CDA Training Scholarships
Financial assistance for early childhood educators to cover the cost of training while they earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
After an eligible applicant has selected their CDA trainer on the Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS), DECAL Scholars offers CDA Training Scholarships to cover up to $500 of the cost of the CDA training, which is paid directly to the CDA trainer.
Apply now
If you have selected an approved CDA trainer, you may now apply for your CDA Training Scholarship.
Download Your Guide:
10 steps to earn your CDA
Our team created a handout that goes step-by-step through each component of earning your CDA and utilizing DECAL Scholars programs along the way. Feel free to download, print it out, and share it.
Am I eligible?
To qualify for our Scholarships program, you must meet the following criteria:
Legal Status
You’re one of the following:
- United States citizen
- Legal permanent resident
- Qualified alien
Employment
- You must have maintained 6 months of continuous employment in one of the following roles (volunteer work, practicums, and internships do not qualify):
- Teacher
- Assistant teacher
- Floater
- Director
- Assistant director
- Owner
- You must work a minimum of 30 hours per week if your employer is one of the following:
- A child care learning center licensed by DECAL or the Department of Defense
- A family child care learning home licensed by DECAL
- An exempt Georgia Head Start center
- A Georgia Lottery-funded Pre-K program in a public school
- You must work a minimum of 15 hours per week if your employer is:
- A before/after school program licensed by DECAL
CDA Training Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
The following documentation must be sent to DECAL Scholars in addition to your application:
- Copies of two recent pay stubs reflecting your name, the name of your employer, and your gross (before deductions) wages. Family child care learning home providers and owners who do not pay themselves W2 wages submit a copy of last year’s Schedule C or other federal tax form documenting net business income.
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Invoice from trainer outlining the cost of CDA training, name of applicant, and who is to be paid (applicant, business, or trainer). Have the trainer sign and date the invoice if possible.
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Copy of CDA Competency Standards Book receipt (if applicable; must be submitted within 30 days of purchase).
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Copy of the FRONT and BACK of a secure and verifiable document.
- Copy of your Georgia Professional Development System profile reflecting your GaPDS number, the name of your current employer, and a “Pending” or “Active” status (click here for more information).
Yes, if the trainer you choose is a Georgia-approved CDA trainer eligible for our CDA Training Scholarships on the Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) for Early Childhood Educators. You can search for a trainer based on the language they offer their training in as well as their training format (face-to-face, online, or hybrid). Make sure you check the box for CDA Training in the search criteria.
Click here to visit their website and find your trainer.
Sí, si el formador que elijas es un formador de CDA aprobado por Georgia y elegible para nuestras Becas de Capacitación CDA en el Sistema de Desarrollo Profesional de Georgia (GaPDS) para Educadores de la Primera Infancia. Puedes buscar un formador según el idioma en el que ofrecen su capacitación, así como el formato de la capacitación (presencial, en línea o híbrido). Asegúrate de marcar la casilla para “Capacitación CDA” en los criterios de búsqueda.
Haz clic aquí para visitar su sitio web y encontrar a tu formador.
While not a college credential, the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is an entry-level credential that is widely recognized in the industry, issued by the Council for Professional Recognition.
Earning the CDA credential is a three-step process that requires:
- 120 clock hours of CDA training covering 8 subject areas
- Experience in the classroom and compiling a portfolio
- CDA Exam and verification visit by a Professional Development Specialist (PDS)
The CDA credential must be renewed every three years. Click here to visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website for complete information.
Several technical colleges provide programs that allow for the transfer of CDA training into college credits, although the specific rules vary among institutions. To obtain more information on this opportunity, it is recommended to contact the early childhood education department at the technical college of your preference.
Congratulations on completing your CDA training!
The next step is to create an account on YourCouncil to apply for your CDA credential. YourCouncil has all of the information you need to learn how to compile your CDA portfolio, select your PD specialist, choose an observation date, and choose your exam date.
The substitute stipend program is available to employers of DECAL Scholars Scholarships recipients so Scholarships recipients can have paid time off (PTO) to attend class, study, or complete assignments. To participate in the substitute stipend program, employers of Scholarships recipients must give the Scholarships recipient paid time off (PTO) to attend class, study, or prepare for class. In return, the employer will receive a stipend of $15/hour to cover the cost of substitute teachers while the Scholarships recipient is away from the classroom. Each employer can receive a maximum of $1,500 in substitute stipends per semester for each Scholarships recipient, in exchange for the Scholarships recipient to receive up to 100 hours of PTO. It is ultimately up to the employer to decide whether they will allow their employees to take part in this program. The employer must also determine how many hours of PTO will be granted to the employee in exchange for the $15/hour stipend.
Scholarships Paid Time Off Logs must be completed, signed, and submitted to support@decalscholars.com by the end of the last month of class to be considered for reimbursement.
Providing Our Workforce Essential Recognition for Educational Development (POWER-ED) is a program that distributes wage supplements to support the workforce as they attain higher educational credentials. POWER-ED Workforce Supplements are available for all DECAL Scholars CDA Training Scholarships approved applicants to apply to.
Click here to learn more about POWER-ED for CDA Training Scholarships.
It is important that you send all supporting documents at the time of completing your application to avoid any delays in processing.
DECAL Scholars accepts legible PDFs, screenshots, photo copies, scans, and photos. Please do not send documents as links.
ALL documents must be received by the last day of classes in the semester of which you are applying, to be considered for eligibility.
The CDA Council awards the CDA credential. Therefore, they are the first and best source for all of your questions about the credential itself. Visit their website, contact them by phone at (800) 424-4310 or email at cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org.
Our team has created this helpful “10 Steps to Earn Your CDA” infographic in both English and Spanish that can help you understand the timeline of earning your credential with support from DECAL Scholars. Plus, there are helpful contacts and FAQs on the back.
Yes, you may submit your receipt for reimbursement as long as you submit your complete application with all supporting documents up to 6 months after the date you paid for the training. You will need to include your receipt showing proof of payment instead of the trainer invoice in order to be reimbursed for the cost of your training.
Please keep in mind, your DECAL Scholars CDA Training Scholarship application cannot be submitted after you have submitted your DECAL Scholars CDA Application Fee Scholarship application.
Once your CDA Scholarships application is approved, DECAL Scholars will cover up to $500 of the cost of the CDA trainer, paid directly to the CDA trainer.
Find a Georgia-approved CDA trainer eligible for our CDA Training Scholarships on the Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS) for Early Childhood Educators. You can even search for a trainer based on their training format (face-to-face, online, or hybrid), or based on the language they offer their training in. Make sure you check the box for CDA Training in the search criteria.
Click here to visit their website and find your trainer.