National Child Development Associate

A Child Development Associate (CDA) is an individual who has successfully completed the CDA assessment process and has been awarded the CDA Credential. CDAs are able to meet the specific needs of children and work with parents and other adults to nurture children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework.

CDA Advisors

CDA Advisors collect information about the CDA Candidate's work with young children and families. The Advisor observes the Candidate working with young children in an eligible setting, and records the Candidate's consistent performance using the CDA Assessment Observation Instrument. The purpose of the formal observation is to provide evidence of the Candidate's actual hands-on skill working with children. To become a CDA Advisor, one must apply through the Council for Professional Recognition and must meet the eligibility requirements.

The Minnesota Center for Professional Development Registry has information on Minnesota CDA Advisors to help CDA Candidates identify and select individuals to serve as their Advisors. This list constitutes referrals, not recommendations. The Candidate is responsible for contacting, interviewing, and making a final decision about selecting his/her Advisor.

Use this search feature to find registered Advisors in your area. If there are no CDA Advisors in your county, you might search for Advisors in your neighboring counties or select "All" to generate a statewide list.