Professional Development Opportunities

interior impact

We provide training and professional development opportunities to assist providers in enhancing and increasing their competencies. Please refer to the Arkansas Professional Registry for available trainings.

NPC Child Development Associate (CDA) Gold Standard Credential

The CDA Credential is the most widely recognized credential in early childhood education (ECE) and is a key stepping stone on the path of career advancement in ECE.  In the early 70s a group of early childhood educators met to discuss how to improve the quality early care and education. The CDA credential was created from those meetings and was initially funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF). More than 370,000 child care providers have earned the CDA credential. 

The credential is based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early care professional as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. The Council for Professional Recognition works to ensure that the nationally-transferable CDA is a credible and valid credential, recognized by the profession as a vital part of professional development. 

For more information about the national CDA program, go to the Council's website, http://www.cdacouncil.org/   

Upcoming CDA Opportunities:

Hot Springs Area:

National Park College Child Care Aware WCA
Contact:  501-760-6588

Pine Bluff Area:

Southeast Arkansas College 
Contact:  870-543-5950 or wdc@seark.edu