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Child Development Associate

Grow your knowledge, gain experience, and get certified!

Are you interested in a rewarding career in early childhood? Whether it be as a certified teacher, childcare educator, or directing your own early childhood center, the Child Development Associate is your next step!

  • Online college credit courses
  • Some childcare or related fieldwork experience required
  • Earn a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
  • Increase education, qualifications, and earning potential

Classes begin soon! Apply today.

Classroom Instruction

CDA courses are available at ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and may also be available in local high schools.

Course Topics Include:

  • Health, Safety, and Nutrition
  • Guiding Alternatives for Young Children
  • Introduction to EC Education
  • CDA Credential Prep

For a full list of course requirements:

Students on Catalog Year 2026

Students on Catalog Year 2024 & 2025

Students on Catalog Year 2023

Work Experience

480 hours of field/work experience in child care or a related field are required before pursuing your CDA credential.

Employment Opportunities

After completing your CDA credential, you can pursue a number of high-demand jobs in our area:

  • Assistant Classroom Teacher — Head Start, Even Start, or First Steps programs
  • Lead Teacher — licensed and/or accredited privately-owned programs
  • Child Care Associate — community child care programs (like YMCA) or business services (like employer-owned child care programs
  • Director of Licensed Child Care Center — up to 20 children

Other Credential and Education Opportunities

Consider increasing your education, qualifications, and earning potential with other certifications or a degree from ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡:

  • Director Certification
  • Associate of Applied Science in Child Development
  • Associate of Arts in Teaching

If a bachelor’s degree is on your to-do list, Central Methodist University is conveniently located on the Park Hills campus and offers a Bachelor of Science in Child Development. You can also take advantage of one of the many other universities with which ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ has credit transfer agreements.

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TEACH Missouri:Ìý

CDA Scholarship Project:

For more information,Ìýplease contact

Jennifer Sikes
Early Childhood Education-Child Development Department ChairÌý
jsikes@mineralarea.edu
(573) 518-2142