Minimum Education Requirements
Child care licensing regulations require members of the DC early childhood workforce to meet minimum education requirements based on their position. Effective Dec. 20, 2023, an assistant teacher can meet the education requirement by meeting any one of the following:
- Child Development Associate (CDA); OR
- Associate degree (or higher) in any subject area; OR
- Completion of at least 60 credit hours in any subject area; OR
- State-awarded certificate comparable to a CDA that is approved by the 乌鸦传媒 of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE); OR
- High school diploma or equivalent, provided the individual earns a CDA within two years of their initial date of hire as an assistant teacher at a child development center.
More information on the regulations that outline the education requirement for assistant teachers can be found here.
Programs and Resources
The following is a list of programs and resources available in the Washington, DC area. This list is neither exhaustive nor an indication of endorsement by OSSE.
|
Organization |
Information on CDA Program |
Program Point of Contact |
|---|---|---|
| University of the District of Columbia-Community College |
Crystal Randall |
|
| Southeast Children’s Fund |
Kamila Johnson |
|
| CentroNía |
Alfredo Monterrey |
|
| Briya Public Charter School and Mary’s Center |
Mau Castro-Trujillo |
|
| American University |
Gabrielle Harris |
Online Resources
OSSE offers free Quorum accounts to all staff in licensed child development facilities in DC. Individuals can complete CDA instructional hours online at . The can help guide instruction. This is the fastest way to earn your CDA if you are comfortable with online learning.
For information on opening a Quorum account, contact the ECE Help Desk at [email protected] or (202) 478-5903.
You can track your progress towards earning the CDA through the , available at .