CDA Application Fee Scholarships

The program ended in 2025.

If you have completed your CDA training, you can create a YourCouncil account and get ahead with filling in all of the information needed, compiling your portfolio, selecting your Professional Development Specialist (PDS) and your exam date, and more. However, you will not be able to complete your PDS verification visit or exam until the CDA Council receives payment from the CDA Application Fee Scholarship. Once the CDA Council receives payment, you will have 6 months to complete your exam and verification visit.

DECAL Scholars offers each applicant two Application Fee Scholarships—one for the initial application and another for a second attempt if the exam is not passed on the first try. If this applies to you, simply submit a new Application Fee Scholarship application. Don’t forget to upload the letter from the CDA Council for Professional Recognition notifying you that you did not pass the CDA exam in the “Documents” section of your application under “Additional Documents.”

Yes, DECAL Scholars Scholarships programs are here to support you throughout your educational journey. Visit our Academic Scholarships page to learn more about the next steps you can take to receive a college credential or degree.

Yes, if you have completed your CDA training with a Georgia-approved trainer and you meet the eligibility requirements of our CDA Scholarships program, you can apply for the CDA Application Fee Scholarship.

The following documents must be uploaded with your application:

• Copy of certificate or academic transcript documenting 120 clock-hours of CDA training with a Georgia-approved trainer.

• Copies of two recent paystubs reflecting the name of your employer, your name, and gross and net year-to-date wages. If you are a Family Child Care Learning Home or a Director/Owner and do not pay yourself W-2 wages, you should submit a copy of last year’s Schedule C, Schedule K, or other federal tax form documenting net business income. If your paystubs do not meet these requirements, we may ask for additional information.

• Copy of YourCouncil (CDA Council) CDA Profile page reflecting your customer ID number.
• Copy of the FRONT and BACK of a secure and verifiable document.
• Copy of your Georgia Professional Development System profile reflecting your GaPDS number, the name of your current employer, and a “Pending” or “Active” status (click here for more information).

Submitting your application and allowing DECAL Scholars to pay the CDA Council directly for your application fee after approval is a much faster payment process.

You also have the option to pay the CDA application fee yourself to the CDA Council and submit the receipt within 30 days of the payment date to DECAL Scholars with your application for reimbursement. Please note that this method may require a longer payment process.

Once your CDA Scholarships application is approved, DECAL Scholars will cover up to $525 of the cost of the CDA Application Fee, paid directly to the CDA Council.

The Georgia Professional Development System (GaPDS), offered by the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, supports the early care and education workforce. It enables you to build a comprehensive profile of your career, including your employment history, training hours, and earned credentials or degrees. You must create a profile on the GaPDS website to apply for DECAL Scholars programs.

Getting started is simple! You can register even if you haven’t earned a credential or degree yet. Download your free guide to creating a GaPDS account by clicking here. To learn more or to create your account, visit gapds.decal.ga.gov.

For questions or technical assistance, contact the GaPDS team at 404-334-6461 (or toll-free at 866-258-7737 outside metro Atlanta) or email them at gapds@decal.ga.gov.

While not a college credential, the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is an entry-level credential that is widely recognized in the industry, issued by the Council for Professional Recognition.

Earning the CDA credential is a three-step process that requires:

• 120 clock hours of CDA training covering 8 subject areas
• Experience in the classroom and compiling a portfolio
• CDA Exam and verification visit by a Professional Development Specialist (PDS)

The CDA credential must be renewed every three years. Click here to visit the Council for Professional Recognition’s website for complete information.

Several technical colleges provide programs that allow for the transfer of CDA training into college credits, although the specific rules vary among institutions. To obtain more information on this opportunity, it is recommended to contact the early childhood education department at the technical college of your preference.

Congratulations on completing your CDA training!

The next step is to create an account on YourCouncil to apply for your CDA credential. YourCouncil has all of the information you need to learn how to compile your CDA portfolio, select your PD specialist, choose an observation date, and choose your exam date. DECAL Scholars offers a CDA Application Fee Scholarship to cover the cost of the exam and verification visit. Learn more about the Application Fee Scholarship here.

It is important that you send all supporting documents at the time of completing your application to avoid any delays in processing.
DECAL Scholars accepts legible PDFs, screenshots, photo copies, scans, and photos (only in JPG format, not HEIC). Please do not send documents as links.

The CDA Council awards the CDA credential. Therefore, they are the first and best source for all of your questions about the credential itself. Visit their website, contact them by phone at (800) 424-4310 or email at cdafeedback@cdacouncil.org.

Our team has created this helpful “7 Steps to Earn Your CDA” infographic that can help you understand the timeline of earning your credential with support from DECAL Scholars. Plus, there are helpful contacts and FAQs on the back.

Click here to download the Guide

Yes, you can submit your receipt for reimbursement, provided you submit your complete application with all supporting documents within 30 days of the date you paid for the CDA training. To be reimbursed, you must include your receipt as proof of payment in place of the CDA trainer’s invoice.

Please note that your DECAL Scholars CDA Training Scholarship application cannot be submitted after you’ve already submitted your DECAL Scholars CDA Application Fee Scholarship application.

You cannot book your test until your formal application is reviewed and accepted by the Council. Once approved, you will receive a “Ready to Schedule Notice”. After that, you can secure your location in two ways:

• Online: Create an account on the Pearson VUE CDA Portal, enter your Candidate ID, and search for the closest testing center by entering your ZIP code.
• By Phone: Call Pearson VUE at 1-866-507-5627 (English) or 1-800-511-6951 (Spanish). An operator will help you find local testing facilities and available times.

You can look up testing locations at any time, even before you are approved. See our interactive map of CDA testing centers in Georgia, or find the center nearest you with Pearson VUE’s official test center locator.