CDA Process STEP 5 (Verification Visit and Exam): Within 6 months of Council approval of completed application

Verification Visit

After you receive your Ready to Schedule notice, you will contact your PD Specialist to set up a time for your Verification Visit. If you are in a center-based program, you must receive permission from your Director to schedule the Verification Visit, which will take about four hours.

During your Verification Visit, you must be observed working as a lead teacher with a group of at least two children in a home-based program, and at least three children in a center-based program. The observation must take place at the center or home where the Candidate works or volunteers with children.

The CDA PD Specialist conducts the CDA Verification Visit with the Candidate. During the CDA Verification Visit the CDA PD Specialist:

Reviews the Candidate's Professional Portfolio
Observes the Candidate working with children
Facilitates a reflective dialogue with the Candidate.

At the end of the CDA Verification Visit, the CDA PD Specialist electronically submits the Candidate's scores to the Council.

CDA Exam

After you receive your Ready to Schedule notice, you may schedule your CDA Exam through Pearson VUE to find a testing center near you. The CDA Exam has 65 multiple-choice questions – 60 questions and 5 scenario questions (with a short narrative and photo). The Candidate will have up to one hour and 45 minutes to complete the exam.