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Child Development Associate

With the completion of three courses, your CDA (Child Development Associate) required course work will be comprehensive, and you will be prepared for your visit by a CDA Professional Development (PD) Specialist and the National assessment.

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Child Development Associate Certificate Overview

The Child Development Associate (CDA) is a credential that qualifies students to work in the field of childcare and care giving. The CDA is a widely recognized credential in early care education and is an important step in advancing ones’ career. The CDA credential is a minimum requirement for all early childhood providers receiving state funding. At Rhodes State College, we prepare students with the tools and experience to successfully prepare for the CDA National Assessment credential.  Students complete three courses (9 credit hours) with experienced faculty. A nationally certified Professional Development (PD) Specialist assists CDA students with completing their initial application, portfolio development, practice final interview, and exam preparation.

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Career Opportunities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 150,000 openings for childcare workers are projected annually through 2030.

 Program Highlights

  • TEACH Grant opportunities available to applicable CDA candidates.
  • The CDA preparatory courses can be completed in a variety of ways. Students have the option of completing required courses over two semesters or complete the courses in an accelerated format.
  • CDA preparatory courses are offered in both traditional (face to face) format, completely online, or in a combination of formats.
  • The CDA program at Rhodes State College offers two concentrations: Infant/Toddler Certificate and Preschool Certificate.
  • College credit in the CDA certificate can be applied to the Associate of Arts degree in Education (for students who wish to transfer to four-year college and complete a bachelor’s degree in education).

Real-World Experience

Students complete fifteen (15) hours of hands-on supervised classroom experience in the Preschool concentration and (30) hours in the Infant/Toddler concentration.

Accreditation Information

The Early Childhood Education Program is accredited by the:

State of Ohio Department of Education
Early Childhood Education
65 S. Front Street, Room 309
Columbus, OH

Student Success Navigator

Heather Seddelmeyer

Student Success Navigator
seddelmeyer.h@rhodesstate.edu
(419) 204-9857