Definition of Working On a CDA Credential or a Degree | National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC Academy

Definition of Working On a CDA Credential or a Degree
Definition of Working on a Credential or Degree	To demonstrate that a teaching staff member is working on a CDA credential awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition or an associate or baccalaureate degree or equivalent in Early Childhood Education, Child development, Elementary Education or Early Childhood Special Education, the program must document that the teaching staff member is Currently enrolled in a course or degree program, OR Has been enrolled within one year before the program's Candidacy due date, OR Will be enrolled within one year after the program's Candidacy due date.
Documentation	Documentation should specify that the individual is working toward a CDA credential awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition or toward an associate or baccalaureate degree or equivalent in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education or Ealy Childhood Special Education. Documentation can include any of the following, dated up to one year before the program's Candidacy due date: Copies of an application, OR Grade report, OR Transcript, OR Copy of a description for the course in which the individual will enroll, which is taken out of a course catalog, OR Receipt of tuition payment
Important Information to Remember	Documentation cannot solely be a letter from the program seeking Candidacy or from the individual staff member stating intent to work on a degree. Please remember that working on a CDA credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition or equivalent will meet the Candidacy requirement for assistant teachers-teacher aides only; this work will not meet the Candidacy requirement for teachers. For more information on the CDA credential, please contact the Council for Professional Recognition.