VIRTUAL CDA PATHWAY 

This partnership was formed to provide an opportunity for any South Dakota student interested in obtaining their CDA credential. Thank you to DSS Child Services Division, Sanford Child Services, and South Dakota Head Start. Together we are looking to inspire the next generation of early childhood educators. 

The purpose of the South Dakota Child Development Associate (SDCDA) Training Project is to enhance the availability of early childhood professional training and mentorship for individuals who work with children in child care centers, family child care homes, preschools and Head Start programs.

The South Dakota Child Development Associate (SDCDA) Training Program, coordinated by the South Dakota Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) System is designed to provide comprehensive early childhood training and mentorship for individuals who work with children in a child care setting to meet the 120-hr training requirement for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.
The SDCDA curriculum provides formal early childhood training and professional mentorship assisting each student in the process of meeting the requirements necessary to complete the national CDA assessment process, including:

• 120 clock hours of formal education
• Professional Portfolio and other documentation of competence

The following SDCDA courses address the eight training areas required by the Council for the national CDA assessment procedures:

• The Early Childhood Profession
• Health, Safety and Nutrition
• Child Development and Planning
• Partnerships with Parents
• Programs for Young Children

The SDCDA Program offers professional growth training opportunities to individuals who are either currently working with young children or wish to pursue a career in the early childhood field. 

Join our first cohort this fall~

Register Today

Any junior or senior in South Dakota student can enroll in Cohort A or Cohort B for this fall. This is by a virtual environment where two days a week the cohort students will be on a LIVE zoom with an early childhood educator going through course material. The other three days can be out earny hours towards their 480 work experience. This can be in a state licensed or registered child care program as well as a head start program in your area. 

• The course is FREE for students to take as long as they finish the course. 
• Material that they will need will be provided to the students. 
• Each school will just need someone to help facilitate the placement In a child care facility.