It makes teachers more effective at ensuring children will be kindergarten ready.
It provides teachers with more opportunity to achieve better pay, recognition and sense of accomplishment.
It confirms that teachers are professionals.
It increases parents’ confidence in their children’s teachers and the school in general.
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65C-22.001(6), Florida Administrative Code
The staff credential requirement aims to ensure that individuals working in child care programs have gained the necessary education and experience to provide appropriate developmental care.
To verify their qualifications, child care staff must complete the Florida Child Care Staff Credential Verification Application (CF-FSP Form 5211). The verification is recorded on the Child Care Training Transcript, which serves as the sole document used by licensing authorities to confirm compliance with this requirement.
If you have any questions about credentialing please contact us at (239) 935-6100.
To qualify for a staff credential, a child care professional must have one of the following:
An active National Early Childhood Credential (NECC).
An active Birth Through Five Child Care Credential, which can be met by one of the following:
Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC), Florida Department of Education Child Care Apprenticeship Certificate (CCAC), or Early Childhood Professional Certificate (ECPC)
An active School-Age Child Care Credential, which can be met by one of the following:
Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) or School-Age Professional Certificate (SAPC)
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The Florida Credential is recognized as an equivalent to the National CDA; however, it may not be accepted in other states. It was developed to provide greater accessibility to training programs, catering to the diverse needs of child care providers across Florida. To earn this credential, candidates must complete an approved program listed on the Department of Children and Families (DCF) website.
The credential requires renewal every five years. Candidates must fulfill 120 hours of classroom instruction, 480 hours of work experience, and undergo one professional observation. Additionally, DCF mandates the submission of a portfolio that includes an autobiography, a statement of competence, and a resource collection.
The Florida Department of Education (DOE) offers this credential for work in preschool classrooms only. A candidate completes 120 hours of classroom instruction, including the 40 hours of DCF introductory training. The 120 hours also includes five clock hours in literacy and 10 clock hours in each of the eight content areas. Candidates also work 480 hours in the childcare setting and complete a professional portfolio like the requirements described above for DCF’s credential.
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The CCAC is a Birth through Five Child Care Credential issued by the Florida Department of Education, obtained by completing the DOE Child Care Apprenticeship Program, and recognized as a Staff Credential. The CCAC designates a student as a Child Care Development Specialist – students complete all ECPC requirements within the Apprenticeship Program.
This certification is valid in all states, requires 120 hours of professional education, 480 hours of experience with young children, and a CDA Professional Portfolio. You must also meet with a CDA Professional Development Specialist for assessment.
For Details on Specific CDA credentials:
Preschool CDA
Infant/Toddler CDA
Family Childcare CDA
Portfolio Requirements
CDA Certification Costs at a Glance:
Initial Application: $425
Renewal (every 3 years): $150
Courses: $700-$1000
More info on the National CDA Council can be found here.
The majority of the cost of tuition and books.
A per semester student access stipend for most scholars.
A tiered-bonus structure for degree-seeking scholars who complete their contract.
Counseling and administrative support.
A reimbursement to the center or family child care home for the paid leave time provided to scholars in most scholarship models.
Coverage of 80% for coursework, 90% for books, and 80% for CDA certification assessment fees, with the remainder paid by the individual or employer.
Tallahassee Community College (TCC)
Kathryn Harvey: Call (850) 201-8305 or email harveyk@tcc.fl.edu
ECPC (Early Childhood Professional Certificate) through the Department of Education
Florida South Western College
Dr. Kelly Roy: Call (239) 985-3423 or email kelly.kantzRoy@fsw.edu
Palm Beach State College: Program code 5390
Susy Martinez (White Program Director): Call (561) 868-3807 or email Martines@palmbeachstate.edu
Nancy Cabrera (Program Assistant): Call (561) 868-4041 or email Cabreran@palmbeachstate.edu
National Early Childhood Credentials (NECC)
The Council for Professional Recognition is a group through whom a national accreditation can be earned. Any of the above credentials can lead toward a National CDA. The contact is www.cdacouncil.org. Application packets can be purchased through the Council. For specific information regarding the National CDA, see the Council for Professional Recognition website.
The verification visit is a required component of the CDA credentialing process, where the Candidate will be observed working with children in a specific age group.
It is the Candidate’s responsibility to schedule the verification visit, after they apply and receive a “Ready to Schedule” notice from the Council for Professional Recognition (the Council).
During the visit, the Council approved early childhood specialist (professional development specialist) will go to the CDA candidate’s place of work and review the CDA Professional Portfolio, observe the candidate working with children and conduct a reflective dialogue about the candidate’s strengths and areas of growth.
The early childhood specialist (professional) will submit an evaluation and scores to the Council based on the visit. The evaluation and scores will be used as one part of the credentialing decision to determine whether the Candidate will be awarded the CDA Credential.
The CDA Professional Portfolio is a:
Requirement for the national CDA Credentialing Process
Collection of specific resource materials to help you in your work with children and families
Method for the national CDA Council to evaluate your competence
Way to showcase your own philosophy about your work with young children and their families
An opportunity to reflect on your own knowledge, skills and practices
Your Professional Portfolio must be completed within the six months prior to your application for CDA Credentialing.
It must match the age group and setting for which you are applying.
For the complete description of requirements, please refer to The Child Development Associate National Credentialing Program and CDA Competency Standards book from the national CDA Council (cdacouncil.org).
CDA Professional Portfolio cover sheet
Summary of CDA Education cover sheet plus:
Documentation of your CDA training and education such as official training record or college transcript, certificates, or other verification that you have successfully completed a minimum of 120 hours of training with no fewer than 10 clock hours of training in each of the eight CDA subject areas.
Planning a safe and healthy learning environment
Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development
Supporting children’s social and emotional development
Building productive relationships with families
Managing an effective program operation
Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
Observing and recording children’s behavior
Understanding principles of child development and learning
Family Questionnaires Summary sheet plus:
Completed Family Questionnaires, a form you distribute and collect back from the majority of the families of children in your care (a return from more than 50% of families is required).
Six Reflective Statements of Competence
Written statements of your own teaching practices, including one for each of the six CDA Competency Standards (300–500 words).
It is comprised of six statements, one for each Competency Standard (see above). Your statements are intended to reflect your own teaching practices in each of the CDA Competency Standards areas.
Your paragraphs should include information about “why” the Functional Area is important and 2-3 examples of “what” you do every day (your teaching practices) to provide that Functional Area for children. Many of the statements require that you focus on a specific resource you’ve collected for your Portfolio. For example:
“WHY” the Functional Area is important: Example: “I know that maintaining a healthy environment in child care is important because young children in child care settings are more likely to be exposed to germs and their immune systems are not yet fully developed.”
“WHAT” you do everyday to meet the Functional Area in your practice: Example: “To make sure my environment is healthy for children, I practice safe hand washing by using liquid soap and paper towels, and make sure to wash my hands after changing diapers, before handling food, and after cleaning or coming in from outside. I teach the children to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds to get most germs off their hands. I have a daily schedule of sanitizing surfaces and toys to prevent the spread of germs.”
Resource Collection
Professional Philosophy Statement
A written summary of your professional beliefs and values about early childhood education, how young children learn, and your role as an early childhood educator (no more than two pages in length).
