There are several avenues that you can take to increase your marketability and help ensure the quality of your child care. The most popular ways are listed below.

Accreditation

National accreditation is available for family child care providers and centers. To obtain national accreditation, child care providers must go through a rigorous process, including self-assessment and outside evaluators.

To find out more about accreditation for family child care providers, parents should access the National Association for Family Child Care.

To find out more about accreditation for child care centers, parents should access the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Directors Credential

There is also a credentialing process for Center Directors in Kansas and Missouri. 

Child Development Associate (CDA)

What is a CDA? 
It's a nationally-accepted credential that child care providers can 
earn. Assessment and credentialing of child care providers is administered by
the Council for Professional Recognition.

Who can apply? 
Child care providers can apply to become a CDA whether they work
with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers in a center-based setting, 
if they are a family child care provider, or are a home visitor.

What are the requirements? 
Some of the requirements of a CDA candidate are: 18 years or older, 
hold a high school diploma or GED, have a total of 120 hours of formal child care training in the
last five years over eight different competency areas, and 480 hours of experience in child care. 

How do I find out more information?
Contact Child Care Aware of Southeast Kansas at 866.732.9700or 620.232.9700. Our office
has several CDA Advisors who can help you through the process. You can also find out more
information from the Council for Professional Recognition.