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CDA Credential Preparation Course Details

Penn Foster College's CDA Credential Preparation certificate program is comprised of college-level coursework that is designed to meet many of the prerequisites you need to apply for your CDA Credential — the most widely recognized credential in Early Childhood Education.

Curriculum Expand All Collapse All

Program Goal and Outcomes

Program Goal

This undergraduate certificate program helps students fulfill the 120 hour educational component and compile the required portfolio of items necessary to obtain the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, the most widely recognized credential in Early Childhood Education. The college-level course work and the CDA credential are key stepping stones on the path of career advancement in this field.

Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to...

Infant/Toddler

  • Create a portfolio of collection items to aid in preparing and applying for the CDA Credential
  • Identify the requirements needed to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
  • Comprehend methods that will support and advance children's physical and intellectual competence
  • Determine how to support children’s social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance
  • Recognize the guidelines needed to establish positive and productive relationships with families
  • Understand the components needed to ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs
  • Identify the requirements needed to maintain a commitment to professionalism

Preschool

  • Create a portfolio of collection items to aid in preparing and applying for the CDA Credential
  • Identify the requirements needed to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
  • Comprehend methods that will support and advance children’s physical and intellectual competence
  • Determine how to support children's social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance
  • Recognize the guidelines needed to establish positive and productive relationships with families
  • Understand the components needed to ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs
  • Identify the requirements needed to maintain a commitment to professionalism

Family Child Care

  • Create a portfolio of collection items to aid in preparing and applying for the CDA Credential
  • Identify the requirements needed to establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
  • Comprehend methods that will support and advance children’s physical and intellectual competence
  • Determine how to support children’s social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance
  • Recognize the guidelines needed to establish positive and productive relationships with families
  • Understand the components needed to ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs
  • Identify the requirements needed to maintain a commitment to professionalism
Orientation to Early Childhood Education (1 Credit)
Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program, and learn how to be an effective child care professional.

Objectives:

  • Understand how to use your Student Portal.
  • Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
  • Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
  • Understand the components of quality child care and the responsibilities of the caregiver.
  • Reflect and develop your own child care beliefs and principles.
  • Determine where you best fit in the child day care industry.
Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child (3 Credits)
Each day seems to bring more dire news about health, especially children's health. However, early childhood educators and staff have the potential to create enormous, positive changes in the way children eat, exercise, and avoid injurious habits.

Objectives:

  • Understand the components of a healthy lifestyle.
  • Develop programs designed to promote healthy lifestyles.
Additional Course Material

Textbook: Healthy Young Children: A Manual for Programs

Child, Family, and Community (3 Credits)
Early childhood educators should be advocates for children and practitioners of best practices for working with children.

Objectives:

  • Positively connect the children’s world to the greater realm of adult society.
  • Use current research on interactions among families, schools, and communities to form a practical guide for early childhood educators.
  • Complete graded projects to practice your knowledge and skills.
Additional Course Material

Textbook: Child, Family, and Community

Child Growth and Development (3 Credits)
Child growth and development is impacted by both genetics and environment.

Objectives:

  • Understand the basics of child psychology.
  • Recognize the interplay of both genetics and the environment on child growth and development.
Additional Course Material

Textbook: Child Development

Choose one of these settings (3 Credits)
Choose one...

Setting 1: Infant/Toddler

 

ECE120-Infant and Toddler Care

Few things are as rewarding as seeing a child’s life unfold before your eyes. As we now know from brain research, the first three years of a child’s life are critical to all future development.

Objectives:

  • Understand the importance of the first three years of a child’s life.
  • Make your practice individualized and inclusive.
  • Complete a case study project and a final project.

Additional Course Material:

  • Textbook: Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers

Setting 2: Preschool

 

ECE223-Working with Preschoolers

The preschool years are a special time in the life of young children. It's essential that teachers learn about and provide the types of activities and experiences preschool children need.

Objectives:

  • Understand how preschool children 3–5 years old learn and develop.
  • Create an appropriate learning environment for preschool children.
  • Complete two graded projects to practice your knowledge and skills.

Additional Course Material:

  • Textbook: Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight

Setting 3: Family Child Care

 

ECE225-Family Child Care

This course includes the practical consideration of issues and responsibilities in providing family child care for infants and young children. Topics include developmental domains, developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum and creating a successful environment.

Objectives:

  • Identify typical milestones of physical and motor, cognitive, language and social and emotional development.
  • Recognize activities and approaches that are developmentally appropriate in terms of physical and motor, cognitive, language and social and emotional skills.
  • Define the areas of your program and practice that promote academic subjects as well as creativity or play, address safety issues, guide behavior and establish schedules and routines while in care.

Additional Course Material:

  • Textbook: Family Child Care Curriculum: Teaching Through Quality Care

Additional Details

Undergraduate Certificates from Penn Foster College are awarded under licensing from the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education.

Penn Foster College Accreditation & Licensing Details

Penn Foster College has been nationally accredited for over 40 years, and has met the high standards of integrity and performance set by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) in Washington, D.C. Penn Foster College has been thoroughly reviewed and has earned several important accreditations and licensing. We also participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.

Accreditation
DEAC
SARA
Surround Sound Support

A Committed Support System

While you can study independently, you’re not alone! With a dedicated Student Services department, the Student Community, and instructors just a call away, you’ll have access to the support you need.

Webinars

Over the course of the Penn Foster Child Development Associate Credential Preparation undergraduate certificate program, you will have the opportunity to attend live or recorded webinars to help you better understand your lessons. The live webinars will allow you to ask our instructors questions in real time.
Webinars
Progress Tracking and Goal Setting Tools

Progress Tracking and Goal Setting Tools

Our customizable goal-setting tools will help you create a schedule and stick to it. Need some extra time to complete a lesson? Not a problem - you can adjust your study plan at any time to set a pace that works for you.

Student Community

Looking to connect with other Penn Foster students? Our Student Community is the perfect place for you to interact with your peers - as well as Penn Foster faculty and staff - to discuss your online learning experience, congratulate fellow students, and share your Penn Foster experience.
Penn Foster Student Community
Penn Foster Sample Lesson

Sample CDA Credential Preparation Certificate Program Lesson

Penn Foster courses are written in a way that is easy to understand, and materials are broken down into manageable lessons. Take a look at what a course in the Child Development Associate Credential Preparation undergraduate certificate program would look like.
View Sample Lesson
Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 10® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running macOS® or later, Microsoft® Office 2019 or Microsoft 365®, and an email account to complete this program.
We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.
Apple, Mac, and macOS are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.
Overview
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