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Early Childhood Development & Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What CDA preparation opportunities are available?
Students who meet the requirements of the Council for Professional Recognition may apply to the Council for a Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate. JCC can help you prepare for a certificate in Center-Base Child Care, Infant/Toddler Child Care, Family Child Care and/or a Bilingual certificate.  For additional "facts" about the CDA click here.

What if I am interested in earning a CDA certificate or AAS-Early Childhood Development and Education degree and have taken some child care training and/or courses?
JCC has developed a process to evaluate your prior experiences and determine what you CDA preparation you still need. Contact Lori Gardner for your free evaluation. Additionally, you may have had numerous training and workshop experiences, as well as life experience in the child care field. JCC recognizes that some students enter college with proficiencies that warrant college credit. Students may request Credit by Examination to demonstrate skills and knowledge in courses offered by the college.

How do I know what I need, a CDA certificate.an Associate degree.or both?
Whether or not you should apply for a CDA Certificate depends upon your career goals. If you -

  • work, or plan to work, somewhere where a CDA is required.
  • want a supplemental certificate with your Associate degree in Center-base Child Care, Infant/Toddler Child Care, Family Child Care and/or Bilingual.
  • need to achieve a certification in a short amount of time (CDA coursework can usually be completed in a year or less).
  • do not plan to continue on to complete an Associate degree at this time.

.then applying for a CDA Certificate may be the best route for you.

If you -

  • do not need a CDA Certificate for current or future employment.
  • plan on completing your Associate degree soon.

.then working on your Associate degree only may be the best route for you.

Remember, you can work on both a CDA certificate and Associate degree simultaneously. If you want to talk more about these options, please let us know.

I already have a CDA certificate, can I get another?
Yes, the Council for Professional Recognition will award another CDA certificate, in a different setting than the original certificate, to an individual meeting their requirements as a second setting CDA candidate. We can help you determine if you are eligible for another CDA certificate if you want to add on to your certifications.

Will my Associate degree in Child Care transfer anywhere towards a Bachelors degree?
Students interested in obtaining a bachelor's degree in child care can transfer the entire Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Development and Education degree into the program leading to the Bachelor of Arts - Child Development at Siena Heights University. 

What if I need to renew my CDA?
 For students needing to renew their CDA certificate, many JCC Child Care courses can fulfill the three-credit education requirement. We can help you decide which course(s) are right for you.

What if I already have a valid CDA Certificate?
You can get 9 credits toward your Associate in Applied Science - Early Childhood Development and Education degree through JCC.

What if I have my Professional Teaching Certificate and need to complete 6 hours of education every five years?
 All of JCC's child care courses except ECE 143: CDA Preparation and ECE 150, 151, 152: Directed Teaching I, II, III meet the requirements for continuing teacher certification for those teachers having a Professional Certificate.

What does "catalog of entry" mean?
When applying for graduation, currently enrolled students must follow one of the following guidelines:
1. Complete degree or certificate requirements from the current catalog (year of graduation), or
2. Complete degree or certificate requirements from the catalog in effect the year a student first entered JCC (the catalog of entry) or any subsequent catalog provided that the student has maintained continuous enrollment at JCC. If a student has not attended JCC for one calendar year, a new catalog of entry is established at the time of re-enrollment.