Early Childhood Education

Become an Early childhood professional by earning a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA)!

The Child Development Associate (CDA) is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in early childhood.

The CDA credential is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professionals as they work towards becoming qualified teachers of young children. The CDA candidates have knowledge of how to put he CDA Competency Standards into practice and understanding of why those standards help children move with success from one developmental stage to another.

Early Childhood Education has reached a level of unprecedented national and international focus. Parent,s policymakers, and politicians have opinions as well as new questions about what, how, when, and where young children should learn. Teachers and administrators now find curriculum discussions linked to dramatic new understandings about children’s development and learning.

Students prepared in early childhood programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base. They use their understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs and of the multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning to create environments that area healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child (NAEYC).

Well-prepared early childhood candidates base their practice on sound knowledge and understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs. This foundation encompasses multiple, interrelated areas of children’s development and learning-including physical, cognitive, social, emotional, language and asethic domains; play, activity, and learning processes; and motivation to learn and is supported by coherent theoretical perspectives and by current research.

Our Early Childhood Education program focuses on early child growth and development including adult-child relationships. Emphasis is placed on the environment and care for young children. Instruction is provided in the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive areas of early childhood. You will develop competencies through classroom instruction, observation, and participation in early education and care settings.

Completion of your CDA credential leads to taking the Naitonal Child Development Associate Certification Exam and employment in an early childhood education profession.

CTE is dedicated to preparing the highest quality early childhood professionals for Kentucky.

Earning a CA is a big commitment, but one that creates confident teachers with command of today’s best practices for teaching young children!