Frequently Asked Questions

• You want to further your education and/or job prospects by obtaining your National CDA Credential.
• A CDA Credential can be articulated into college credits at most colleges and universities. 
• You need 120 hours of education for the CDA and you want to do it at your own pace without the stress of a start date or in person classes.
• You have the 120 hours required but want help getting ready for the CDA Exam and Verification Visit. 
• It is time to renew your CDA.

*To take The COURSE, The MINI COURSE and The WORKSHOP:

• You must have a high school diploma or be a Junior or Senior in High School enrolled in an Early Childhood Education program 
• You must be working or volunteering in an early childhood setting, where you can be observed as a Lead Teacher with 8 or more children. 
• You must be able to read and write in English to fully participate in the classes. 

*To take The RENEWAL you must have a current CDA Credential™. 

* Anyone can take The MINI WORKSHOP! 

• Our CDA classes are designed by our Education Director, who is a PDS. We know what a great CDA candidate looks like!  We cannot be your PDS, but we will help you prepare to impress the PDS who comes to see you! 
• Our CDA class can be completed in as little as 3 weeks or you can take as long as you need. It does not expire.
• Take Our Classes offers classes in a simple, easy to understand format. No frills and nothing complicated. We have created classes to get you where you need to be quickly, with no extra steps.
• Do you need to be credentialed or renewed? Our classes will help you get there. Do you need 120 clock hours? No problem. Do you have some hours and do not want to waste time getting hours you do not need? We can do that too. We are here to help you in the most affordable, uncomplicated format possible. 

The CDA classes can be taken at your own pace. They are online and can be completed in a few weeks or a year. It is up to you! You will submit your work online and keep moving forward. A qualified teacher will review your work throughout the class. No need to take a semester long course or wait for a start date. Start today! 

• The COURSE is $450. This includes The WORKSHOP. This provides 120 hours of professional development.

• The WORKSHOP is $250 if taken on its own. This class provides 40 hours of professional development. 

• The MINI COURSE is $300. This includes The WORKSHOP. This class provides 80 hours of professional development.

• The RENEWAL is $100. This class provides 45 hours of professional development.  This class is free for any of our graduates. 

• The MINI WORKSHOP is $50. It does NOT offer any clock hours. It is self directed with no certificate at the end. It offers a FULL walk through to help you build your portfolio from start to finish!

If your credential has expired you need to reapply with the Council as a new candidate. Contact the Council to get the most up to date information on what they require in this case.  You need to renew every three years. 

We do allow transfer of some hours if they meet certain criteria. The MINI COURSE is designed for that purpose. Many programs do not accept hours from other institutions, but WE WILL as long as they fulfill the requirements. We will ask you to submit the transcripts to us, and we will let you know how many hours will transfer over and what you will need to do with us to continue the process. We want to save you time and money, so we will do our best to not make you take duplicate classes! 

Yes. The other costs are listed here: 

• The Council charges $425 for a new application. This includes the Exam and Verification Visit. This is paid directly to the Council. *cost will be increasing to $525 on 8/1/25. 
• To renew with the Council, the charge is $125. This is paid directly to the Council. You have to renew every three years. *cost will be increasing to $250 on 8/1/25. 
• For The COURSE, The MINI COURSE and The WORKSHOP we require a textbook ($55) and the Standards book ($25) that applies to your setting. Both books will be purchased through the Council. 
• To make your Portfolio you will need to purchase a binder, labels, dividers and clear sheet protectors. 
• For The RENEWAL we require the textbook ($55). This is the same textbook for The COURSE, The MINI COURSE and The WORKSHOP, so if you buy it once, save it! 

• Yes and no. 
• Do not let a program confuse you with what to expect while they try to sell you classes. The classes we offer earn you professional development clock hours that fulfill the requirements from the Council to apply for the CDA Credential.
• The CDA Credential is nationally recognized, and can be used in any state for employment. 
• Many colleges in the United States will articulate the CDA Credential into college credits. Typically this is 9 credits. So, the classes themselves do not give you college credits, but the CDA Credential you obtain will. You do not need to take a CDA class at a college to get college credit later.
• No CDA program or school can give you the CDA Credential. You need to apply through the Council after you have completed all of the requirements in order to obtain that. There is no guarantee you will receive your CDA Credential after taking classes from us, or anyone else. The classes provide you with the clock hours you need for your application. The application process is run by the Council. 
• If you want to use the CDA Credential towards a college degree, you will need to apply to the college directly and speak to them about how many credits they will give you for the CDA Credential.

Yes!  CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE E-BOOKS.