Is it possible to obtain your CDA online?

Question

Is it possible to obtain your CDA online?

Answer 1

I don't know but you could call their national office and ask. I know you can get some of your basic paper work that needs to be filled out. Much of the work includes observation and participation with children in a preschool or day care.

Answer 2

You can take the 120 hour course on line but you still would need to do the observation and testing. I teach the 120 hour course and it seems to me that taking it on line would deprive you of the wonderful interactions that occur among my students. For instance, I often assign things like a cause and effect toy or a prop box. The students bring them in and share them with their classmates. We also take the time to discuss situations that may be happening in the students' classrooms.

Another problem is that the on line courses do not usually include enough information about the resource file, preparing for the observation, or the testing process. We've had people call my agency for help who took the 120 hour course and had no idea they had to do all the rest. They then have to pay for extra help and for an observation.

     If you have to do it on line the one agency I can recommend is Training Strategies Inc. They are just starting a new program and it sounds OK. Just make sure they offer support beyond the 120 hours.

Answer 3

The CDA credential is a license you get from the national credentialing program which certifies that you have training and experience to be a child care provider.  So, you don't actually go to shool and get awarded a CDA.  You get training through a school that will help you get your CDA and you can do this online.  But, upon completion you will not have your CDA.  Go to this website, http://www.cdacouncil.org    

to find out how to get your CDA and if you're still interested in CDA online training you can go to this website,  http://www.earlychildhoodlinks.com/provi...  

(Under online training)  to find a program that's right for you.  I do have to say that most online CDA programs don't get very good reviews and you can find a better (and sometimes cheaper) program at your local community college.

Good Luck!