The Council for Professional Recognition’s headquarters will be closed December 22, 2025 through January 2, 2026.

During this time, our Customer Care Center will also be closed, which includes phone and email support services. The YourCouncil online application system and bookstore will remain active and available for our candidates and customers. The Council will resume regular business hours on January 5, 2026. As a reminder, the deadline to submit paper applications for initial and renewal CDA® candidates is December 31, 2025. Beginning January 1, 2026, all CDA applications must be submitted online through YourCouncil. During the Council’s end of the year closure, CDA applications will be accepted. The Council will begin processing the applications January 5, 2026.

We appreciate your understanding as we give our employees time off to be with their families and reenergize to serve you in 2026. Thank you for everything you do to support early educators, children, and families. Happy holidays!

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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
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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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