CDA Renewal

CDA Renewal: Everything You Need to Know

Renewing your Child Development Associate (CDA) credential keeps your professional status active and signals to parents, employers, and licensing boards that your knowledge is current. This page covers the 45-hour requirement, who qualifies for renewal versus a new initial credential, a step-by-step look at the process, the most common mistakes educators make, and answers to the questions we hear most often.

What Does the 45-Hour Requirement Mean?

The Council for Professional Recognition requires every CDA holder to complete 45 clock hours of professional development within the three-year period before applying for renewal. These are not general professional development hours—they must align with the eight CDA content areas:

• Planning a safe, healthy learning environment
• Advancing children’s physical and intellectual development
• Supporting children’s social and emotional development
• Building productive relationships with families
• Managing an effective program operation
• Maintaining a commitment to professionalism
• Observing and recording children’s behavior
• Understanding principles of child development and learning

Your training does not need to be divided equally across all eight areas, but every hour must be documentable—meaning you need a certificate, transcript, or official record that shows the course name, the number of hours, and the date completed. Online courses like those offered at National CDA Training provide a certificate of completion that satisfies this documentation requirement.

One important note: the Council counts only hours completed within the three-year window before your renewal application date. Training you did four or five years ago, even if it was excellent professional development, cannot be applied toward your renewal hours.

Who Needs Renewal vs. Who Needs an Initial CDA Credential?

Understanding which path applies to you will save time, money, and frustration. Here is a clear breakdown:

You Need CDA Renewal If:

• You currently hold a valid CDA credential and it is approaching its three-year expiration date.
• Your CDA has expired, but fewer than five years have passed since it was issued or last renewed.
• You completed your 45 hours of training in the correct content areas during the applicable three-year period.

You Need an Initial CDA Credential If:

• You have never held a CDA credential before.
• Your CDA credential has been expired for more than five years—the Council requires you to start the full initial process again, including 120 hours of training, 480 hours of work experience, and a verification visit.
• You are changing your credential setting (for example, moving from Preschool to Family Child Care) and need a new credential for that setting.

If you are unsure which applies to you, contact the Council for Professional Recognition directly at cdacouncil.org or call their helpline. They can look up your credential status in their system and confirm which pathway is appropriate.

The CDA Renewal Process: Step by Step

Renewing your CDA involves four main stages. Here is what to expect at each one:

Step 1: Complete 45 Hours of Training

Enroll in a 45-hour renewal course that covers the CDA content areas for your setting—either Infant/Toddler or Preschool. National CDA Training’s self-paced online courses let you work through the material at your own pace. Each module uses scenario-based learning so the content sticks. You will receive a certificate of completion once you finish all modules and activities.

Step 2: Obtain a Professional Development Specialist (PDS) Statement

A Professional Development Specialist must observe you working with children and complete a written statement on your behalf. The PDS must hold a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field, and cannot be your supervisor. Connecting with a local PDS early—before or during your training—prevents delays. Many community colleges, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies, and early childhood professional networks can help you find a qualified PDS.

Step 3: Submit Your Renewal Application

Go to cdacouncil.org and log into your account (or create one if you do not have one). Complete the online renewal application, upload your proof of 45 training hours, attach your PDS statement, and pay the renewal fee. As of 2024, the Council’s renewal fee is $150. Processing typically takes two to four weeks once the application is complete.

Step 4: Receive Your Renewed Credential

Once the Council approves your application, your renewed CDA credential will be issued with a new three-year expiration date. You can download a digital copy from the Council’s portal immediately and a physical credential card is typically mailed within several weeks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced educators sometimes encounter snags during the renewal process. These are the mistakes we see most often—and how to avoid them:

• Waiting until your credential expires. Once it expires, you still have up to five years to use the renewal pathway, but your employer and licensing board may require an active credential. Start the process at least 60 days before your expiration date.
• Using training hours that are outside the three-year window. Only hours completed within three years of your application date count. Check the dates on all your certificates before submitting.
• Selecting the wrong credential setting. A Preschool CDA renewal requires Preschool-focused training. An Infant/Toddler CDA renewal requires training focused on that age group. Using hours from a course designed for a different setting can lead to a rejection.
• Not keeping documentation. If your certificates get lost or the training provider closes, it can be very difficult to prove your hours. Save digital copies of every certificate in a cloud folder as soon as you complete a course.
• Forgetting the PDS statement. The application cannot be submitted without a PDS observation and written statement. Arrange this early—PDS professionals can be booked out weeks in advance.
• Leaving the application incomplete. Missing fields, unsigned forms, or wrong file formats will delay processing. Review every section before you hit submit.

Why Choose National CDA Training for Your Renewal?

Our 45-hour online renewal courses are designed specifically for working early childhood professionals who need flexibility. Here is what makes our approach different:

• Scenario-based learning: Instead of reading static text, you respond to real classroom situations. Your brain processes these scenarios as genuine practice, which means the content is retained far better than lecture-style courses.
• Available 24/7: Complete modules before the kids wake up, during nap time, or after they go to bed. There are no live sessions to schedule around.
• Coaching support: Our team helps you confirm that every requirement is in place before you submit your application to the Council, reducing the risk of errors.
• 100% satisfaction guarantee: If you are dissatisfied for any reason within 30 days, request a full refund—no questions asked.
• Aligned with all CDA guidelines: All content maps directly to the Council for Professional Recognition’s competency standards.

Frequently Asked Questions About CDA Renewal

How many hours of training are required to renew a CDA credential?

You need 45 clock hours of professional development in the CDA content areas. These hours must be completed within the three years before you submit your renewal application to the Council for Professional Recognition.

Who needs CDA renewal vs. an initial CDA credential?

Renewal is for holders whose credential has not been expired for more than five years. If your CDA has lapsed for over five years, or if you have never held one, you must complete the full initial credential process, which includes 120 hours of training rather than 45.

What happens if my CDA credential expires before I renew?

If fewer than five years have passed since the expiration date, you can still use the renewal pathway. If more than five years have passed, you will need to apply as a new candidate and complete 120 hours of initial training, 480 hours of work experience, and a verification visit.

Can I complete the 45-hour renewal training online?

Yes. National CDA Training’s renewal course is 100% online and self-paced. You can complete it on any device, at any time, and receive a certificate of completion that satisfies the Council’s documentation requirement.

What does the CDA renewal application process look like?

Complete 45 hours of training, secure a PDS observation and statement, then log into the Council’s portal at cdacouncil.org to submit your renewal application with proof of hours, your PDS statement, and the renewal fee. Processing takes approximately two to four weeks.

What are the most common mistakes during CDA renewal?

The most common errors are waiting too long to start, using training hours outside the three-year window, choosing the wrong credential setting, failing to keep documentation, and submitting an incomplete application without the PDS statement.

How long does the whole CDA renewal process take?

Most educators complete the 45-hour training in two to four weeks. Add two to four more weeks for the Council to process the application, and you are looking at a four-to-eight-week total timeline. Starting at least 60 days before your expiration date is recommended.

Does National CDA Training offer both Infant/Toddler and Preschool renewal courses?

Yes. We offer separate, setting-specific 45-hour courses for the Infant and Toddler CDA renewal and the Preschool CDA renewal. Click the appropriate option below to enroll at the introductory price.