Dallas College

Child Development Associate (CDA) Preparation

Start your career in early childhood education.

The Child Development Associate (CDA) Preparation program helps you begin or grow your career working with young children. This program will prepare you to earn your CDA, a nationally recognized credential for early childhood professionals.

You will learn the skills needed to work in early learning settings and build the professional portfolio required for the CDA assessment. On average, individuals who earn a CDA credential increase their hourly wages by 17%.*

*Based on Head Start salary scales

What You’ll Learn

In this program, you will learn how to:

  • Support children’s social, emotional and learning growth
  • Create safe and engaging learning environments
  • Build a professional portfolio based on CDA standards
  • Prepare for the CDA assessment process

Put a smile on a child's face and get a headstart with the most recognized credential in the field. Dallas College will teach you how to foster the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of young children while helping you work towards your child development associate.

In sixteen short weeks, experienced instructors will teach you how to lead a classroom and help you prepare for the CDA assessment by the Council for professional recognition. And now the CDA is stackable. The credit you earn can count towards a certificate and associate or a bachelor's degree from Dallas College. You can even take the CDA preparation for observation course for continuing education credit. You decide what's best for you. Visit our website today for more information and begin your journey at Dallas College.

Program at a Glance

Length: 16 weeks
Format: In-person and online options available
Start Dates: Fall, Spring and Summer semesters

Courses: 

  • CDEC 1017 – Child Development Associate Training I (48 contact hours)
  • CDEC 1041 – CDA Preparation for Assessment (96 contact hours)
  • EDUC 1300 – Learning Frameworks (3 credit hours)

Outcome: Preparation for the CDA assessment and professional portfolio

Choose Your Early Childhood Setting

As part of the CDA program, applicants will select one of these settings in which to work:

  • Preschool: Work with children ages 3-5 in a state-approved center
  • Infant-Toddler: Work with children under age three in a state-approved center
  • Family Child Care: Work in a state-approved home-based setting with young children

Who Should Apply

This program may be a good fit if you:

  • Are new to early childhood education
  • Currently work with young children
  • Want a short, flexible program to help advance your career
  • Plan to continue your education and career in child development or teaching

Continuing Your Education

By earning your CDA credential, you may be eligible to receive up to nine college credit hours toward these programs at Dallas College:

Get Started

Complete our interest form.

We will contact you, answer your questions and connect you with a success coach to help you enroll.

Contact Us

Daisy Cano-Esparza

Daisy Cano-Esparza

  • Associate Dean
  • Dean, ECE/Early Learning - Primary

If you need financial assistance covering the cost of your CDA Preparation program, talk to your success coach for available options.

Dallas College offers other student resources to support your success, including childcare options, food pantries, counseling services and more.

To earn a CDA credential, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Education: High school diploma or GED
  • Training: 120 hours of training (covered in the CDA Preparation program)
  • Experience: 480 hours of work experience with children (birth to 36 months) in a center-based or home setting
  • Portfolio: A compiled professional portfolio (developed in the CDA Preparation program)
  • Assessment: A CDA exam and a 2-hour professional observation by a Professional Development Specialist

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible.​

For more information, please visit DallasCollege.edu/HB1508.

Updated March 27, 2026