Child Development Associate (CDA) Certificate

Code: F_CER_ECOA
Campus: Boulder County, Larimer and Westminster

This certificate is nationally approved for child-care workers combining competency-based and traditional on-campus curriculum. To apply for CDA, students must be working with children under six years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED certificate. CDA students may earn a CDA credential as one of the following:

  • An Infant-Toddler (0-3 years) Specialist
  • A Preschool (3-5 years) Specialist
  • A Family Day Care (0-5 years) Specialist
  • Homestart Specialist

    In each specialty, students may earn a bilingual CDA.

Required Courses

Credits

ECE 101 Introduction to Early Childhood Education

3

ECE 238 Child Growth and Development

4

ECE 279 Seminar: CDA

1

ECE 287 Cooperative Education

2

Plus select one of the following:

For Center-Based Infant/Toddler Specialty:

ECE 111 Infant and Toddler Theory and Practice

3

For Family Child Care or Center-Based Preschool Specialty:

ECE 220 Curriculum Development: Methods and Techniques

3

Total Required Credits for Certificate

13

NATIONAL CDA CREDENTIAL: Students may earn a national CDA credential in the following specialty areas:

  • Center-based Infant/Toddler (0-3 years)
  • Center-based Preschool (3-5 years)
  • Family Child Care (0-5 years)

A Bilingual (Spanish/English) CDA may be earned in each specialty.

In addition to the above FRCC certificate, students must also have a minimum of 480 hours of documented experience to apply for the National CDA Credential. Please contact the department for specific requirements. This experience must be with children six years of age or younger and in a licensed center or home setting. The training must be completed within the past five years and the final observation completed within six months of the end of classes.

Please contact the department for the specific requirements for applying for the CDA credential.

Up one level:

Early Childhood Education - Certificates