Training

Child Development Associate student

Child Development Associate (CDA)® Credential Prep Classes

Training

A critical part of earning your CDA1 Credential, awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, is fulfilling 120 hours of formal education—and Rasmussen University can provide that first step into an early education career. The CDA classes are flexible, affordable and provide student support services along the way. Taught with substantial interaction from experienced faculty, the three fully online classes (12 college credits) are available through self-directed learning modules. When you're ready to advance your education, your credits can seamlessly transfer into the ECE Associate’s degree.2

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Online CDA Classes

  • Foundations of Child Development

    This class explores developmental domains, theories and characteristics of children from birth to age eight.

  • Curriculum and Instruction

    You’ll learn how to plan and teach developmentally appropriate curriculum in an early childhood environment and continue to explore the CDA Credential standards and application requirements.

  • Health, Safety and Nutrition/CDA Application

    You’ll learn how to create and maintain safe environments for young children. Along with exploring the CDA Credential standards and application requirements, you may also, if eligible, apply for the CDA Credential at the completion of this class.


  • Next Start Dates

    The CDA classes are taken one class at a time, with the following available start dates.

    CDA Prep Training ClassRegistration DeadlineStart Date
    Health, Safety and Nutrition07/02/25
    11/10/25    		07/07/25
    11/12/25
    Foundations of Child Development8/11/25
    4/02/26    		8/13/25
    4/06/26
    Curriculum and Instruction10/02/25
    12/31/25    		10/06/25
    1/05/26

    For more information on the CDA Prep, contact our admissions representatives by email at [email protected] or call 855-297-2939.

100% online

24/7 tech support

Accelerated Training3 can be completed in as few as 4.5 months

1 class at a time for school/life balance

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Where Can I Find CDA Training Near Me?

While students will be completing their CDA classes online, they will be able to receive extra support if needed on any of our campuses as well as online.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • About the Classes

    What language options are offered?

    The CDA Prep is only offered in English.

    How long does the CDA Prep take?

    Classes are offered one at a time for work/life balance and can be completed in as few as 4.5 months. The CDA Prep is a series of three individual classes which can be taken in any order, but are recommended to be taken in the following order:

    • Foundations of Child Development
    • Curriculum and Instruction
    • Health, Safety and Nutrition/CDA Application

    How much do the classes cost?

    The three classes are $250 each, a total of $750 if you take all three (there is no registration fee) and are paid for one at a time prior to registration in each class. Before starting your classes, you will need to order the CDA Competency Handbook that corresponds to the age and setting you plan to teach—which is $25 (plus tax and shipping)—through the CDA Council website.

    What happens after my CDA Prep classes are complete?

    Upon completion of your CDA Prep classes, additional steps are required to obtain your CDA Credential through the Council for Professional Recognition, including completion of your professional portfolio, online CDA Credential application, Verification Visit and CDA exam. Rasmussen University does not award the CDA Credential, it is only awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition. You are responsible for payment of the CDA Credential application fee. To learn more, visit: cdacouncil.org/credentials/apply-for-cda. For questions regarding the CDA Credential preparation and application, please email [email protected]

    What is the alliance with CDA Credential and Council for Professional Recognition?

    CDA Official Partner logoOur curriculum includes a focus on preparing students to apply for their Child Development Associate (CDA)® Credential from the Council for Professional Recognition. Rasmussen University is proud to be an official partner of the Council for Professional Recognition.

  • Getting Started

    Steps to Getting Started

    To register for our CDA training, follow the steps below:

    • Fill out the form above
    • Await welcome email with instructions for completing registration agreement
    • Complete registration agreement 
    • Receive email to complete payment
    • After payment, enrollment is complete and you're ready to begin your CDA training class at the scheduled start date.

    For questions about the training or registration, email [email protected] or
    call 855-297-2939

  • Taking Online Classes

    Are the classes available fully online?

    Yes. CDA training is offered fully online, which means you must have reliable access to a computer. Assignments are unable to be completed or turned in on phones or tablets.

    What if I don’t want to take online classes?

    Classes are only offered online, but are instructor-led and we do offer online tutoring and 24/7 technical support. We try to make it as easy as possible for you to learn and for the classes to fit into your schedule.

    Do I have to be online at a certain time each week?

    You are not required to be online at a specific time, but you must successfully complete all seven deliverables before the end of the 5.5 weeks. Attendance is expected regularly for reviewing lesson content, participating in live classroom sessions and in submitting deliverables. A typical schedule for submitting deliverables is at least one per week. All deliverables may be resubmitted for improved performance during the 5.5 week term.

  • Classes
    Our CDA training is made of three classes, which can be taken in any order, but recommended as follows:

    Class 1: Foundations of Child Development

    • Explore characteristics and needs of children at different ages.
    • Learn developmentally appropriate practices for meeting a child’s needs and building their self-esteem.
    • Learn interpersonal and communication skills for classroom and childcare settings.
    • Explore the function of family and the culture, social class and ethnic variations in the family as a social system.
    • Begin exploring the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential standards and application requirements.

    Class 2: Curriculum and Instruction

    • Learn how to help children grow academically, socially and emotionally.
    • Learn what makes a good lesson plan, learning activity and behavior-improvement strategy, and how to create them.
    • Study different models of curriculum, including strategies to involve parents and families.
    • Explore the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential standards and application requirements. 

    Class 3: Health, Safety and Nutrition/CDA Application

    • Learn how to create and maintain safe environments for children.
    • Understand your state’s rules and regulations for keeping children safe at school, childcare and at home.
    • Learn strategies for keeping classrooms free of injuries and illnesses, and how to respond to the health issues of individual children.
    • Carry out a detailed observation of an early childhood professional in an educational setting.
    • Explore the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential standards and application as well as the eligibility requirements to apply for the CDA Credential at the completion of this class.