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Early childhood credentials and certifications can help you learn more about targeted areas within the field. When you have a credential or certificate, current or potential employers in the early care and education field see you as dedicated to growing in your career. Licensing standards and Paths to QUALITY indicators often require employees with certain credentials. Covered in this guide:
A CDA is the most recognized credential within the early childhood field. In some child care types, a CDAs or equivalent is required for licensing.
Depending on your experience and interests, you can choose a specialized pathway in one of these settings: center-based infant-toddler, center-based preschool, birth to five, family child care, home visitor, or military school age.
The process for obtaining your CDA includes these components. Visit the Council for Professional Recognition (CDA Council)’s website for more specifics.
120 clock hours of formal trainingin specific areas. Indiana AEYC s a good place to start – you can often to find opportunities for face-to-face, hybrid, and online CDA classes. You may also choose to take classes online through another organization or complete an independent study.
A portfolio – Note: CDA candidates are now required to upload their portfolio digitally via scanned documents or photos.
Family questionnaires
480 work experience hours in your chosen CDA specialization
An online exam – Check out Indiana AEYC’s TEACH program for scholarship opportunities to cover the exam fee.
Potential verification visit – Note: Starting February 2, 2026, verification visits occur afterthe exam, not before. The CDA Council may award select candidates a credential without a verification visit if they demonstrate competence on the exam.
In addition to training for your 120 required clock hours, Indiana AEYC offers a comprehensive suite of services to support you in your journey to earn your CDA credential.
All CDA credentials are valid for three years from the date of the award. Keep all documentation for trainings and other professional development from the date you earned your credential. We suggest you start the process of renewing with the CDA Council about six months before your credential expires.
The CDA Council website includes renewal guides, forms, and checklists appropriate for your individual child care setting. You can also apply for your renewal directly on their website. Some recent changes to note:
You can also save money by applying for an Indiana AEYC TEACH renewal scholarship!
If your CDA lapses, you must:
Your 120 education hours do not expire if you plan to reinstate the same CDA specialization (infant/toddler, preschool, or family child care).
Occasionally, the CDA Council will offer amnesty for those with expired CDAs, but this is at discretion of the Council and is not guaranteed.
To be eligible to participate in Paths to QUALITY, certain staff must have obtained a CDA, a CDA-equivalent credential, or higher. Programs may also substitute clock hour educational training. Different program types have different requirements:
Homes – Lead caregivers must meet the requirements as listed above
Centers, Public School Preschools, and VCP Ministries – 25% of Level 2 staff (including director/administrator) and 50% of Level 3 staff must meet requirement
CDA-equivalent credentials include:
Graduate Administrator certificate from Ball State University
Preschool Associate Credential (PAC) is no longer being offered to new candidates but is accepted as a CDA equivalent for those who have already earned it
There are a number of different ways to earn early childhood education credentials and certificates. Here are just a few!
