For many Massachusetts educators, yes. The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential meets EEC’s education requirement for Teacher certification and can replace coursework for Lead Teacher, and some community colleges cover the $525 fee and training. It pays off most if you don’t have early childhood college credits yet.
By our editors · Facts checked October 7, 2026
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The short version
- The CDA is a national credential from the Council for Professional Recognition for educators who work with children from birth to age 5.
- You need a high school diploma (or be in a high school early childhood program), 120 training hours, 480 work hours, a portfolio, an exam and an observation visit.
- It costs $525 to apply online and lasts 3 years. Online renewal is $250.
- In Massachusetts it counts toward EEC Teacher and Lead Teacher certification and qualifies you to be hired as a center teacher.
- Already have early childhood credits or a degree? A CDA adds less.
What is a CDA, exactly?
It’s proof you can do the job. Instead of grades alone, the Council checks your skills three ways: an exam, a portfolio of your work and an observation of you with children.
You earn it for one setting: Preschool (ages 3 to 5), Infant-Toddler (birth to 36 months), Birth to Five, Family Child Care or Home Visitor. Applications and materials come in Spanish, and there’s a bilingual specialization for educators who use two languages at work.
What do you need to earn a CDA?
Here’s the checklist, per the Council’s FAQ and its process overview.
| Requirement | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Education | High school diploma or GED, or be a junior or senior in a high school early childhood career and technical program |
| Training | 120 clock hours, with at least 10 in each of the 8 CDA Subject Areas |
| Experience | 480 hours with young children in your setting, within 3 years before you apply |
| Portfolio | Family Questionnaires, six Reflective Statements of Competence, ten resources, a philosophy statement and training records, assembled within 6 months before you apply |
| Exam | 65 multiple-choice questions in up to 1 hour 45 minutes at a Pearson VUE center |
| Verification Visit | A Professional Development (PD) Specialist reviews your portfolio, watches you work and talks through strengths and growth |
Babysitting, before- and after-school programs, Sunday school and drop-in care don’t count toward the 480 hours. Conference workshops and individual consultants don’t count toward the 120 training hours.
The steps, in order
- Buy the CDA Competency Standards book for your setting. It has the detailed rules.
- Finish training and work hours, build your portfolio and collect Family Questionnaires.
- Find a PD Specialist endorsed for your setting and language.
- Apply and pay. Wait for a Ready to Schedule notice.
- Take the exam, then schedule the Verification Visit after your second notice. Both must happen within 6 months.
What we’d use
CDA Competency Standards book (Council for Professional Recognition)
The Council’s own guide walks you through building the portfolio and scheduling the exam and Verification Visit. Every candidate needs one; buy the edition for your setting (the Preschool edition is green).
What does a CDA cost?
These prices took effect August 1, 2025. Training and the Competency Standards book cost extra unless a program covers them.
| Item | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| First-time application | $525 | $600 |
| Renewal (every 3 years) | $250 | $300 |
How to pay less in Massachusetts
- Community college Career Pathways. EEC funds all 15 community colleges to offer free courses to early educators. North Shore Community College says its CDA program is free to educators, covers the application fee and Verification Visit, and earns credits toward its early childhood associate degree.
- Evening and weekend options. Mount Wachusett Community College runs a grant-funded CDA program, free to qualified students, with evening and weekend classes.
- Scholarships. The Council keeps a list of scholarship sources by state.
What does a CDA count for in Massachusetts?
| Where it counts | What the CDA does |
|---|---|
| EEC Teacher certification | Meets the education requirement on its own. You still need 9 months of experience. |
| EEC Lead Teacher certification | Replaces the 12-credit coursework rule. You need 27 months of added experience. |
| EEC Minimum Hiring Requirements | Qualifies you to be hired as a center teacher, with a suitable background check. Being halfway done, or within 3 months of finishing, also counts. |
| Early Head Start | The minimum credential for center-based infant and toddler teachers, plus infant-toddler training |
| Head Start preschool | One way to qualify as an assistant teacher; assistants can finish a CDA within 2 years of hire |
EEC wants a copy showing the CDA logo, the Council CEO’s signature and a 9-digit number starting with C, and it asks for a valid CDA, so keep yours renewed. For the full certification path, see how to become an EEC lead teacher.
Is a CDA worth it? The honest pros and cons
Why it can be worth it
- It’s national, so it travels with you and Head Start recognizes it.
- It’s faster than a degree and needs no college admission.
- The observation and portfolio prove classroom skills, not just coursework.
- Through a community college it can be free and earn credits you can stack into a degree.
- It opens Teacher roles right away and puts you on the Lead Teacher track, a real step toward earning more.
Why it might not be
- It expires. Renewal takes 4.5 CEUs, 45 clock hours of training or a 3-credit college course, plus the fee.
- On its own, it isn’t college credit.
- For Lead Teacher, a CDA needs 27 months of added experience. An early childhood associate needs 18; a bachelor’s, 9.
- Without funding, the fee and training come out of your pocket.
- With 12 or more early childhood credits or a degree, it adds little toward EEC certification.
Who it fits best
A CDA is a strong first step if you’re new to the field, have no early childhood credits, work with infants and toddlers, or want Early Head Start. Aiming for public school pre-K, like the programs in our free pre-K guide? Put your energy into a bachelor’s degree and a state teaching license.
Directors: a CDA is a faster route than a degree for growing assistants into teachers. Our playbook on recruiting and keeping teachers shows how. More career guides live on our educators page.
Common questions
How long does it take to earn a CDA?
It depends on your pace. You need 120 training hours and 480 work hours, and the work hours must fall within the 3 years before you apply. After you apply, the exam and Verification Visit must be done within 6 months.
Does a CDA expire?
Yes. It’s valid for 3 years from the award date. You can renew up to 6 months before it expires, only in your original setting, and online renewal costs $250.
Can I earn a CDA in Spanish?
Yes. The Council offers the application and materials in Spanish, and you can choose a PD Specialist endorsed in your language. Several Massachusetts community colleges also teach Career Pathways courses in Spanish.
Is a CDA the same as EEC certification?
No. The CDA is a national credential. EEC certification is a separate, optional Massachusetts certification you apply for online. A CDA helps you meet EEC’s education requirement.
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Sources
- FAQs (Council for Professional Recognition)
- 2025 Pricing Update (Council for Professional Recognition)
- Renew CDA (Council for Professional Recognition)
- CDA Process Overview, August 2025 (Council for Professional Recognition)
- Preschool CDA pathway and Competency Standards book (Council for Professional Recognition)
- Eligibility for EEC teacher level certifications (Mass.gov)
- Eligibility for EEC lead teacher level certifications (Mass.gov)
- Minimum Hiring Requirement Policies for Educators (Mass.gov)
- Early Childhood Career Pathways programs at Massachusetts community colleges (Mass.gov)
- CDA Pathways (North Shore Community College)
- CDA – Child Development Associate Credential (Mount Wachusett Community College)
- 45 CFR 1302.91 Staff qualifications and competency requirements (Head Start)
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