If you enjoy working with children, a career as a professional caregiver might be the one for you.
This certification program in Childcare and Education will allow you to earn a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. The CDA is a nationally recognized credential for those in the early care and education field, and it may be earned for preschool, infant/toddler, and family child care professionals. The CDA certification program at Esperanza College of Eastern University provides students with the knowledge needed to begin or continue their careers in the early childhood education field and the opportunity to earn nine college credits. You must complete 120 hours of formal education training, covering the growth and development of children in the age group for which you are seeking the credential, with no fewer than 10 training hours in each of the following subject areas:
- Planning a safe and healthy learning environment.
- Advancing physical and intellectual development.
- Supporting children’s social and emotional development.
- Building productive relationships with families.
- Managing an effective program operation.
- Maintaining a commitment to professionalism.
- Observing and recording behavior.
- Understanding principles of child development and learning.
To Be Eligible for PDO funding, Applicants Must:
- Be a Pennsylvania resident
- Be a current employee at a Keystone STARS and DHS certified child care program for 3 months or more or demonstrate an employment history of 6 months in child care if newly hired. Participants actively enrolled in PDO activities will not be impacted by change of employer as long as the new employer is a DHS-certified childcare program
- Work a minimum of 25 hours per week directly in a certified childcare program
- Meet salary requirements for child care directors who make no more than $25.00 per hour; for child care teachers, asst. teachers and aides make no more than $21.63 per hour
- Be interested in pursuing coursework at a participating college toward an AA or BA degree or a CDA credential
- Maintain GPA and course grades meeting transfer requirements; a watch plan is developed for participants not meeting transfer requirements
Important note: Applicants must be employed in one of our priority zip codes (please see below)
- Philadelphia: ELRC 18 (Philadelphia County) 19145, 19143, 19104, 19121, 19122, 19125, 19132, 19133, 19134, 19129, 19140 and 19144
- Southeast Region: ELRC 15 (Delaware County) 19013, 19023 and 19082; ELRC 16 (Bucks County) 19030 and 19057; ELRC 17 (Montgomery County) 19403, 19446, 19401 and 19464; ELRC 19 (Chester County) 19320, 19380, 19382 and 19335.
Five-Step Admissions Process:
- Step 1: NEW PHMC ECE PDO Application 2024 for Funding (click link below): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FY24PDOApp – Once your application is submitted, an ECE PDO team member will follow up to discuss the next steps.
- Step 2: Eastern University Application for the CDA Program (click link below): https://www.eastern.edu/apply
- Step 3: Wait for Approval from PHMC
- Step 4: Acceptance in the CDA Program from ECEU
- Step 5: Enroll in the CDA Program
Required Documentation:
- Valid PA State Issued Photo ID (i.e., Driver’s License) – Required by ECEU Admissions
- Copy of High School Diploma – Required by ECEU Admissions
- Upload Most Recent Paystub – Required by PHMC Application
Contact Information:
- PHMC – 267.546.4184 or 877.201.6899
- Esperanza College of Eastern University – 215.324.0746 x410
