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FREE CDA Exam Guide 2026: Pass Your Child Development Associate Credential
Key Facts
- The CDA exam has 65 multiple-choice questions (60 standard plus 5 photo-scenario items) with a 1-hour-45-minute time limit.
- The CDA initial application fee has been $525 since the Council's August 1, 2025 price increase, its first since 2013.
- CDA renewal costs $250 online every 3 years, counted from the date the credential is awarded (Council for Professional Recognition).
- Candidates need 120 clock hours of formal ECE training with at least 10 hours in each of 8 CDA subject areas.
- Candidates must document 480 hours of professional work experience with children within 3 years of applying.
- Birth to Five CDA candidates take the separate Birth to Five exam, which allows 1 hour 55 minutes (Council Birth to Five FAQ).
- The CDA credential covers five settings: Preschool, Infant-Toddler, Birth to Five, Family Child Care, and Home Visitor.
- CDA candidates who do not pass the exam may retake it twice at $125 per attempt, for three attempts in total (Council for Professional Recognition).
- The CDA credentialing process combines the exam, a Professional Portfolio review, and a Verification Visit observation when the Council requires one.
- The Council reviews a streamlined-path CDA portfolio within 15 business days of exam results but sets no fixed timeframe for the credentialing decision.
CDA Credential 2026: Your Complete Certification Guide
The CDA (Child Development Associate) Credential is the most widely recognized national credential in early childhood education (ECE). Issued by the Council for Professional Recognition , the CDA credential demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and abilities in working with young children from birth to age 5.
Whether you're starting your career in early childhood education or seeking to advance your professional standing, the CDA credential opens doors to lead teacher positions, director roles, and further educational opportunities.
Credential Overview
- Component Details
- Issuing Body Council for Professional Recognition
- Exam Questions 65 multiple-choice questions
- Exam Time 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes); Birth to Five exam: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Testing Vendor Pearson VUE
- Initial Application Fee $525
- Renewal Fee $250
- Credential Validity 3 years
The CDA credentialing process uses multiple sources of evidence to assess your competence:
- CDA Exam - 65 multiple-choice questions at a Pearson VUE testing center
- Verification Visit - Observation by a Professional Development (PD) Specialist, when the Council requires one
- Professional Portfolio - Documentation of your knowledge and practices, uploaded with your application
No single component decides the credential. Since February 2, 2026, you take the exam first; candidates who reach a qualifying level on the exam and meet every other requirement may receive a streamlined decision without a Verification Visit, and candidates who pass without reaching that level complete the visit. The Council then renders a credentialing decision. The Council does not publish a single passing percentage or cut score, so think of the exam as one of three evidence sources rather than a test you simply "pass" or "fail."
The 4-step assessment at a glance
- Step What happens Where
- 1. Education & Experience 120 training hours + 480 work hours documented Self-paced, before applying
- 2. Application Online application + portfolio upload + $525 fee YourCouncil portal
- 3. CDA Exam 65 questions, up to 1 hr 45 min; up to 3 attempts Pearson VUE test center
- 4. Verification Visit (if required) Observation + portfolio review + reflective dialogue Your work setting
If you qualify for a streamlined decision, the Council reviews your portfolio within 15 business days of your exam results. The Council sets no fixed timeframe for the credentialing decision itself; when results are complete and error-free, it may take 1-3 business days.