verification visits.

For more policy updates or questions, please contact us at pds@cdacouncil.org

As of April 2021, all CDA® Gold Standard^SM organizations eligible for renewal in 2021 received an award extension to renew by December 31, 2021. The Council provided this automatic extension to give our renewal eligible Gold Standard awardees as much flexibility as possible during the global pandemic. Attached to this email, is an updated seal and additional renewal extension guidance below. Due to the global pandemic, it is necessary to state that all organizations provided this extension will only receive an electronic certificate and new expiration date of December 31, 2021. All organizations will receive a hard copy of their Gold Standard renewal certificate as soon as it is available.

Gold Standard Renewal Extension Guidance

• All 2021 renewal eligible organizations will receive an extension to renew by December 31, 2021.
• After the extension period, your organization must apply for renewal of its CDA Gold Standard award.
• If your organization’s renewal is successful, your Gold Standard award remains current for two years instead of the standard three-year term.
• The Council recommends that organizations begin their CDA Gold Standard renewal process a minimum of six (6) months before the expiration date of their current award.

We thank you for your patience and if you have any questions please contact us at goldstandard@cdacouncil.org.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a set of recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine distribution phases, and each state has then released its own plan. As a non-governmental organization, the Council for Professional Recognition has no role in developing these phases nor determining proof of eligibility. The Council advises all CDAs, PD Specialists, and others to consult their state’s health department website for complete details. Stay safe, practice universal precautions, mask up, and maintain social distancing. Thank you for your steadfast commitment and support of the CDA!

The Council recognizes that the past few weeks have been challenging for the CDA community, especially for High School/CTE students looking to complete their CDA before graduation. We thank you for your time and dedication in working towards your CDA credential! We are here for you — and want to make sure that you have access to the necessary resources to graduate job-ready with the nationally recognized CDA Credential.

We are continually monitoring the COVID- 19/Coronavirus situation and take guidance from national public health officials and the CDC. Based on the fast-moving pace of the situation we would like to provide you with answers to some of your most time sensitive questions:

I have already submitted my application. What if I cannot complete the exam and verification visit by my six-month deadline?

If your application expiration date is March 1, 2020 or beyond you will receive an automatic 100-day extension to complete your exam and verification visit.

If schools and childcare centers are closed, and I am unable to go back to the physical site(s) by the end of the school year – and unable to have the opportunity for a CDA verification visit – what do I do?

At this time, the Council is not able to provide an alternative to the verification visit — as it is a critical component of students demonstrating their competencies. However, if candidates are unable to complete their verification visit by our newly extended timeline of 100 days, we will be flexible with students on the timeline to complete the verification visit. If schools are closed until the end of the school year, we can work with you to schedule a verification visit during the summer –and help track the visits using our system when things resume to “normal.”

I have submitted my renewal application and have been given 30 days to submit additional documentation. What if I cannot submit the required information by my 30-day deadline?

If you received notification that you have 30 days to submit additional information, you will be granted a 100-day extension to submit the documentation.

I am getting ready to submit my CDA application, what should I do now?

You may continue to submit your CDA application online. Mailed applications may experience slower processing times due to the recent events.

I have completed my application and I am ready to schedule my test at a Pearson VUE testing center, what should I do now?

Some Pearson VUE testing sites are closed temporarily. Some sites may have reduced hours and seating availability. Please go to the Pearson VUE (PearsonVUE.com) website for more information.

I have completed my application and I have scheduled my test at a Pearson VUE testing center, what should I do now?

Please check your email for any cancellations or re-schedule notices from Pearson VUE. Please go to the Pearson VUE (PearsonVUE.com) website for more information on their site closures.

I need to renew my CDA through the renewal amnesty program, what should l do now?

The Council is extending the Renewal Amnesty program to December 31st. If you are a CDA® credential holder with an expired credential as far back as January 1, 2010 you are eligible to participate. For additional information visit: www.cdacouncil.org/amnesty

I am a Professional Development Specialist, am I required to go on a verification visit?

No, you are not required to go on a verification visit. You are advised to call the Council at (800) 424-4310 or cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org about the cancellation. You are advised not to reschedule the visit until you have been officially cleared by a clinician to return to work and/or group activities have been resumed.

I am a Professional Development Specialist, what should I do before I go on a verification visit?

Remember to call ahead for all scheduled site visits! It is important to ensure the facility is open and your point of contact (including the candidate) has reported to work on the day of the scheduled visit. If the visit is in progress, (you’ve completed the Pre-Visit Checklist), the candidate must cancel the visit from YourCouncil.

What do I do if I have additional questions regarding my High School/CTE CDA certification?

We encourage you to email us at partnerships@cdacouncil.org, noting High School/CTE CDA Question in the Subject Line.

The Council recognizes the past few weeks have been challenging for the CDA community. You are on the frontline for executing best practices for safe and healthy learning environments during this recent crisis. We thank you for your commitment to the community.

We will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19/Coronavirus situation and take guidance from national public health officials and the CDC. Based on the fast-moving pace of the situation we would like to provide you with some answers to some of your most time sensitive questions.

I have already submitted my application. What if I cannot complete the exam and verification visit by my six-month deadline?

Active applications that are currently in process will receive an extended deadline to 12/31/2021. New applications submitted between 1/1/2021 and 6/30/2021 will also have an extended deadline to 12/31/2021. The extended deadline date will automatically reflect in your application. If you have any questions about the extensions based on your application, please contact our Customer Service department at cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org.

I have submitted my renewal application and have been given 30 days to submit additional documentation. What if I cannot submit the required information by my 30-day deadline?

If you exceed the 30-day deadline, once you have the requested documentation, please contact our Customer Service department at cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org or (800) 424-4310 to determine if your application can be reinstated.

I am getting ready to submit my CDA application, what should I do now?

You may continue to submit your CDA application online. Mailed applications may experience slower processing times due to the recent events.

I have completed my application and I am ready to schedule my test at a Pearson VUE testing center, what should I do now?

Some Pearson VUE testing sites are closed temporarily. Some sites may have reduced hours and seating availability. Please go to the Pearson VUE (pearsonvue.com/cdaexam) website for more information.

I have completed my application and I have scheduled my test at a Pearson VUE testing center, what should I do now?

Please check your email for any cancellations or re-schedule notices from Pearson VUE. Please go to the Pearson VUE (pearsonvue.com/cdaexam) website for more information on their site closures.

I need to renew my CDA through the renewal amnesty program, what should l do now?

The Council is extending the Renewal Amnesty program to December 31st. If you are a CDA® credential holder with an expired credential as far back as January 1, 2010 you are eligible to participate. For additional information visit: www.cdacouncil.org/amnesty

I am a Professional Development Specialist, am I required to go on a verification visit?

No, you are not required to go on a verification visit. You are advised to call the Council at (800) 424-4310 or cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org about the cancellation. You are advised not to reschedule the visit until you have been officially cleared by a clinician to return to work and/or group activities have been resumed.

I am a Professional Development Specialist, what should I do before I go on a verification visit?

Remember to call ahead for all scheduled site visits! It is important to ensure the facility is open and your point of contact (including the candidate) has reported to work on the day of the scheduled visit. If the visit is in progress, (you’ve completed the Pre-Visit Checklist), the candidate must cancel the visit from YourCouncil.

Can I visit the Council office in Washington, DC for in-person support?

The Council headquarters will be closed to the public until further notice. We encourage you to email us at cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org or call us at (800) 424-4310 and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

The Council for Professional Recognition and the National Association for Family Child Care are working together to serve the ECE Community. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your ideas and questions at partnerships@cdacouncil.org and nafcc@nafcc.org

Here are some ways we are working to serve you now:

The Council for Professional Recognition

• The Council is committed to supporting certified and licensed family child-care providers, which is why the Council is working with NAFCC to help identify networks and resources to help elevate family childcare providers. As a token of our appreciation, we’ve created a scholarship for family childcare providers to attend our annual conference in October! To apply, please visit our EELC Conference page.
• The Council is Here for You! We developed a library of resources, including deadline extensions and FAQs to help navigate the Council’s services during this unprecedented time.
• The Council Alumni Network (CAN). We are creating a pathway to lift the voice of family childcare providers. Join us and help create a personal and professional growth hub to cultivate best practices and identify shared resources unique to family childcare providers and mobilize providers as advocates of policies that support family childcare providers.
• During this pandemic, the Council is here to serve you. We are working 100% remotely, however, we are still processing new and renewal CDA applications, providing customer support, and advocating on behalf of early childhood educators everywhere! We recently published an article highlighting the Council’s “Call for Equitable Treatment of Early Childhood Education.”

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)

• NAFCC has been working tirelessly, around the clock to serve the greater interest of our members and the field. Despite limited staff, teleworking and a major earthquake that is still sending aftershocks to our headquarters, we press on to address the current concerns of our members and to be certain that when this is over the organization and the sector are in a better position than before. Please visit our resource page for more information about important relief programs including, unemployment benefits & FCC, SBA Forgivable Loans and Paycheck Protection Program & FCC.
• NAFCC knows that quality standards and recognition matter to our members, and we are continuing to process applications and renewals for NAFCC Accreditation. There are extensions on renewals and accommodations for some application requirements. Review our website for additional information.
• NAFCC is relocating our 2020 annual conference to a virtual platform. This is the 30th year of our conference and we don’t want to miss the opportunity to share exciting information and to see your smiling faces. If you were planning to join us, you still can. If you couldn’t travel to be with us, here’s your chance. We can’t wait to see you all!

• Guidance for Educators and Families During the Pandemic (WJFK-FM Interview with Dr. Calvin Moore)
• The Reflective Dialogue Podcast: Interview with Council Interim CEO Dr Calvin E Moore, Jr.
• A Webinar for Parents & Families: Creating a Safe, Healthy and Positive Learning Environment at Home
• Animated Video: Maintaining Healthy Habits for Children at Home and in School (Share/Watch)

• Fighting Germs: Tips for Educators and Parents
• Promoting Healing Instead of Hatred: How Early Education Can Help
• Finding Ways to Thank Early Childhood Educators
• Healthy
• Thank an Educator, Today and Every Day
• Early Childhood Education and the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Understanding and Supporting the Emotional Needs of Young Children During the Pandemic
• Supporting Childcare Centers and Early Childhood Educators During Covid-19 Pandemic
• How parents can help our youngest generation during this unprecedented time
• Call for Equitable Treatment of Early Childhood Education

• CDA Credential Advisory Committee: Insights, Perspectives and Best Practices as Child Care Environments Re-open