About the Council

The Core Values of the Council are the bedrock of our organizational culture, guiding our behaviors, actions, connections and engagements with others. These five principles are not only integral to our distinctiveness but also deeply embedded standards upheld by our staff on a daily basis.

• We Embrace Growth. Striving for continuous improvement, high-quality work, informed decision making, and a commitment to delivering exceptional results.
• We Have Integrity. Demonstrating honesty, ethics, and accountability in all actions and decisions.
• We Are United. Encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and a sense of belonging to achieve shared goals.
• We Communicate Effectively. Promoting open and honest communication, sharing information, and being accountable for actions.
• We Are Respectful. Treating each other with dignity, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering an inclusive environment.

In the early 1970s, a group of innovative early childhood educators gathered to find ways to improve the quality of early care and education. The concept for the CDA® Credential was born out of those meetings. It was initially funded by what was then called the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF). After several years of development, the first CDA was awarded in 1975.

A decade later, ACYF entered into a cooperative agreement with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to create a separate nonprofit organization to administer the CDA Credential. That organization, the Council for Professional Recognition, began administering the CDA on September 1, 1985.

Over 1 million CDA credentials have been issued to date.