If you’re passionate about working with young children and want to take your #career-in- #early-childhood-education to the next level, earning your Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is a powerful step forward. In the state of Virginia, the CDA credential is not only respected—it’s often required for professionals working in child care centers, Head Start programs, and family child care settings. ChildCareEd offers several 120-hour online CDA training options you can complete from anywhere in Virginia: see our CDA Preschool Credential 
Buy Now $500.00$400.00 and CDA Family Child Care Credential Buy Now $400.00$300.00, both of which include portfolio supports and certificate documentation to help you apply to the Council for Professional Recognition.
Here’s everything you need to know about earning your CDA in Virginia and how CDAcertification.com can help you every step of the way.
Why Earn a CDA Credential in Virginia?
The CDA Credential, administered by the Council for Professional Recognition, is the most widely recognized credential in #early-childhood education (ECE). In Virginia, obtaining a CDA:
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Improves employment opportunities in child care and #preschool settings
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Fulfills state and federal requirements for Head Start and licensed child care providers
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Builds a strong foundation in child #development best practices
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Qualifies you for professional development programs like Virginia’s TEACH scholarship
Whether you're just starting out or already working in the field, a CDA sets you apart as a committed and qualified child care professional. To understand the credential's value in practice, see Why do I need a CDA Credential? and CDA Credential: What is it and Why is it Important?
How do I earn a CDA in Virginia?
To earn your CDA in Virginia, you must:
For a detailed, step-by-step overview of the training requirements, portfolio assembly, and exam preparation you’ll complete during this process, see our step-by-step guide to earning a CDA Credential.
Check Virginia-specific licensing and training details before you apply: see ChildCareEd's Virginia CDA roadmap for state-focused guidance and links to licensing resources (Your CDA Roadmap
in Virginia). The roadmap links to Virginia licensing agencies (including the Virginia Department of Social Services) and to TEACH scholarship pages where relevant; always verify requirements with your local licensing specialist before applying.
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Choose a CDA Setting: Select the setting that fits your experience—Preschool, Infant/Toddler, Family Child Care, or Home Visitor.
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Complete 120 Hours of Formal Education: You need 120 clock hours of formal training, covering eight CDA subject areas.
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Gain 480 Hours of Experience: You must work with children in your selected setting within the past five years.
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Compile a Professional Portfolio: This includes reflective statements, work samples, family questionnaires, and more.
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Apply for the CDA Exam: Submit your application to the Council for Professional Recognition and schedule your verification visit and exam. After the Council issues your "Ready to Schedule" notice, schedule your CDA Exam at Pearson VUE and confirm any accommodation requests with the Council as part of your application.
What should I include in my Professional Portfolio?
Your Professional Portfolio is critical to the CDA application. It must document your competence in the CDA's eight subject areas and typically includes reflective competency statements, a professional philosophy, work samples, family questionnaires, and verification of your supervised experience. Use your coursework and classroom practice to collect artifacts (lesson plans, samples of children's work, observation records) that demonstrate how you implemented developmentally appropriate practice and assessment. ChildCareEd's Virginia CDA roadmap provides step-by-step guidance and templates to assemble your portfolio (Your CDA Roadmap in Virginia).
Practical tips: 1) Number and label each portfolio item so the verifier can match it to your reflective statements; 2) keep scanned PDFs of family questionnaires and signed supervisor verification forms; 3) cross-reference each artifact to the relevant competency statement; and 4) keep a running log of the required supervised hours and have a supervisor sign a verification form before you apply. Reviewing sample portfolios (available through ChildCareEd's portfolio-support courses) reduces revision cycles during the Council's review and supports a smoother verification visit.
CDAcertification.com offers comprehensive online CDA training programs tailored for Virginia early childhood professionals. Our courses are: For more on online courses that meet Virginia needs and how they fit licensing, see Online Child Care Courses in Virginia: Training Made Simple.
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Self-paced and fully online, allowing you to study from anywhere in Virginia
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Aligned with Council for Professional Recognition requirements
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Affordable, with payment plans available
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Available for all CDA settings, including:
You’ll get access to all 120 training hours, step-by-step guidance for portfolio creation, and ongoing support from expert instructors.
What financial support and scholarships are available in Virginia?
Virginia offers a number of funding options to support your CDA journey:
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TEACH Early Childhood Virginia: A scholarship program that covers most of your tuition, #books, and exam fees.
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Workforce Development Grants: Available through local community colleges and training providers.
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Employer Support: Many child care employers offer tuition reimbursement or CDA training as part of professional development.
Be sure to check with your employer or local child care resource and referral agency for available funding options. For Virginia-specific scholarship and free-training listings see CDA Scholarships in Virginia and Free CDA Training in Virginia.
How can I start my CDA journey in Virginia?
Whether you're in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, or anywhere in between, you can take the next step in your early childhood career today. Join thousands of #educators across Virginia who have transformed their futures with the CDA credential. See how the credential fits into Virginia career pathways in Virginia Early Childhood Career Pathways: Provider Guide and read practical steps to become a preschool teacher in Virginia at How to Become a Preschool Teacher in Virginia.
Visit CDAcertification.com to explore our CDA training options and enroll in a program that’s right for you.
What are the next steps after I finish training?
After you complete your 120 hours of CDA training, assemble and review your Professional Portfolio, confirm and document your 480 hours of supervised experience, and apply through the Council for Professional Recognition. Once you receive the Council's "Ready to Schedule" notice, schedule the CDA exam at Pearson VUE (Pearson VUE - CDA Exam) and prepare for the Verification Visit by organizing classroom artifacts and rehearsing your reflective competency statements. ChildCareEd's portfolio review services and CDA-specific courses can reduce application revisions and speed progress toward credentialing (Your CDA Roadmap in Virginia).
Ready to get started?
📚 Enroll in a CDA course today!
