CDA Assessment & Renewal Scholarship

Image
Colleges Offering CDA Training
Michigan AEYC CDA Training - Community Cohorts
CDA Resources
Apply for a Scholarship

CDA Assessment or Renewal Scholarship

The CDA Assessment or Renewal scholarship is for financial support with the fee associated with earning or renewing a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The CDA credential is a nationally recognized certification that requires 480 hours of experience working with children and 120 clock hours of training. These 120 clock hours of training can be obtained at community colleges or through other training organizations. The CDA credential can be earned in four settings: Infant and Toddler, Preschool, Family Child Care, or Home Visitor (Note: Home Visitor setting not eligible for TEACH Scholarship assistance). The CDA credential must be renewed after 3 years and requires 45 clock hours of formal training for renewal. For more information about the CDA credential, please call the Council for Professional Recognition at 1-800-424-4310 or visit their website at www.cdacouncil.org.

The CDA Assessment/Renewal scholarship pays for the majority of the cost of the CDA Assessment or Renewal fee and provides a bonus once the credential is earned. Scholarship recipients must commit to remaining in the field of early childhood education for 6 months following the completion of their contract. You may be eligible for a CDA Assessment/Renewal scholarship if you:

  • Work a minimum of 20 hours per week in a licensed center-based, family, or group home setting
  • Earn $29.90 or less per hour
  • Have completed 120 clock hours of training for initial assessment or 45 clock hours of training for renewal as required by the Council for Professional Recognition
  • Have completed 480 hours of experience in the setting which you are applying for initial assessment applicants.
  • Have completed a Professional Portfolio
  • Have collected Family Questionnaires
  • Have selected a Professional Development Specialist
CDA Assessment and Renewal Scholarship Award
  • TEACH pays 80% of CDA Assessment Fee (fee is $425) or CDA Renewal Fee (fee is $125)
  • Recipient or employer is responsible for remaining portion
  • $150 Quality Improvement Stipend per semester to recipient and employer for those working in a licensed child care program that has moved beyond Maintaining Health and Safety in Great Start to Quality.
  • $200 bonus from TEACH for CDA Credential attainment and $50 bonus from TEACH for CDA renewal
  • Commitment to remain in the field of early childhood education for at least 6 months after credential attainment

Note: There are two components to applying for a CDA Assessment or Renewal Scholarship

  1. Apply to the Council for Professional Recognition
  2. Apply for a TEACH CDA Assessment or Renewal Scholarship

For more information on how to complete the CDA Assessment application process at the Council for Professioanl Recognition, visit https://www.cdacouncil.org/en/resource_category/webinars-tutorials/